6652 —תיבת יחיד ב"מלך יחיד" שבישתבח, וקריאת השם אדני עם היו"ד

B"H, 20th of Teves, 5719
Brooklyn.

Mr. Sh. Dardak, may he live long

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of the 19th of Teves, and its contents.

a) In the prayer Yishtabach, "King, Unique, G‑d"^[1]: in these words, should the word Yachid ("Unique") be joined to the word before it or to the word after it?

It is understood that Yachid here is either joined to the word Melech ("King") that precedes it, or it is an attribute in its own right and runs on neither to what precedes it nor to what follows it, as in Baruch She'amar^[2]*.

b) In pronouncing the Divine Name Adni, there are those who end it with a kamatz under the nun, without pronouncing the yud^[3].

Obviously this is a mistake from the outset**, and it is not a case of what you ask in your letter, "better that they sin unwittingly"^[4]; for surely, when their mistake is explained to them, they will make the effort to correct it, since it is in their power to do so.

I will use this opportunity to urge you to keep the well-known three daily study portions of Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya^[5], about which we heard several times^[6] from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of saintly and blessed memory, whose soul is in the hidden treasuries on High, may his merit protect us^[7], that they are suited equally to every soul and are a segulah for many matters.

With blessings for good news^[8] in all the above,

On behalf of the Rebbe, shlita^[9]

Secretary

* The version of the Arizal^[10] is "King, Unique, Life of the worlds"^[11], omitting the word "G‑d" (Kel). This too proves that the word Yachid does not belong with the word Kel. And the Alter Rebbe explains the Arizal's version: "This King is in the state of Unique and One, etc." (Torah Or 40c).

** See Pri Megadim (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, beginning of siman 5^[12], in Eshel Avraham), that on the contrary, the yud must be stressed.

Notes

1. King, Unique, G‑d (מלך יחיד א-ל): At the close of the blessing Yishtabach, in the version that reads "King, Unique, G‑d, Life of the worlds", the recipient asked whether Yachid belongs with the word before it ("King Unique") or with the word after it ("Unique G‑d"). In the Arizal's version, in which Chabad Chassidim pray, one says "King, Unique, Life of the worlds", without the word Kel (as the note at the end of the letter explains).

2. As in Baruch She'amar (וכמו בברוך שאמר): As at the close of the blessing Baruch She'amar: יחיד חי העולמים מלך משובח ומפואר עדי עד שמו הגדול, "Unique, Life of the worlds, King, praised and glorified forever is His great Name", where "Unique" stands by itself. The Alter Rebbe explains both versions (Torah Or, Mikeitz, maamar Ki Atah Neri): "For at times we say 'Unique, Life of the worlds, King', and at times we say 'King, Unique, Life of the worlds'."

3. Without pronouncing the yud (מבלי לבטא את היו"ד): That is, in reading the Divine Name, some read it with a kamatz under the nun and do not pronounce the final yud. The meaning of the Name as it is read is "lordship, that He is Master of all" (Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chaim 5:1).

4. Better that they sin unwittingly (מוטב שיהיו שוגגין): Beitzah 30a: "Leave Israel alone: better that they sin unwittingly than deliberately. And this applies to rabbinic laws, but not to Torah laws." The recipient asked whether one should therefore stay silent. The Rebbe answers that this rule applies when rebuke will not help and, once told, they would sin deliberately; here, once it is explained to them, they will surely try to correct it, since it is in their power.

5. The three daily study portions of Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya (שלשת השיעורים דחומש תהלים ותניא): The daily portions instituted by the Previous Rebbe: Chumash with Rashi from the weekly portion, Tehillim as divided by the days of the month, and Tanya as divided over the days of the year (printed in Hayom Yom). See also below, letter 6654 (21 Teves 5719), where the Rebbe also urges keeping "the three shiurim of Chitas".

6. Several times (כ"פ): כ"פ = כמה פעמים.

7. My father-in-law, the Rebbe... (כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע): כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר = כבוד קדושת מורי וחמי אדונינו מורנו ורבנו, the Previous Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn; זצוקללה"ה = זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה לחיי העולם הבא, "may the memory of the righteous and holy one be for a blessing, for the life of the World to Come"; נבג"מ = נשמתו בגנזי מרומים, "his soul is in the hidden treasuries on High"; זי"ע = זכותו יגן עלינו, "may his merit protect us".

8. Good news (בשו"ט): בשו"ט = בשורות טובות.

9. On behalf of the Rebbe, shlita (בשם כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א): כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א = כבוד קדושת אדוננו מורנו ורבנו שיחי' לאורך ימים טובים אמן, "His holiness, our master, teacher and Rebbe, may he live for many good days, amen". This letter was written and signed by the Rebbe's secretariat, in his name and on his behalf.

10. The Arizal (האר"י): R. Yitzchak Luria; his version is the one in the Alter Rebbe's Siddur.

11. Life of the worlds (חה"ע): חה"ע = חי העולמים.

12. Beginning of siman 5 (רס"ה): רס"ה = ריש סימן ה', the beginning of siman 5, which deals with the intention in the Divine Names in blessings and with how they are read.

Summary

Answering two questions on prayer, the Rebbe's secretariat explains that in Yishtabach the word Yachid belongs with Melech or stands alone, never with Kel, as the Arizal's version and the Alter Rebbe show; and that pronouncing the Divine Name without its final yud is simply an error that people will correct once it is explained. It closes by urging the daily study of Chitas.