Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5683 — Prayer

B"H

26 Menachem Av 5717

Brooklyn

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem, devotes himself to communal needs, and faithfully fulfills his mission, Rav Yaakov HaKohen (note: Rav Y. Katz of Chicago, see letter no. 5523),

Greetings and blessings,

You tell me that you must meet with the leaders of the Ashkenazi rite synagogue with a view to unification, and you ask me what your margin of flexibility is regarding the rite to adopt. It is perfectly clear that caution is required, for it is obvious that prayer is the essential activity of a synagogue. Now, in a Chassidic* synagogue, when someone desires it, he may maintain his own rite on an individual basis — that concerns only him. Occasionally, someone may lead the service using a different rite, which arouses the displeasure of many people for halachic* reasons. Nevertheless, these people say nothing in order to maintain peace. By contrast, the rite adopted on a permanent basis must obviously be that of Lubavitch*, all the more so since, according to halachah*, one may change from the Ashkenazi rite to the Sefardi or Ari* rite, but not the reverse.

We are approaching the days of mercy (note: the month of Elul*), during which one says each day: "Hashem, I shall seek Your Face" — which is connected to: "Seek My Face." May Hashem therefore grant that one strengthen and deepen prayer, which is the bond between Jews and the Holy One, blessed be He — the channel and receptacle through which one obtains the satisfaction of a person's needs, material and spiritual.

I extend my blessing for a good Shabbos* and for drawing blessing upon the entire month and upon all the days that approach, in a peaceful manner, for us, within all of Israel.

With blessing to convey good news,