Customs and Guidelines for Writing a Pan and Visiting the Ohel

Writing a Pan

It is customary to write the pan on blank, unlined paper.

A pan begins with the words אנא לעורר רחמים רבים, followed by עלי (or עלינו) if you are writing on behalf of yourself (and your family), or עבור if writing on behalf of others. This is followed by the name(s) and mother’s name(s) of the people you wish to mention.

Visiting the Ohel

• Do not eat before entering the Ohel, but make sure to drink.
• Wear non-leather shoes or slippers when entering the Ohel.
• Make sure your tzitzis are not visible.
• Knock on the door of the Ohel before entering.
• After reading your pan, rip it up and place it in the enclosure.
• When leaving the Ohel, exit backwards.
• Wash negel vaser after leaving the Ohel.
• Kohanim may enter the Ohel, since a fence ten tefachim high separates the walkway leading to the Ohel from the surrounding kevarim. However, when in the Ohel, they should remain four tefachim away from the enclosure surrounding the Rebbeim, and they should ask someone else to deposit their panim inside.

Minchah

After Minchah, the last section of the maamar Ve’atah Tetzaveh is reviewed. Additionally, study a chapter of Tanya.

Additional Hanhagos to Be Done Over the Course of the Day

• Study chapters of Mishnayos that correspond to the Rebbe’s name.
• Participate in a farbrengen.