Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch is a book that summarizes the Shulchan Aruch, primarily dealing with the Orach Chaim and Yoreh De'ah sections, and mainly focuses on laws relevant to daily life such as prayer, blessings, Sabbath, and similar topics. The book was authored by Rabbi Solomon Ganzfried, one of Hungary's greatest scholars. The simplicity and conciseness of the book made it especially popular; during the author's lifetime, the book was printed in approximately 14 editions.
Generally, the book is based on the 'Chayei Adam' by Rabbi Abraham Danzig, but it mentions two rulings of the Alter Rebbe by name, and disagrees with them. However, the author himself testified[1] that during the composition, the words of the Tanya author - the Alter Rebbe - served as a fundamental basis for his work.[2] Indeed, in many places, his words are based on the Alter Rebbe's rulings.
The book was published with the addition of the Alter Rebbe's rulings integrated in parentheses within the body of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, edited by Rabbi Levi Bistritzky in 1992. The introduction states that the book is published "according to the directive of the Rebbe Shlita from long ago." After Rabbi Bistritzky's passing, the book was reprinted with full vowelization. In 2021, the book was published again with new editing and the addition of Chabad customs by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Raskin, and in 2022 it was reprinted in a corrected edition.
In the edition published by Eshkol Publishers, an appendix by Rabbi Kalman Kahana was added, summarizing laws concerning fruits and vegetables in the Land of Israel, since these laws were not included in the original edition of the book.
The book is especially popular in schools and has been published in hundreds of editions. In some editions intended for students, laws concerning family purity and similar topics have been omitted.
Chabad Rebbes' Attitude Toward the Book and Its Author[edit | edit source]
Rebbe Rayatz[edit | edit source]
Already in the letters of the Rebbe Rayatz (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn), we find several instances where he instructed to study from the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.[3]
Additionally, the Rebbe Rayatz testified that in past years, Chassidim had a fixed practice of studying at least two sections of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch daily,[4] and expressed that "to uproot evil - there is the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch".[5]
As a private instruction, the Rebbe Rayatz directed one of the young men to first study the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with "Misgeret HaShulchan" (a commentary), as a preparation for studying the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe,[6] and the Rebbe gave similar instructions.[7]
The Rebbe[edit | edit source]
Unlike the Rebbe's general instruction to teach Talmud and similar subjects to students in order without skipping, since the very act of skipping might cause unnecessary interest in the topics skipped over, contrary to the intention, regarding the study of laws and halachot, the Rebbe instructed to initially select certain chapters in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, and if necessary, even to skip certain sections within themTemplate:Note.[8]
The instruction to study Kitzur Shulchan Aruch was not only for businesspeople and the like, but also for people whose entire occupation was the study of halacha, such as the rabbis of Crown Heights[9] whom the Rebbe instructed to be proficient also in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.[10] In several places in his letters, the Rebbe cites references also to the book "She'arim HaMetzuyanim BaHalacha" on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch written by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Braun.
External Links[edit | edit source]
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wilhelm, Our Rebbes' Attitude to the "Kitzur Shulchan Aruch", Uzhhorod 2020
- ↑ His handwritten note published in the 'Sinai' journal in 1983, and from there to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Orchot Chaim edition, Jerusalem 1989, page 616.
- ↑ Quoted by the Rebbe during the Shabbat Parshat Re'eh 5744 gathering, Hitvaaduyot Volume 4, page 2483.
- ↑ Letter from 17 Tevet 5689 (1929) to the Committee of the Union and Organization of Sabbath-Observing Societies. 27 Adar I 5706 (1946) to Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Hecht.
- ↑ Talk from the seventh day of Passover 5704 (1944).
- ↑ Talk from Passover 5705 (1945).
- ↑ Private audience with Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Groner on the eve of 28 Sivan 5701 (1941).
- ↑ To Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi when he was a 17-year-old student.
- ↑ The Rebbe's instruction to Rabbi Matusov: "One should select specific chapters in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, and within these chapters themselves, there are sections that can be skipped. And to strengthen the aforementioned study, it is worthwhile to conduct special tests on the necessary laws, and I rely on their understanding."
- ↑ Rabbi Aaron Yaakov Schwei and Rabbi Avraham Osdoba.
- ↑ Nevertheless, in a talk on the night of 13 Tishrei 5743 (1982) (Hitvaaduyot Volume 1, page 146), the Rebbe expressed that "Chassidim do not study Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, but rather Shulchan Aruch, especially the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe."