Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
-2
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1answer
46 views
What allowed Jews to change the way they pronounced words?
The way we pronounce words has changed over many years and we now have many different customs. Many of the changes derive from Jews moving to different geographic locations and adopting similar ...
1
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0answers
21 views
Not making a wedding on the first 3 days of a month
I've heard there is a custom (practiced in various kehillas, I heard Belz is one of them) to not make a wedding on the first 3 days of a month (meaning alef, beis, or gimmel of a particular month.) ...
0
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0answers
25 views
chassan/kallah signing the kesubah or tenaaim
I have seen bridegrooms and brides sign their names on their kesuba or tenaaim (prenup) before the chuppah (wedding ceremony). It seems maybe to be a chassidish custom, though I'm not sure.
Is there ...
8
votes
1answer
162 views
Why do we mention dreams during *Birchas Kohanim*?
I don't know how many sects actually do this, but some people have the custom to say a tehfillah which is all about dreams. In it we ask Hashem to make all our good dreams come true whether "...I have ...
13
votes
4answers
810 views
Which passages comprise the classic Tikkun Leil Shavuot?
As we count down to Shavuot, I find myself wondering:
[First, some background for those who don't know what a Tikkun Leil Shavuot is]
According to tradition, we overslept the morning of Matan Torah ...
0
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0answers
21 views
What are the parameters of 'minhag yisrael'?
I went to a non-Jewish self-catering apartment and I was discussing with my friend whether we can use the utensils or not. Of course, if they are clean and used for cold there are no problems. We ...
9
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4answers
366 views
Why do we eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
Why do we have a Minhag to eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
0
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1answer
72 views
Is there an inyan to eat Cheesecake on Shavuos?
I know everybody does it, and I know there is an inyan to eat dairy, but is there an inyan specifically for eating cheesecake on Shavuos? And if so, where does it come from?
3
votes
1answer
46 views
Why do children wear crowns on Shavuot?
Here in Israel, the tradition is for young children to wear flower crowns to celebrate Shavuot. (Along with the obligatory white shirts.) See my twins:
Why is this? Is it related to Shabbat 88A ??
...
2
votes
2answers
286 views
End of Davening - Al Tira MiPachad Pisom
It seems like (other than Chabad) most people do not say Al Tira at the end of davening - they finish with the end of Aleinu/V'Al Kein. Is this an error or is this intentional? If it is intentional ...
4
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3answers
136 views
6
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3answers
225 views
spitting in aleinu leshabeach
Does anyone know the origin of the custom to spit in Aleinu after the words
Shehem mishtachvim lahevel vlarik
Where did it start? and in which sforim it is mentioned?
I have seen the sefer Hayom ...
4
votes
1answer
155 views
Aleinu L'Shabeach - Nusach HaTefila
The words "Sheheim Mishtachavim Li-Hevel Voryk Umispallelim El Eil Lo-Yoshiya" - Was this originally part of Aleinu and then removed, or was it added later to Aleinu? Why was this done?
5
votes
4answers
166 views
When do we say “Alenu L'shabe'ach”?
What are all the times when we say the t'fila beginning with the words "עלינו לשבח" commonly known as "Alenu"?
4
votes
1answer
38 views
What is the source for a Bar Mitzva seuda?
What sources are there for our minhag of doing a Bar Mitzva Seuda (meal), and do the sources state that the seuda must specifically be done on the day of the Bar Mitzva (or the night of)? And is this ...
11
votes
2answers
210 views
May one walk under the Arch of Titus?
I have heard that it is prohibited (or at least that the custom is not) to walk under the Arch of Titus in Rome. Is this accurate? If so, what is the source? Would it make a difference if a large ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
When the first of the 3 days of hagbalah is Sunday, are haircuts permitted the Friday before?
When lag b’omer fell on a Sunday, it was permitted to take a haircut on the Friday before for the honour of Shabbos.
This year the first day of the three days of hagbalah also falls on Sunday and ...
