Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
4
votes
3answers
208 views
Hebrew Pronunciation- Sephardic Ashkenaz
I often hear Ashkenazim pronouncing (or at least trying) Hebrew words in Tefila/Keriat HaTorah like Sephardim. It probably isn't only Religious Zionists but it seems to be only them. Where did the ...
6
votes
1answer
125 views
Why a formulaic greeting on ליל ראש השנה?
On Rosh Hashana night, it is customary to greet one another with "לשנה טובה תכתב (ותחתם)" (Rama 582:9, MB). People (in my experience) and machzorim (Rosh Hashana prayer books) treat this as ...
5
votes
1answer
100 views
How to practice when 2 customs collide
This question is inspired by recent news of events in Beit Shemesh.
What happens halachically when 2 customs collide and each custom affects the other side? In the case of modesty, for example, ...
7
votes
5answers
363 views
“Jumping” at the end of Shemoneh Esrei
Some people are accustomed to performing a few little "jumps" at the end of Shemoneh Esrei (after taking the requisite three steps backward and forward) by lifting their heels a number of times. Is ...
8
votes
3answers
427 views
Custom of not giving knives as a gift?
I'd heard that some people have a custom not to give knives as a gift (as knives are a sign of shortening life, not extending it); I asked one rabbi who said he hadn't heard of such a custom, but it ...
10
votes
2answers
307 views
Source for the practice of not blowing out candles/flames?
It seems that a custom exists not to blow out candles/flames, but rather extinguish them another way, such as waving in the air. (Snuffer anyone?) What is the source for this custom? I am including ...
6
votes
1answer
63 views
To sing or not to sing - Piyutim on Shabbath
Some Piyutim recited on Shabbath are widely (in the Ashkenazi world) sung by the congregation (usually in unison, but in some rare instances in the Ashkenazi world they are sung responsively). Among ...
6
votes
1answer
80 views
Shalom Aleichem in Kiddush Levana to an Aveil
We do not say Shalom Aleichem to a Aveil. What about saying Shalom Aleichem to an Aveil (after the Shiva, during the year of Aveilus) during Kiddush Levana - do you or do you not? (sources please)
8
votes
3answers
459 views
Why do some people have a custom to boil only odd numbers of eggs?
I heard that some still have a custom to boil only odd numbers of eggs at a time. I heard that the reason is if there is a blood-spot in an egg, the egg will be Battel Berov. This only explains why ...
4
votes
3answers
289 views
What practices are affected by a belief in demons?
Inspired by R' Slifkin's new monograph, Wrestling with Demons, and acknowledging the fact that the existence of sheidim and other things magical in nature is an age-old dispute, I am wondering about ...
5
votes
2answers
97 views
Little knots of wool on the bottom/side of the Tzitzit
On most Tallitot and Sephardi Tallitot Ketanot there are little knots on the bottom or side. What are they? Why are they there? What are their significance?
6
votes
3answers
168 views
How to bow during Shemone Esre
During the Shemone Esre, we bend our knees and then bow. I have observed two ways of doing this. One is to bend the knees, then to straighten the knees, and then to bow at the waist. The other is ...
4
votes
1answer
55 views
4
votes
2answers
76 views
Which night of Chanuka should you give out Chanuka Gelt?
Is there a specific night of Chanuka that is better to give out Chanuka Gelt?
4
votes
3answers
195 views
What's the deal with all the washings?
Sometimes we wash with a cup, sometimes not; sometimes we wash twice, sometimes thrice; and not everyone agrees on method or pattern in all cases. Who says which ways we are supposed to wash, in ...
5
votes
4answers
117 views
Is it required to knock on doors before entering?
Do we have to knock on people's doors before entering?
11
votes
1answer
145 views
Why do we say Layehudim Hayta Orah aloud?
In Havdalah, I noticed a virtually universal custom: when the one who is saying Havdalah reaches the Passuk of Layehudim Haytah Orah (ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה...), those who are being Yotzei Havdalah ...
