Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5675 — Faith & Bitachon
Volume 15 · Letter 352 · To: distingué ‘Hassid qui craint D.ieu
B"H
24 Menachem Av 5717
Brooklyn
To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem, Rav Chaim Abba (note: Rav C.A. Weil of Toronto, see letter no. 4915),
Greetings and blessings,
I have duly received your letter from the eve of this Shabbos*, as well as the one preceding it. I thank Hashem for the good news that throughout the week, the minyan* was maintained for Minchah* and Arvis* as well. Success in this matter will surely give you the courage and energy needed to develop the synagogue further — spiritually and materially, quantitatively and qualitatively.
Regarding the rite of prayer, about which a controversy has arisen, I am surprised that there is a question and doubt in this matter, for, as you yourself report, the members of the community themselves told you that it is a Lubavitch* synagogue. There is therefore no reason to wonder what the rite of prayer should be. But perhaps there is doubt because there are not enough Lubavitch Siddurim* in the synagogue. If that is the case, the fault lies with the leadership, not with the members of the community.
In fact, you know the halachic* ruling (note: see letters no. 4845 and 5635) in the responsa of the later Sages, according to which an individual may change from the Ashkenazi rite to the Sefardi rite, but not the reverse. You also know that, according to the account of the Tzemach Tzedek*, his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe*, before publishing his Siddur*, selected its text from among sixty different Siddurim* (note: see letter no. 4350). This prayer rite is therefore the finest flour, relative to many others. Indeed, a particular prayer can include within it all the gates of prayer at once, as emphasized in the introduction of the Sha'ar HaKollel* in the Siddur*.
Moreover, this question must be settled by the Rav of the synagogue, and I am therefore writing to him on this subject (note: see the following letter). Nevertheless, I respond to you as well on this point, since you raised the matter in your letter. You shall consult with the Rav, and may Hashem grant that all your prayers be answered within the prayers of Israel.
With blessing to convey good news,