Why a level 4 devoted to the Alter Rebbe? The Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe is not a commentary on the Mechaber — it is a standalone, complete Shulchan Aruch, written by the Alter Rebbe. Its uniqueness: it combines halacha + ta'amei ha-mitzvos + pnimius in one work, and rules with a unique talmudic sharpness.
For Chabad, the Alter Rebbe is הפוסק האחרון. This page gathers, for Siman רפ״ז, the complete text of the Rav, his chiddushim, and the divrei haRebbe that illuminate the topic.
→ Read the general introduction on the shitah of the Alter Rebbe
שלחן ערוך הרב — סימן רפ״ז
The full text of the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe (Shulchan Aruch HaRav)
סימן רפ״ז — נִחוּם אֲבֵלִים וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת — וּבוֹ ג סְעִיפִים
Source: Kehot edition, as reproduced on Sefaria. 3 seifim + 0 entries of Kuntress Acharon.
סעיף א נִחוּם אֲבֵלִים וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת וּבוֹ ג' סְעִיפִים: מֻתָּר לְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת. וְלֹא…
נִחוּם אֲבֵלִים וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת וּבוֹ ג' סְעִיפִים:
מֻתָּר לְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת. וְלֹא יְבַקֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים בְּחֹל: "הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם וְכוּ'", שֶׁעַל יְדֵי בַּקָּשַׁת רַחֲמִים יְעוֹרֵר בֶּכִי וְיִצְטַעֵר, אֶלָּא צָרִיךְ לְהַרְחִיב דַּעְתָּם בְּדִבְרֵי תַנְחוּמִים שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטַעֲרוּ בְּשַׁבָּת, שֶׁיֹּאמַר: "שַׁבָּת הִיא מִלִּזְעוֹק וּרְפוּאָה קְרוֹבָה לָבֹא, וְרַחֲמָיו מְרֻבִּים וְשִׁבְתוּ בְּשָׁלוֹם". וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִין לוֹמַר: "וְרַחֲמָיו מְרֻבִּים כוּ'". וְכֵן נָהֲגוּ.
וְכֵן הַשְּׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר כְּשֶׁמְּבָרֵךְ הַחוֹלֶה בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְאוֹמֵר "מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ כוּ'" — לֹא יֹאמַר: "הַמָּקוֹם יִשְׁלַח רְפוּאָה כוּ'", אֶלָּא יֹאמַר: "שַׁבָּת הִיא מִלִּזְעוֹק וּרְפוּאָה קְרוֹבָה לָבֹא":
Nichum aveilim and bikur cholim on Shabbos — and it contains 3 seifim:
It is permitted to visit the sick on Shabbos. But one shall not request rachamim for them in the manner one says during the week: "HaMakom yerachem etc.", since by the request for rachamim one would arouse weeping and distress. Rather, one must broaden their daas with words of consolation so that they not be distressed on Shabbos, saying: "Shabbos hi mi-lizok u-refuah kerovah lavo, ve-rachamav merubim ve-shivsu be-shalom" ("It is Shabbos — from crying out — and healing is near at hand, and His mercies are abundant; rest in peace"). And some say that one need not say "ve-rachamav merubim etc."; and so is the minhag.
