‘The Ignorance Is Truly Shocking’

Throughout the early years of the nesius, in correspondence with rabbonim and mechanchim, the Rebbe repeatedly stressed the critical need to incorporate practical halacha in yeshivos and shiurim.

When Reb Moshe Vinarski, a baal mesiras nefesh from Russia, expressed concern over bochurim’s ignorance of basic halacha, the Rebbe noted that poskim had decried this gap for generations. The Rebbe then added a personal note: “From time to time, at farbrengens, I encourage the urgent necessity to learn the halachos necessary for daily living.”

In a letter to a rov who had notified the Rebbe of his in-depth shiurim, the Rebbe encouraged him but emphasized the need to study everyday halachos, noting that those learning in depth often overlook this study.

When the chossid Reb Gershon Chein wrote to the Rebbe about the various shiurim he was giving, the Rebbe expressed his pleasure and added:

“Surprisingly, there’s no shiur on everyday halachos, in which the ignorance is truly shocking … If I could, I would institute this study in all mosdos, starting with kindergarten children and continuing throughout yeshiva and kollel.”