Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
11
votes
0answers
191 views
Source for the minhag of 'gebrokts' [duplicate]
There is a not-uncommon minhag, primarily in chassidic circles called 'gebrokts' where matza is not allowed to come into contact with water during Pesach. What is the earliest source for this custom ...
10
votes
7answers
568 views
10
votes
4answers
185 views
Why fill the glass all the way to the top?
Why is it that when people make kiddush/havdallah they insist on filling up the cup all the way to the top, sometimes till it overflows just a little? Is this a documented minhag/custom etc...?
10
votes
3answers
392 views
Infant seeing reflection in mirror
I have heard that some people do not allow a child to see his or her reflection in a mirror before they can speak (or say their name, possibly). Is there any traditional source for this practice?
10
votes
3answers
246 views
Why do Jewish people sway while praying?
Is there a reason that people sway back and forth while praying?
I saw a lot of people pray like this, but I'm too shy to ask them why do they do this.
10
votes
3answers
360 views
Talis Gadol for Unmarried Individuals
In my minhag (and I believe it's minhag Ashkenaz), unmarried men do not wear a Talis Gadol (only a Talis Katan).
Why is this so?
10
votes
4answers
161 views
Not falling on hands for Tachnun
How come Sepharadim do not "fall on their faces" during Tachanun as Ashkenazim do, if the prayer is called "nefilat apa'im" (literally the falling of the faces)?
The Shulchan Aruch seems to hold of ...
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
170 views
Women and Mayim Acharonim
I very often eat at meals where after the meal, all of the men wash mayim acharonim, but none of the women do so.
I am aware of a number of halachic sources that say both men and women should wash ...
10
votes
2answers
156 views
What is the origin of giving “Pesicho” to the expectant husband?
What is the origin of the practice of giving “pesicho” (the honor of opening the Ark) to the husband whose wife is expecting a baby?
10
votes
2answers
280 views
40 minutes offset for candle lighting?
Several Zmanim apps are giving a choice on my "candle lighting offset". The default here is 40 minutes instead of the usual 18 minutes I've heard.
Why 40? Why do I even have a choice?
Does the fact ...
10
votes
2answers
309 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 ...
10
votes
3answers
317 views
May a Jew be a Freemason?
According to what I've been told by several people who have inquired of "practicing" (is that the right word?) Freemasons, and supported by Wikipedia, "Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it ...
10
votes
2answers
142 views
Different Teffilin, now what am I required to do?
If I do not have my regular Teffilin one morning and need to borrow someone else's, but that person's Teffilin are different from mine, is that sufficient, or should I get a pair of Teffilin later on ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
B'siyata D'shmaya or Baruch Hashem
Often, at the top of written work, Jews write either ב"ה, which stands for Baruch Hashem =blessed is the Name i.e., God, or בס"ד, which stands for b'siyata d'shmaya =with Heavenly help.
What is the ...
10
votes
1answer
130 views
Haftora for a wedding
ונוהגין להפטיר בחתונה שוש אשיש.
The Rama above (from OC 428) says that in his area the custom was to read a special haftora if a groom was present in the synagogue.
Has anyone seen this ...
10
votes
2answers
115 views
Source for kissing an aron
I've seen people kiss an aron kodesh (cabinet holding Torah scrolls) when they approach it and, if they were standing near it, before they leave it. Does this have any written source; or, are there ...
10
votes
3answers
173 views
Who distributed the zemiros across the three meals?
Any book of zemiros whether it's a siddur, birchon, or what have you divides the zemiros between the three meals. Sometimes the rationale is obvious as with the tikkunim which are written for each ...
9
votes
4answers
369 views
Why do we eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
Why do we have a Minhag to eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
9
votes
3answers
164 views
9
votes
2answers
203 views
Source for not eating Matzah prior to פסח?
Thanks to this question I am compelled to ask:
What is the source for not eating Matzah prior to פסח?
Is there a source for not eating it for 30 days prior?
9
votes
4answers
267 views
Should I be shuckling?
I was told that shuckeling (sp?) is an indication of the love-fear relationship that we have with God. You move forward showing that you want to be close to God and then backward out of fear of his ...
9
votes
6answers
314 views
Which Chasidic group departed the least from Ashkenazi minhag and nusach?
Chasidic groups vary in terms of their siddur's differences from nusach Ashkenaz, as well as their general minhagim and hashkafic approaches.
Is there a Chasidic group which most closely matches the ...
9
votes
2answers
505 views
How should one dispose of cut finger nails? Is it dangerous for a pregnant woman to walk on them?
Is there an Inyan of pregnant women walking over cut nails ex: a nail salon? Also, can I just vacuum up the cut nails from the floor?
9
votes
3answers
293 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 ...
9
votes
1answer
138 views
May I rely on the halachik leniency of others?
If "Reuven" believes the halacha to be one way and "Shimon" believes it to be more lenient may Reuven rely on Shimon to do something for him based on this leniency?
Here is a 100% fictional ...
9
votes
2answers
224 views
How does Hagbah work on a Sephardic Torah case?