Likewise the shaliach tzibbur, when he blesses the sick person in the beis ha-knesses and says "Mi sheberach etc." — he shall not say "HaMakom yishlach refuah etc.", but rather he shall say "Shabbos hi mi-lizok u-refuah kerovah lavo":
סעיף ב וּמֻתָּר לְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים בְּשַׁבָּת. וּמֻתָּר לוֹמַר כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים בְּחֹל: "הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֶמְךָ",…
וּמֻתָּר לְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים בְּשַׁבָּת. וּמֻתָּר לוֹמַר כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים בְּחֹל: "הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֶמְךָ", שֶׁעַל יְדֵי בַּקָּשָׁתוֹ עַל נֶחָמָתוֹ לֹא יְעוֹרֵר בֶּכִי:
And it is permitted to be menachem aveilim on Shabbos. And it is permitted to say in the manner one says during the week: "HaMakom yenachemcha" ("May the Omnipresent comfort you"), since by his request concerning the consolation he will not arouse weeping:
סעיף ג וּבְקֹשִׁי הִתִּירוּ לְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים וּלְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת, שֶׁמָּא יָבֹא לְהִצְטַעֵר עִמָּהֶם,…
וּבְקֹשִׁי הִתִּירוּ לְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים וּלְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים בְּשַׁבָּת, שֶׁמָּא יָבֹא לְהִצְטַעֵר עִמָּהֶם, וְלֹא כְּאוֹתָן שֶׁאֵין הוֹלְכִים כָּל יְמוֹת הַשָּׁבוּעַ רַק בְּשַׁבָּת לְבָד:
And only with difficulty did [the Sages] permit being menachem aveilim and visiting cholim on Shabbos, lest one come to be distressed with them. And one shall not be like those who do not go [to the sick and mourners] on any day of the week but only on Shabbos alone:
Kuntress Acharon — 0 entries (click to expand)
The Kuntress Acharon is the pilpul appendix of the Alter Rebbe — his halachic laboratory at the foot of the page.
חידושים מיוחדים של הרב
The chiddushim unique to the Rav on this siman
Original points that distinguish the Alter Rebbe on Siman רפ״ז. Each chiddush follows the structure: classical position → chiddush of the Rav → practical consequence.
Chiddush א — Adapted nuschaos (287:1-2)
Chiddush א — Adapted nuschaos (287:1-2)
No bakashah for refuah on Shabbos
Classical position: —
The Rav's chiddush: the Alter Rebbe formulates clearly: Shabbos is not the time for explicit bakashah — hence the nusach "Shabbos hi mi-liz'ok". Instead of bakashah — a declaration of hope. And: bikur cholim is not an opening for hesped, nor for words of tzaar which are forbidden on Shabbos.
Practical consequence: tool: to know the adapted nusach for bikur cholim on Shabbos, and to be careful about hesped and devarim beteilim that do not befit the kavod of the day.
סיכות, מאמרים ואגרות הרבי
The Rebbe's words on the topics of Siman רפ״ז
| Reference | Topic | Link with Siman רפ״ז |
|---|---|---|
| Likutei Sichos — various sichos on the topic | Application of the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe, Siman רפ״ז | The Rebbe cites the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe, Siman רפ״ז, and articulates the modern application. |
| Igros Kodesh — responses on practical cases | Practical cases related to the siman | The Rebbe's answers to Chassidim on practical questions falling within this siman — including avoidance of hesped and words of tzaar on Shabbos. |
⚠ Validation: the references above are research leads to be verified against the physical volumes of the Kehot edition. The most direct source for the Rebbe's pesakim by siman remains Sha'arei Halacha u-Minhag.
הלכה למעשה — מנהג חב״ד
Chabad practice — conduct in practice
Points of halachic conduct flowing directly from the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe, Siman רפ״ז, in the Chabad sensibility.
For the Chabad Chassid — Siman רפ״ז
- ① Bikur cholim on Shabbos = permitted and encouraged. Reference: Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe, רפ״ז:1-2.
- ② Adapted nusach: "Shabbos hi mi-liz'ok" without explicit bakashah. The logic: Shabbos prevents crying out, but HaKadosh Baruch Hu has rachamim.
- ③ Nichum aveilim on Shabbos = permitted with measured tone. Reference: Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe, רפ״ז:3. No hesped, no lamentation — with restraint.
- ④ Avoidance of words of tzaar and of devarim beteilim — both in the avel's house and by the choleh. The Chassidic presence expresses connection, not tzaar.
⚠ This section presents the Chabad halachic conduct. For any concrete question: consult your Rav.