TITLE: PUBLISHER: Ketzos Hashulchan R. Avraham Chaim 4 volumes Naeh and R. Shiurei — Menachem Naeh Shiur Mikvah 2 volumes EDITORS: LANGUAGE: Menachem Hebrew Mendel Nachshon, Rabbi Levi Holtzman AUTHOR: Harav Avraham Chaim Naeh ISSUE #07

appearing in 5686, and the final volume was published posthumously in 5714. These Classic The set starts from the beginning of Orach Chaim with the morning halachos; goes Halacha Seforim through the halachos of tzitizis, tefillin, and davening; continues with hilchos berachos; and then all of the halachos of Shabbos. Just Got A Lot Better Subsequent additions combined the nine parts into three volumes, and the new edition BY SHMUEL SUPER keeps this structure. The sefer is best defined by the renowned elder Chabad Rov, Harav Dovid Tzvi Introduction in the court of the Rebbe Rashab, before (Radatz) Chein in his haskamah to the first returning to Eretz Yisrael where he married. volume, written just a few months before his etzos Hashulchan and Shiurei During World War I, he was expelled from passing: a Kitzur based on Torah by Harav Avraham Eretz Yisrael by the Turks and fled to Egypt, the Alter Rebbe. Chaim Naeh have been where he promptly set up a Yeshivah for the The Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch follows Kclassic halachah seforim since they were exiles and locals. Here too, he identified a the order of the mechaber’s Shulchan Aruch first published over the years 5686-5714. lack of clarity in the basic daily halachos, and its commentaries, summarizing the These seforim were reprinted many times and wrote Shenos Chaim, a work on hilchos main opinions and their reasoning, and since—in the original old typeset—but have tefillah and the yamim tovim according to then rendering a ruling. R. Naeh writes in been out of print for around a decade. Now, Sefardi custom with an Arabic translation. his introduction to Ketzos Hashulchan that these popular classics are finally available Returning to Yerushalayim, R. Naeh began not everyone has the time to study the Alter again, and, for the first time, published in a to work for the Beis Din of the Eidah Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch properly, and for this completely new edition. Hachareidis as a secretary, in addition to other reason he has written an abridged version. In this review, we will survey the contents communal roles. Later, he was a founding The methodology of Ketzos Hashulchan is of R. Chaim Naeh’s seforim, explore their member of the Badatz of Agudas Yisrael. R. to use the Alter Rebbe’s actual words as the unique function and style, and describe the Naeh passed away in 5714, at the relatively base, re-edited and reorganized in order to improvements of the new edition. young age of 64. present the practical halachos in the most To better understand R. Naeh’s life work, it is The full story of R. Naeh’s fascinating life can practical manner. helpful to first briefly survey his life story. Born be found in Nodah Beshiurim, by Shneur To this end, Ketzos Hashulchan omits the in Chevron in 5650 to a longtime Lubavitcher Zalman Berger. variant opinions discussed by the Alter family, R. Naeh was sent by Rebbe Rashab to Samarkand at age 21, to serve as a Rov for the Ketzos Hashulchan To subscribe and receive A Look local Bucharian community. Ketzos Hashulchan was originally published Inside the Book in your inbox, email Noting the lack of knowledge of by R. Naeh in nine volumes over the course [email protected] basic halachos among the Bucharian youth, of almost 30 years, with the first volume he wrote his first sefer titled Chanoch Lanaar, hilchos tefillin according to Sefardi custom—in Bucharian. This was R. Naeh’s first sefer, and it set the pattern for all the Available at: ones that followed—identifying a public lack SeforimDeals.com/ of clarity in an area of practical halachic and LookInBook immediately writing a sefer to address it. R. Naeh spent a few months in Lubavitch Rebbe, leaving only his final decision. Another noteworthy point regarding Ketzos when it occurred on Shabbos, during the time Uncommon halachos are also omitted. Hashulchan is that it contains halachos that of the Beis Hamikdash: everyone would bring However, unlike the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and are missing from the Alter Rebbe’s their lulavim to shul before Shabbos, and in other abridged works of halachah, Ketzos Shulchan Aruch. The halachos pertaining the morning they would identify their set and Hashulchan does include the rationale for to topics such as kerias haTorah, fulfill the . the halachos, a matter the Alter Rebbe placed mincha and maariv, and