Althaus - Pinchas

אלטהויז - פנחס

Pinchas Althaus (Chassidic Correspondent)

Pinchas Althaus was a correspondent who engaged in halachic and scholarly discussion with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, particularly regarding the printing and textual accuracy of the foundational Chabad work, Tanya.

Correspondence with the Rebbe

The correspondence between Pinchas Althaus and the Rebbe centers on the topic of publishing the Tanya. In a letter dated 7 Nissan 5712 (1952), the Rebbe responds to several points raised by Althaus:

Althaus inquired about the proper method for printing the Tanya. The Rebbe clarified that his guidance is offered as a suggestion and explanation of his opinion, leaving the final decision to the recipient. The Rebbe expressed his view that Tanya should not be newly typeset, but rather reproduced as a photo-facsimile of the edition reviewed by the Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn), specifically the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch edition from 5660 (1900).

Althaus also referenced a story about the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi) being meticulous about even an extra letter "vav" in his Tanya. The Rebbe clarified, based on a letter from his father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn), that this refers to the word "ve'ikarah ve'sharshah" at the beginning of chapter 41, where the Alter Rebbe chose a particular phrasing.

Additionally, Althaus noted that even the 5660 edition of Tanya contains places needing correction, referencing Iggeres HaKodesh chapter 31. The Rebbe acknowledged that several corrections are indeed necessary and mentioned a list of such corrections compiled by Reb Asher Shub of Nikolaev, an elder Chassid. The Rebbe indicated that, G-d willing, a table of these corrections would be included at the end of future editions, but he refrained from making changes within the main text to preserve the integrity of the referenced edition.

Shiurim in this topic
1495. On Printing Tanya, Textual Corrections, and the 5660 Edition על הדפסת התניא, תיקונים בטקסט, ומהדורת תרס"ס