14
votes
2answers
114 views
תהלת ה' ידבר פי - what's the origin?
In between the 'Shir HaMaalot' that precedes birchat hamazon and the the blessings themselves, there are a few psukim beginning תהלת ה' ידבר פי . Some people add these, and some don't. What's the ...
5
votes
2answers
114 views
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing Anim Zemiros?
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing the Shir Hakavod (or Anim Zemiros)? Why is it not like any other part of davenning where we use someone over barmitzvah?
7
votes
1answer
151 views
What is the origin of the custom to kiss a Mezuzah?
What is the source or origin of the custom to kiss a Mezuzah?
9
votes
1answer
158 views
Dipping fingers in Havdalah Wine
What is the source or origin of the custom to dip one's fingers in the wine poured over the candle to extinguish it at the conclusion of Havdalah?
As a side note, and a reason I'm tagging it this ...
3
votes
0answers
95 views
Proper Bracha on Chanuka candles [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Lhadlik ner (SHEL) Chanukah
What is the proper Nusach - Lehadlik Ner Shel Chanuka or LeHadlik Ner Chanuka?
6
votes
1answer
80 views
All these verses to say before havdala
Before saying the blessings relevant to havdala on motzei shabbos, we (Ashkenazim) include a bunch of p'sukim:
"הִנֵּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתִי אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד כִּי עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ יְהוָה וַיְהִי ...
6
votes
1answer
95 views
When is “vesain tal umotor” said in Australia?
When is "vesain tal umotor" said in the Southern Hemisphere eg Australia?
6
votes
1answer
88 views
Stops in the Sidrah Leyning - Rishon, Sheni etc
Who instituted Rishon, Sheni, Shelishi etc in the leyning of the Sidrah?
When was this done?
What are the principles which were applied to determine where the stop should be?
One would have thought ...
8
votes
2answers
102 views
Haftara reading customs
There seems to be a wide range of customs with regard to reading the haftara. In some shuls (mostly Chassidic) the one who is called up recites the berachah, and everyone then says the haftara quietly ...
7
votes
1answer
79 views
Sefer Torah enclosures
The Torah scrolls of Ashkenazim have a very different look than those of Sepharadim. Ashkenazim just roll the parchment onto two poles, and read it in a horizontal position; the Sepharadim install the ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
והוא ידרוש לציון עיר ה…
In the song "ברוך א׳ עליון" (text) is the line:
וְהוּא יִדְרֹשׁ לְצִיּוֹן עִיר הַנִּדָּחָה
My grandfather, ע״ה, when singing this line, would replace הַנִּדָּחָה with another word (I think ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Shalosh Seudos song - B'Vo'o M'Edom/Yetzave Tzur Chasdo
At Shalosh Seudos - the third Shabbos meal often the song B'Vo'o M'Edom/Yetzave Tzur Chasdo is sung. Some people/Shuls start from B'Vo'o M'Edom and some people/shuls start from Yetzave Tzur Chasdo. ...
10
votes
3answers
172 views
Flexibility in choice of verses for morning Kiddush
The morning Kiddush on Shabbat and holidays consists of one or more Torah verses followed by the blessing on the wine (or perhaps other beverage). I have seen in print and in practice various ...
8
votes
2answers
189 views
Does one need dry hands before washing?
I've always noticed people that make sure their hands are perfectly dry before washing (i.e. washing for eating bread). Why do people do so? Where does this apparent stringency come from?
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Why is moisture a chatzizah for netilas yadayim?
Why is moisture a chatzizah for netilas yadayim? I guess you can say that the hands must be completely clean, but then why don't you have to wipe your hands in middle? For example, one who washes his ...
18
votes
2answers
921 views
Questions about Polygamy in Jewish Law and Culture
I've recently been looking into polygamy (having more than 1 wife), and had a few cultural questions.
Was polygamy accepted at the time of David and Solomon? Were there any laws about it?
Was ...
