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My shul davens "standard" Nusach Sfard. During Shabbat mincha, the sha''tz was a Chaba''d chasid. While we were returning the Torah, the sha''tz started saying Kaddish. (Nusach Chaba''d/Ari only says one paragraph: Yehallelu.) Also, as it was R' Schneerson's yahrtzeit last Shabbat, the sha''tz also did not say Tzidkatcha Tzedek.

After he finished davening, the gabbai asked him why he didn't follow minhag hamakom (the minhag of the shul that he is in, now). He responded that Nusach Ari is the only "authentic" nusach, and that Chaba''d never follows minhag hamakom.

I know nothing about this aspect of Chaba''d practice, and the gabbai was surprised to hear this. (As a matter of fact, he was annoyed.) Can someone verify if in fact this is Chaba''d "policy", or if this person was misinformed?

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    Probably misinformed. Note also that not saying Av HaRachamim*/*Tzidkatcha Tzedek then is highly controversial within Chabad itself.
    – user9643
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 15:15
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    I am literally rolling my eyes right now. Nusach Ari is not the only "authentic" nusach. That's just more Chabad superiority complex. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that one. Gosh, I daven Nusach Ari but saying it's the most "authentic" nusach is absurd. Tell the gabbai I'm so sorry for the chutzpah that happened here.
    – ezra
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 16:06
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    @ezra The Tefillin example is a little different. While I don't know the reason for Chabad, other authorities as well are lenient with regards to not putting on Tefillin on Chol Hamoed in a Shul that does. As long as one isn't 'making a statement' when he isn't putting on the Tefillin, it's no different than any other day when one doesn't put on Tefillin during davening for any other reason (i.e. upset stomach, forgot them at home, etc.).
    – Salmononius2
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 16:49
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    @DanF From my experience, Chabad ignores minhag hamakom.
    – ezra
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 17:26
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    @ezra Initial reaction - I find that disturbing. If this is the case, I can see, at least this gabbai, verifying if someone is Chaba"d before he lets him become shat"z. I would love to see you post an answer explaining why.
    – DanF
    Commented Jun 18, 2018 at 17:29

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Sounds like someone who didn't know what they were doing. There is no minhag in chabad to skip tachanun for a yartzeit. Those that skip tachanun on gimmel tammuz do so as a personal hergish bc of the connection to the rebbe rayatz but this should not be forced on others and he should follow community guidelines as the chazan. There is no source for claiming the the chabad nusach is the only valid one and in fact in the introduction to the teholas Hashem siddur there is an explanation of why there are multiple nusachos. In conclusion there is nothing about what this person did which is chabad policy.

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  • On a side note in regard to returning the Torah on shabbos minhag the chabad custom is to say kaddish slowly as the Torah is returned and not say any of the verses accompanying the carrying the Torah including the one in the siddur.
    – Dude
    Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 21:18
  • Are you Chaba"d, yourself, or how do you know for certain that this is Chaba"d policy?
    – DanF
    Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 21:53
  • Yes I am a lubavitcher and what this person allegedly did was arrogant. Claiming that only what you do is right is the farthest thing from chabad policy possible
    – Dude
    Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 22:35
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    This hasn't been my experience with Chabad. :) Depending on the Lubavitcher, they can be a little "pushy" when it comes to minhagim.
    – ezra
    Commented Jun 19, 2018 at 23:46
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    @Ouch! I've seen a variety. Come to NY, and you'll see it all ... and more! Dude - thanks for the info. I'm disturbed that I had to hear about this in this way. As I said, though, while I did watch what occurred, I heard the conversation part third-party. I suspect that the gabbai who relayed the story to me may have added his personal bias to the conversation. At any rate, that doesn't affect my admiration of Chabad's work, in general. Esp. in college campuses in the U.S., Chaba"d is frequently a spiritual life-saver. Maintain the great work!
    – DanF
    Commented Jun 20, 2018 at 18:03

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