beis haknesses, are Thinking practically, R. Naeh writes that strong emphasis on. all summarized based on the classic poskim, the lulavim must have been placed in a pile in Importantly, on the not-infrequent occasions and in accordance with the rulings of the the shul, and in order for a person to find their when the Alter Rebbe changed his mind in Alter Rebbe on these topics in other contexts own—on the first day of Sukkos one may not his Siddur, Ketzos Hashulchan only brings the and Chabad. use a borrowed lulav—they would have had to final ruling given in the Siddur. The pesakim of The final volume of Ketzos Hashulchan includes sift through the pile. Here R. Naeh finds proof the Tzemach Tzedek are also included, along a number of related kuntreisim published by for his earlier argument, that sifting through with relevant minhagei Chabad. the mechaber. Piskei Hasidur highlights and a pile to find one’s belongings is indeed To the base of the abridged words of discusses all of the differences between the permissible. the Alter Rebbe, R. Naeh adds some Alter Rebbe’s rulings in the Shulchan Aruch A very important feature of the Badei practical halachos found in later poskim. In his and Sidur, Kuntres Hasidur comments on Hashulchan footnotes is the application of humility, whenever R. Naeh adds even a word apparent printing mistakes in the siddur, the halachos to contemporary questions. of his own—as explanation or addressing a and Kuntres Hashulchan notes apparent R. Naeh was a pioneer in this regard, the new matter—he encloses it in square brackets. printing mistakes in the Alter Rebbe’s first posek to address many of these issues. Shulchan Aruch (most of these have been To make the halachos as clear as possible, R. Returning to our earlier example of accepted and corrected in the new edition of Naeh also reorganizes them. The halachos are the halachos of treating the sick on the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch). re-divided into a new structure of simanim, Shabbos, Badei Hashulchan (end of siman 138) and within each siman the order of the Badei Hashulchan addresses many practical questions not found halachos is also changed. While the Alter Under the overall title of Ketzos Hashulchan, in the earlier poskim. Examples include taking Rebbe and the mechaber’s Shulchan Aruch these seforim are actually comprised of two medicine for a headache (allowed only if the follow an order dictated by the internal logic of parts: the body of Ketzos Hashulchan contain person is bedridden), sleeping pills (allowed), the halachic topics, R. Naeh’s order is dictated ing halachos collected from the Alter Rebbe using toothpaste (allowed, but it shouldn’t by practicality—presenting the halachos in and other poskim as described above, and the be placed on the toothbrush), and applying the clearest and most user-friendly structure. footnotes titled Badei Hashulchan. mosquito repellent lotion (allowed). For example, we will take the halachos of While the body of Ketzos Hashulchan expresses True to form, R. Naeh shows a full treating the sick on Shabbos. In the author’s practical organizational skills, the understanding of the practical dimensions the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, extensive Badei Hashulchan footnotes express of the contemporary questions he addresses, these halachos appear in one siman, divided his incredible breadth of knowledge and enabling him to not only apply the halachah to into 55 lengthy se’ifim (siman 328). The analytical genius. them, but also give guidance for how to solve order follows the flow of the internal logic Badei Hashulchan footnotes the sources of the practical problems raised. of the sugyos, making it very difficult for the the halachos stated in the Ketzos Hashulchan, For example, in Badei Hashulchan 130:21 layman to extract practical guidance. In discusses and analyzes their sources, and R. Naeh discusses the question of pouring the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch there are only nine also applies the halachic principles to water on concrete on Shabbos, showing short se’ifim short on this topic (siman 92), contemporary questions. These notes are very complete familiarity with the actual process with very few details. lengthy, especially in hilchos Shabbos, where of hardening concrete. As a result, aside from Ketzos Hashulchan divides the halachos of one se’if is sometimes followed by multiple stating that this is forbidden on Shabbos as treating the sick into five separate, pages of detailed discussion. a derivative of the melachah of losh (kneadin smaller, simanim (134-138), and completely