4
votes
1answer
83 views
Extent of Gebroks
For those who have the minhag not to eat Gebroks on Pesach, how about dipping into undiluted fruit juices, which do not cause leavening? And what about dipping in water and eating it right away, ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Source of Dzikov customs
Does anyone know of a book of minhagim (practices) or a sidur (prayer book) of the chasidim of Dzikov (דזיקוב, sometimes דז׳יקוב)? (Or anything that would show their minhagim.)
Hebrewbooks.org ...
4
votes
1answer
324 views
Mizmor l'David (Psalms 23) at Shalosh Suedos
There is a common minhag (custom) to sing Mizmor l'David at Seudah Shlishis, the third Sabbath meal. It is common to sing this song three times in a row and I was asked this Shabbos by a friend why ...
5
votes
2answers
133 views
Lulav-shake count varying with shake history
T'hilas Hashem, the standard sidur (prayer book) of the Lubavitch chasidim, includes, passim, rulings of their first rabbi ("the Rav"), copied from his own sidur. The rules printed before halel ...
7
votes
3answers
258 views
What does “to confuse the Satan” mean?
There are several things we don't do in order "to confuse the Satan", like not blowing Shofar on Erev Rosh Hashana. How does it help? Does Satan not realize that Rosh Hashana
didn't pass yet? He ...
6
votes
1answer
81 views
Pounding the pavement WITH LEAVES?
Is hitting the Hoshanos on the ground a universal practice? And what is the source for this custom?
2
votes
1answer
58 views
Up all night Hoshanah Rabbah: why?
Why do we stay up all night on Hoshanah Rabbah, and what is its source?
10
votes
7answers
567 views
6
votes
2answers
105 views
Bal Toisif on the Four Minim
It seems that there exists a Minhag (a practice of the last Lubavitcher Rebbe Zatzal) of adding extra Hadassim or Aravos (Hashanos) — I am uncertain which, maybe both — to the standard 4 ...
3
votes
1answer
116 views
When cutting nails, which hand comes first?
When cutting nails there are some very specific instructions when cutting them. If I recall correctly, one is supposed to start with the left hand and then proceed to the right. This seems strange, as ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Trimming Toenails in sequence
As a follow up to the question "Rules for Cutting Nails" it occurred to me that while we spoke about the idea of not trimming one's nails in sequence (as well as discussing the relevancy of lenient ...
6
votes
2answers
249 views
What is the difference between dati, chasidish, and charedi?
How would one explain the distinctions between datim, chasidim, and charedim, especially to an American Jew who didn't know much about the Israeli religious spectrum? In particular, are all chasidim ...
5
votes
2answers
167 views
Why the difference in minhagim about wearing a kittel on Yom Kippur only, or also on Rosh Hashanah
My families minhag is to wear a kittel just on Yom Kippur (so I do). But in shul I see a number of folk with the minhag to wear it also on Rosh Hashanah.
I know it is related to Yom Hadin, and ...
5
votes
1answer
43 views
Why are we strict during the 10 days of repentance?
The lone halacha in Shulchan Aruch O.C. 603:
Even someone who is not careful about eating [pas akum], during the 10 days of repentance he must be careful.
Since the S.A. didn't mention stringencies ...
6
votes
1answer
208 views
Why does Lubavitch eat in the Sukkah when it rains?
I have always heard that while we do not eat in the Sukkah while it rains, those of Chabad do. Why is this so?
Found it on wikipedia too:
Though the halakha doesn't obligate one to eat or sleep ...
5
votes
1answer
99 views
Yehei Shmei Rabbah… Yisbarach
Not sure where it came from, but many people tend to say Yisbarach after the Amen Yehei Shmei Rabbah verse. Where did this come from? Is this correct?
3
votes
1answer
77 views
When to get an aliya for a Bar Mitzvah?
According to the new "Annotated Edition" of the Siddur Tehillas Hashem, a Bar Mitzvah bachur should get his first aliya either on Shabbos Mincha time, Monday, Thursday, or Rosh Chodesh.
I assume that ...