6
votes
3answers
137 views
Misreading a k'suva
The k'suva text varies slightly depending on whether the bride is a virgin, independent of whether she has been married previously. (For one thing, the amount of money mentioned in it is different; ...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
Is there a custom that the person who makes the siyum on the fast of the first-born should be a bechor?
I have notcied that at my shul, whoever gives the siyum on the fast of the first-born each year before Pesach is always a first-born himself. Is this a generally practiced custom? I cannot imagine a ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Rules for Cutting Nails
My question about nail-cutting is whether each of the following is halacha, minhag, or old-wives' tales.
Not cutting both fingernails and toenails on the same day.
Not cutting nails at night (is ...
6
votes
1answer
49 views
Hatoras Nedarim for wife taking her husband's Minhagim
According to Minchas Yaakov 112:2 and Darchei Teshuva 112:94, one who is always careful with Pas Yisrael and now wants to start eating Pas Paltar would have to be Matir Neder. Suppose a girl who was ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
Chopping items makes them Kitniyoth?
This article has a line in a recipe that suggests that chopping an ingredient will make it Kitniyoth. The entire recipe is below with the line in question highlighted:
JICAMA APPLE SLAW
From ...
2
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0answers
53 views
Blowing shofar at a wedding
Friends of mine are getting married this Sunday and asked me if I would blow shofar at the chuppah. I have been ba'al toke'a probably 2/3 of the years since my bar mitzvah (2002) in three different ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
When does the cantillation for Ester and other books change?
Sometimes people read some verses in Ester and other books in a different cantillation. For example, in Ester, some read the verse of "אשר הגלה מירושלים" to the tune of Eichah, and the Mishnah Brurah ...
3
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1answer
162 views
Where does it say that one must wear two layers on their head(one of the reasons for the black hat)?
I know that a reason for wearing a black hat is because one must wear two layers covering their head (Mishna Brurah 91:5) but am wondering if that Din is based in Kabbalah?
9
votes
1answer
175 views
Not to give a divorce (Get) in the month of Iyar
I heard today in Shul that there is a Minhag not to give a divorce in the month of Iyar. What is the source and reason for this Minhag?
4
votes
2answers
227 views
When did the use of Rashei Tevot, Heh Kuf, הק׳ in writings, books, letters, etc., begin?
Perhaps I'm among the last to have found this out, but it took me quite a while to understand why, in a signature, the name was preceeded by a הק׳. THe Ozar Rashei Tevot book has 31 different ...
1
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0answers
53 views
When did the Kanievsky family switch from Chasidic to Litvish?
R' Chaim Kanievsky shlita davens Ashkenaz and wears Ashkenazi tefilin. His grandfather z'l was a Chernobyler chasid. It's not clear to me how the Steipler Gaon ztz'l conducted himself with regards ...
4
votes
3answers
300 views
Aufruf and Shabbat Chatan?
Why is an aufruf (Askenazim) before and a shabbat chatan (sefardim) after the wedding? I know there is an idea of a chaasan going to shul from the Pirkei d'Reb Eliezer 17 but how did it get split ...
2
votes
2answers
80 views
Holocaust Rembrance Day(s)?
What is with the different Holocaust Remembrance Days?
When I was a kid, my entire community observed Yom HaShoah. This came about approximately one week after Pesaḥ. Although I'm not totally sure, I ...
5
votes
1answer
58 views
What is the origin of the dispute on which way to wrap tefilin shel yad?
Non-Chasidic Ashkenazim wrap their tefilin shel yad inward toward the body when coming over the top of the arm, while Sefardim and Chasidim wrap outward away from the body when coming over the top of ...
7
votes
2answers
87 views
Why omit “Av harachamim” for the four parashiyos?
"Av harachamim" is a prayer asking God to recall those who died al kidush hashem. It was written in response to the First Crusade (and is thus said only in the Ashk'nazi rite). Because of its somber ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
What is a Shabbos Kallah?
A common tradition that I have observed is for a kallah to have a "Shabbos Kallah" on the shabbos before her wedding. What exactly is a shabbos kallah and why do people have them?
