Kehot Reprints Historic Responsa

Anticipation is mounting among Chasidim and devotees of Torah scholarship for the newly published “Tzemach Tzedek—Shaalot u’Teshuvot Orach Chayim,” by the third Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, of blessed memory.

Penned over a period of 50 years in response to halachic queries by leading rabbinical figures in White Russia, Lithuania and Ukraine, the responsa were renowned for their profundity, erudition and comprehensiveness.

It was first published in 1871 and 1884 after his passing under the name “Tzemach Tzedek,” which in Hebrew is the gematria of his name: (Tzemach (138)=Menachem, and Tzedek (194)=Mendel.

From then on, the third Rebbe himself was referred to by the name of his magnum opus “(the Rebbe) the Tzemach Tzedek.” The complete printed work consists of six volumes (including Piskei Dinim and Chidushim leShas).

In 1946, the Rebbe edited and published the work again, adding an additional volume, footnotes and a short biography of the “Tzemach Tzedek.” Additional editions of the series were published over the years, the last being in 1994 (when the entire work was typeset in a more readable, modern font, and with much original material collected over the years).

The current, newly revised edition, skillfully annotated and commentated by Rabbi Dovid Moishe Meisels and a team of scholars at Kehot’s Chabad Research Center, brings the responsa of the “Tzemach Tzedek” to life.

Whereas the previous editions were perhaps daunting on the average student, the new edition guides the reader through the intricacies of the legal/halachic issue at hand by employing various explanatory techniques.

The two-volume set covers the responsa on the section of Orach Chayim, and comprises more than 1,000 pages. Work has already commenced on the enormous task of preparing the further sections for print. This includes comparing the printed material with the original manuscripts and weeding out any errors found in the previous editions; adding paragraphs and punctuation; adding explanatory notes, glosses and synopses.

The completed set, covering the four sections of Shulchan Aruch, will comprise more than 20 volumes. This multi-year project is being generously sponsored by philanthropists Rabbi Dovid and Gitel Fischer, long-time supporters of Kehot Publication Society.

Printed in Israel, the books are due to arrive in the United States around Chof Av, and will be available for sale at the Kehot Showroom in Crown Heights and fine Judaica stores everywhere. It will also be available at kehot.com.

The books are already available for purchase in Israel, at the Kehot store in Kfar Chabad and at Heichal Menachem, in Jerusalem.

The Fischers have also graciously subsidized the price of the set, making it available for only $20 dollars—a savings of 60% off the list price of $49.95. This special, introductory price will be good through Yud-Gimel Tishrei, yahrzeit of the “Tzemach Tzedek’s” successor, the Rebbe Maharash.

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