- All the Questions
havdala- zarenu v’shlomenu or v’kaspenu
Question
Iv’e heard some people sing in HaMavdil, "zarenu v’shlomenu", while in most siddurim it’s written: "zarenu v’kaspenu". Where does the new version come from and is it legitimate?
Answer
Shalom Ari,
Being that wer’e talking about a piyut (prayerful song) and not a halacha, both are legitimate. The more original version is a prayer for wealth (kaspenu), on the other hand, the Vilna Gaon (Ma’aseh Rav, 150), who is infinitely a greater authority than the unknown “Yitzchak haKatan” who wrote the poem, purposely changed it to a prayer for peace and perfection (shlomenu). His motive was apparently in line with our rabbis teaching that wealth isn’t important, and to the contrary, it often corrupts one’s values and priorities, and that it’s actually preferable to be middle-class. Rav Kook, as one who often follows the Gra (the Vilna Gaon), also follows this more idealistic and value-bearing custom in Olat Re’iya, saying "zarenu v’shlomenu", that’s what’s printed in Siddur Rinat Yisrael, and that’s how I myself do.
With Love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat

Listening to Relaxing Music During Omer
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 5, 5783

Micro-wave oven
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 1 Cheshvan 5766

Wearing A Tallit on Rosh Hashanah Eve
Various Rabbis | 29 Elul 5764

Popcorn at the cinema
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 8, 5773

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

How to manage to not listen Loshon Hara?
Adar I 23, 5771

Ayin hara and Rambam
Tevet 28, 5771

Evils Spirits & Ghosts
Adar II 25, 5771

Fasting or giving Tzedaka on seeing Sefer Torah fallen
Shevat 7, 5771

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Carrying House Keys
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 14, 5774

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Solar fan
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 17, 5783
