Q. This year Dec 25 falls on Shabbos, so Nitel will coincide with Leil Shabbos or Friday night. For some of us who carefully keep the Chassidic tradition of not learning Torah during Nitel night, does it apply also on Shabbos?
A. Nitei Gavriel (Chanuka p. 413, 6: 1) Quotes many opinions that it does for those who keep that tradition, and even the reciting of the Parsha with Targum should be avoided on that night. He mentions that most Tzadikim and Rebbes would not say at their Tish (table) any words of Torah. He writes that it is permitted to sing all Zemiros on this Shabbos.
However, others are lenient since after all Shabbos is a day of protection and the learning of Torah is part of the mitzva of rejoicing on Shabbos.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that although he does not keep the traditions of Nitel, he could understand why those who do, can be lenient during Shabbos.
Horav Dovid Pam's Shlit'a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