R. Naeh’s uniquely practical mind can g), he is able to give practical advice for how reorganizes the halachos to follow a also be seen in the in-depth analyses of a frum construction worker can avoid the more practical-oriented structure. The halachic theory. In Badei Hashulchan 125:20 need to do it on Shabbos. five simanim follow the order of of people R. Naeh discusses the halachos of borer [ The Rebbeim greatly appreciated and that are sick but not in mortal danger (134), selecting, or sorting] on Shabbos, as they encouraged R. Naeh’s work explaining the sick people in mortal danger (135), treatment pertain to the practical scenario of looking Alter Rebbe’s rulings and making them of bodily wounds (136), definition of certain for one’s coat within a pile of garments. accessible. The Friediker Rebbe sent a letter issues that constitute mortal danger according Earlier poskim discussed the possible halachic of blessing published at the beginning of to halachah (137), and then some additional problem sifting through the clothing entails, volume 6, and the original edition of volume details about the treatment of specific issues and some actually forbid doing so if one 7 has the Rebbe at the top of the list of that don’t pose a mortal danger (138). doesn’t know from the outset exactly where contributors towards publication (see Nodah Within the simanim themselves there is also his coat is (see Berurah 319:15, Beshiurim, p. 221). a clear practical order: siman 134 begins and Shevisas HaShabbos, borer 13:27). R. Naeh maintained an ongoing by establishing five categories of non- In his discussion of this question, R. Naeh builds correspondence with the Rebbe concerning endangered sick people and then proceeds a halachic case for its permissibility. Then he matters of halachah and minhag, beginning in to detail the halachos pertaining to each of brings an original proof for the correctness the years before the Rebbe’s nesius. The Rebbe them. In this way, the layman is able to learn of his conclusion. The Mishnah (Sukkah 3:13) praised R. Naeh’s passion for the study and the halachos and emerge with a clear and relates how people would fulfill the mitzvah dissemination of the Alter Rebbe’s halachic practical understanding of them. of lulav and esrog on the first day of Yom Tov opinions and the careful and precise manner in which he approached it (Sichos Kodesh 5735, and a table of contents for the entire volume When this review was later published vol. p. 49; see also p. 496). appears at the beginning of each volume. in Soferim Usoferim, R. Zevin wrote an He’aros Lemaaseh The final volume contains a number of helpful addendum noting that the author has since indexes. There is detailed table of contents for As part of his mission to spread the passed away without implementing his all of the major topics covered in the Ketzos knowledge of practical halachah, R. Naeh recommendation, but he advises his son, a Hashulchan and Badei Hashulchan (this wrote a column in Hamodia newspaper great talmid chacham in his own right, to should preferably have been included at the titled He’aros Lemaaseh, focusing on timely beginning of each volume), an alphabetic publish such an edition. It is thus appropriate and relevant halachos. Rabbonim writing index for the topics, and a very helpful index to continue to recommend the publication on halachah in newspapers was a novel according to the order of the Shulchan Aruch of an abridged edition, now addressed to concept at the time, but for R. Naeh it was of the mechaber showing where the content the grandsons of R. Naeh, also fine talmidei just a natural extension of his life mission, of every se’if in the Shulchan Aruch and its chachamim. to further awareness and observance of commentaries—including the Mishnah practical halachah. In order to preserve the value of the practical Berurah—is discussed in the Ketzos and contemporary halachic issues addressed These columns were first collected and Hashulchan and Badei Hashulchan. published as a book in 5774, and this in the Badei Hashulchan it would be best to One improvement that could have been made volume is now included in the new edition would have been to repunctuate the seforim. produce an abridged Piskei Badei Hashulchan, of the set of Ketzos Hashulchan. He’aros Punctuation standards have evolved greatly including just the final ruling with brief Lemaaseh addresses topics such as hilchos over the past 80 years and updating this would rationale, in the style of the Ketzos Hashulchan. tefillah, yamim tovim, and shemitah, pointing make the seforim a more fluent read. In addition, it would be appropriate to add