Shiurim in this topic
Tzvi Hirsch Zaller is addressed in a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, on the occasion of his wedding. The Rebbe refers to him with honorific rabbinic titles, indicating his status as a learned and respected Chassidic figure.
The letter, dated 22 Kislev 5712 (1951), conveys the Rebbe's heartfelt blessings to Tzvi Hirsch Zaller and his bride on their wedding day. The Rebbe wishes them "mazal tov" and prays that they build a home in Israel founded on Torah and mitzvot as illuminated by Chassidus. The tone is warm and personal, reflecting the Rebbe's care for the spiritual and practical well-being of the couple.
In response to a request for guidance regarding the bride's spiritual preparations, the Rebbe notes the absence of a clear tradition but shares his own practice: instructing the bride to recite the entire Tehillim (Book of Psalms) on the wedding day, in addition to learning the relevant halachot. The Rebbe emphasizes the primacy of action, quoting the Zohar that "action is above all."
The Rebbe also provides detailed practical instructions for Zaller himself: wearing a kittel under the chuppah (but beneath the outer garment), not wearing it again on Yom Kippur of the wedding year, and ensuring that at the time of kiddushin (betrothal) there are no coins or precious metals in his pockets and no knots on his person (such as ties or shoelaces). These instructions are in addition to the customary practices observed throughout the Jewish world.
The letter demonstrates the Rebbe's attention to both the spiritual and practical aspects of Jewish life-cycle events. By addressing both Zaller and his bride, the Rebbe underscores the importance of preparation, knowledge, and tradition in establishing a Jewish home. The correspondence reflects the Rebbe's role as a spiritual guide, offering blessings, encouragement, and precise halachic and Chassidic guidance to individuals at significant moments in their lives.