Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5482 — Prayer
Volume 15 · Letter 158 · To: distingué ‘Hassid qui craint D.ieu
B"H
25 Iyar 5717
Brooklyn
To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem,
Rav Yisroel Moshe (note: Rav Yisroel Moshe Gelis, of Brooklyn),
Greetings and blessings,
I am responding to your letter, in which you ask me whether a heter iska* (permission for commercial dealings) is necessary for the loan being granted to you by an institution in the Holy Land (note: although it is not from a private individual).
Everything depends on the manner in which this loan is granted. But in general, a heter iska is always preferable, in order to remove any doubt — especially since one does not always know all the details of how the loan is structured.
You ask me about the possibility of omitting passages of the prayer in order to keep pace with the congregation. A very clear teaching has been given on this matter. Despite all the permissions one may find in this regard, practically speaking, one should not do so. One can, however, come earlier to the synagogue so as to be able to keep pace with the congregation.
It seems that you are considering traveling to our Holy Land, may it be restored and rebuilt very soon and in our days, by our righteous Moshiach*. Now, it is surely unnecessary to remind you of what the Tashbetz Katan* states. In such a case, one must commit to an additional scrupulous practice regarding the Torah and the mitzvos*. For being in the palace of the King cannot be compared to being outside of it.
Granted, the obligation to practice the Torah and the mitzvos is the same in every place and at every time. Nevertheless, it is clear that it is not the same when one is in the palace of the King — especially since this journey to the Holy Land is decided by the free choice of a Jew, who himself prepares the documents for it and receives the necessary authorizations from people. How much more, then, must one prepare oneself to go to a place like the Holy Land, "toward which the eyes of Hashem are always directed, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year" (Devarim 11:12), with all the appropriate precautions regarding the Torah and the mitzvos. May Hashem grant that you inform me of good news regarding all that has been said.
With my blessing,
On behalf of the Rebbe Shlita,
The secretary,