14
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4answers
174 views
Why is Lag Baomer celebrated the way it is (or at all)?
Why do we celebrate lag baomer with bon-fires and bow-and-arrow. Why do we celebrate lag baomer at all?
2
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1answer
66 views
Bar Mitzvah candle-lighting?
I was recently invited to a bar mitzvah celebration and mention was made of a “candle lighting ceremony”. I’d never heard of such a thing, and Google turns up pretty vague references.
Which segments ...
7
votes
3answers
174 views
Which parts of the head should be covered by the kippa?
I understand that it is a widespread minhag for men to wear a head covering. Recently I have seen kippot covering different portions of the head. So please tell me which parts of the head should be ...
11
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4answers
363 views
Getting married in age order
Those that refrain from allowing a younger sibling to get married prior to an older sibling mention the verse from Lavan, "Lo Yaiose Kain BimiKomeinu Losais Hatziyira Lifnei HaBechira, In our locale ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Reasoning for doing/not doing mourning customs in second half of the omer
In my observation, most people observe certain mourning customs between the beginning of sefirat ha'omer and lag b'omer (such as refraining from shaving, listening to live music, etc.). Some people ...
6
votes
3answers
139 views
Bedikas Chometz - why use a wooden spoon?
The common custom that I am aware of is that a Bedikas Chometz set has a wooden spoon. Why do we use a wood spoon by Bedikas Chometz?
6
votes
1answer
116 views
Origin of the nine days
I just learned a gemara (taanit 30a) that seems to pretty clearly state that the mourning for tisha b'av starts the beginning of the week that tisha b'av falls out on, and ends with tisha b'av itself.
...
2
votes
1answer
37 views
Tachanun on Pesach Sheni - sources for the diffferent customs
Some say Tachanun on Pesach Sheni (14 Iyar); some do not; some do not say Tachanun on 14 & 15 Iyar.
What are the sources for these customs?
See related Why do we do anything for Pesach Sheini? ...
9
votes
3answers
290 views
Wedding ring composition
I was recently told that the ring used for kiddushin should be made entirely out of one kind of metal (usually gold), with no other adornments such as diamonds, etc. I had been under the impression ...
5
votes
2answers
255 views
Why is it customary for Jews to grow beards?
What is the reason for growing one's beard? Many rabbis have beards. Why?
19
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2answers
168 views
Matza on 14 Iyar
I have seen a custom (it seems to me primarily among Chassidim) to eat matza on 14 Iyar (known as Pesach Sheni). What is the earliest source for this custom? What are the reasons given for following ...
4
votes
2answers
84 views
Why do we do anything for Pesach Sheini?
According to my handy Luach, on Pesach Sheini, some people omit tachanun (I haven't looked into any source texts to see who does) and according to the Wikipedia page, some eat matzah but I'm wondering ...
1
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0answers
25 views
Meditation before Mitzvah activities
Who invented the meditation that is often printed before such things as counting the 'Omer, inviting the Ushpizin, and other Mitzvoth or Mitzvah-related activities, and what is the basis for it?
4
votes
2answers
62 views
When should one change one's Minhag with one's Makom (and when should one not)?
I know there are conflicting views on certain issues relating to following a local custom vs. one's family custom. However, what are the general concepts that are applied in determining the Halachah?
...
0
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0answers
43 views
How should the items on the noticeboard in the synagogue be arranged?
On a board where the name of the week’s parsha and the relevant additions in the prayers are displayed as shown here for example, is there an order of placing the items accepted by halacha or minhag?
...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Singing Lecha Dodi before Shabbos
In every community I have been in there is a custom to sing Lecha Dodi, sometimes along with yedid nefesh or shir hashirim, during kabbalat shabbat. Are there any communities which do not sing lecha ...
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Noda B'Yehuda and the Tzavah of Rebbe Yehuda HaChossid
The Noda B'Yehuda (Tinyanah Evan HaEzer Siman 79) famously writes in regards to making a match between a bachelor that has the same name as the father of the potential bride that one need not be ...