out practical halachos that the public isn’t directives from Sefer Haminhagim, which sufficiently aware of and rendering original Shiurei Torah was not yet published when the Ketzos rulings on new halachic questions of the time. R. Chaim Naeh’s name is synonymous The Rebbe read these columns and sometimes with shiurim, the halachic measurements Hashulchan originally appeared. The sent R. Naeh comments on them. In one he calculated. Over the ages, rishonim an footnotes referencing sources for the Ketzos article R. Naeh writes that one of the gedolei d achronim gave different measurements Hashulchan should also be included. hador asked him to call attention to the issue for the halachic shiurim, using weights and Such an abridged version of Ketzos Hashulchan, of people neglecting to answer amein to items common in their time and place. which should fit into a single volume, would the berachah of hagomel, responding With the advent of standardized systems of be well suited for use in schools. Currently, only with mi shegemalcha tov etc. This measurements the need arose to translate unnamed gadol was in fact the Rebbe, who the shiurim into these systems. R. Chaim halachah is usually learned in Chabad called attention to this issue in a letter to R. Naeh was the pioneer in this field, and schools from the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, using Naeh (Igros Kodesh, vol. 4, p. 260). his shiurim remain the most commonly an edition including notes regarding the The sefer of He’aros Lemaaseh also includes accepted. Alter Rebbe’s rulings and minhagei Chabad a kuntres on the topic of the time of alos Shiurei Torah and Shiurei Mikvah are assembled by Harav Levi Bistritzky. hashachar, and a kuntres titled Tiferes Beis the seforim in which R. Chaim Naeh built Learning halachah from the Ketzos Avos, including teshuvos from R. Naeh’s the case for his measurements. These Hashulchan would offer the advantage of ancestors and descendants. fascinating seforim attest to the author’s learning from the Alter Rebbe’s own (lightly incredible mastery of all the relevant Torah The New Edition edited) words, and also include more practical literature, as well as his talents in mathematics The new edition of Ketzos Hashulchan contains and geometry. and contemporary halachos. a number of welcome features. Most obviously, A proper review of these seforim, and the new Conclusion the sefer has been fully retypset and now edition of them, is beyond the scope of this appears in a clear and readable font. In the Ketzos Hashulchan is a classic work of article. These seforim are sold separately from old edition, the Badei Hashulchan appeared the Ketzos Hashulchan, and the presentation halachah appropriate for all levels of learners. in long run on paragraphs, and in some of the of the new edition follows the same format, Schoolchildren will appreciate he clear and volumes there is no division into paragraphs with much new material added. concise halachos. Bochurim and yungerlei at all, making it very difficult to find a specific t studying halachah in depth will find the point or topic. The new edition breaks up Suggestion: body of the Ketzos Hashulchan very useful as the Badei Hashulchan into clearly divided An Abridged Ketzos paragraphs with headers summarizing the Hashulchan a chazarah aid, and will also enjoy the in-depth content, rendering it very user-friendly. In his learned review of the original volume analysis of the Badei Hashulchan. Laymen will Miluim the author included at the end 7 of Ketzos Hashulchan, Harav Shlomo Yosef benefit from the practical presentation and of later volumes are now inserted in the Zevin pointed out that the length and depth the contemporary questions addressed. relevant places and indicated accordingly. of the Badei Hashulchan footnotes hinders The new edition of Ketzos Hashulchan is a The final siman of Ketzos Hashulchan in the the goal of the sefer to serve as a kitzur of the delight to use. Even those that own the old original print was missing a few pages at the Shulchan Aruch. edition should positively consider buying the end, and these have now been published from R. Zevin recommended that a separate new one for its many advantages. the author’s ksav yad for the first time. edition be published including just the body The original division into nine chalokim has of the Ketzos Hashulchan, so that those who Ketzos Hashulchan and Shiurei Torah—Shiur now effectively been erased, with the pages wish should be able to comfortably use Mikva can be purchased at of the seforim all numbered consecutively, the sefer solely as a kitzur. SeforimDeals.com/LookInBook