How does one do Hagbah on a Torah in a Sephardic Torah case, such as one of these silver cases (picture courtesy of Hadad Brothers) :
See also the Ashkenazi version of this question.
9
votes
1answer
180 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?
9
votes
2answers
116 views
Purpose of announcing Molad
The custom is that the gabbai announces the time of the Molad during the course of "Bircas HaChodesh" on Shabbos Mevorchim. What is the purpose of this? The molad is anyhow not directly connected to ...
9
votes
2answers
217 views
Shliach Mitzva money
Many people give their friends money to give to Tzedakah when they are traveling. The reason they do this is that it says "Shluchei Mitzva Ainom Nizakim". If someone is travelling to Eretz Yisroel ...
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 ...
9
votes
1answer
85 views
Why Are These Double Parshiyos?
During a regular (non-leap) Jewish year, there are four instances where two of the weekly Torah portions are read together in the same week. This is because there are not enough weeks to read all of ...
9
votes
1answer
59 views
Why do we read from Yechezekel on Shavuos and Yeshayahu on Parshas Yisro?
There are two times that we read about the giving of the Torah: When we read Yisro and on Shavuos.
On both days we read Haftoras of Neviyim going up to Shamayim. On Shavuos we read about Yechezkel ...
9
votes
1answer
236 views
Does Drinking Seltzer == Drinking Water?
Inspired by this revision of this answer:
There are various minhag implications with regards to drinking water. Seltzer is essentially carbonated water. So how do those minhagim apply to seltzer?
...
8
votes
5answers
319 views
Why do some people wrap their Tefilin around their arms 8 times?
I have seen people who wrap the Tefilin 7 times around their arm and some that wrap it 8 times around their arm. Why do the people who wrap it 8 times do so?
8
votes
4answers
319 views
Why does the Tefilin Shel Yad have a protective cover?
When you purchase Tefilin, the Tefilin Shel Yad has a protective cover. Why? Is it Halachically necessary?
8
votes
3answers
224 views
Is one allowed to make Kneidlach when the last day of Pesach is Shabbos?
According to those who eat Gebrotz only on the last day of Pesach, is one allowed to make Mazta balls when the last day of Pesach is Shabbos?
On a normal year, one can cook and eat Gebrotz on the ...
8
votes
6answers
419 views
Is there a Kabbalistic source for not walking with one's hands behind one's back?
I've heard from people that it says in Kabbalah that one shouldn't walk with one's hands behind one's back. Does anyone know the source?
8
votes
3answers
162 views
Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed - why do we whisper it?
Why do we say Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed in Kriyas Shema in a whisper?
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?
8
votes
3answers
191 views
Standing up at the Chuppa when the Kallah passes by
Last night I was at a wedding, and when I stood up as the bride was passing by on the way to the Chuppa, a fellow in all seriousness told me "It is not proper and a lack of Tzniyus to stand up for the ...
8
votes
2answers
425 views
Hand motions for trope in Torah reading
I've seen people standing next to Torah readers and making hand signals during the Torah reading, presumably to prompt the reader in the trope. I think @Shalom mentioned this in Method for practicing ...
8
votes
5answers
274 views
Challah Friday Night
When you make Hamotzi on Shabbos you use the top Challah. However, on Friday night you use the bottom. Therefore, so as not to pass over the Mitzvah you hold the bottom one closer.
My question is why ...
8
votes
1answer
363 views
What is the origin of hazak u'baruch?
Hazak u'barukh is a phrase commonly said after one does something in the synagogue (e.g., after an aliyah). What is its origin?
8
votes
3answers
335 views
Lubavitch not sleeping in a Sukka?
If Lubavitch is careful not to eat or drink anything outside of the sukka, why does Lubavitch not sleep in the Sukka?
8
votes
3answers
202 views
Should I follow the congregation if their view on prayers for Yom Ha'Atzma'ut is different than mine?
How should one go about davening in a minyan on yom haatzmaut when his custom is not to change davening?
My minyan does no tachanun and hallel without a bracha after shmona esreh.
Should I-
do ...
8
votes
2answers
116 views
Mezuza positioning: why top angled in not out?
Why does the angle a mezuza positioned on the doorpost at have its top towards the room, and the bottom away from the room?
I understand this may be an Ashkenazi custom, and that Sephardim position ...
8
votes
2answers
137 views
When there are four aveilim (mourners), Is it better to have one minyan of 40 people or 4 minyonim of ten each?
Today I was in a shul where there were four parallel mincha services because four mourners wanted to lead the services. I thought there was a principle of ברב עם הדרת מלך?
What sources are there that ...
8
votes
1answer
117 views
Replies to “l'chayim”
The most common responses I've heard to a wish of "l'chayim!" ("life!") is
"l'chayim tovim ulshalom" ("a good life and peace!") except from Lubavitch chasidim and
"l'chayim v'livracha" ("life and ...
8
votes
2answers
138 views
Why don't some people say Vihi Noam Motzei Shabbos of Shabbos Hagadol 5772?
Regarding saying Vihi Noam on Motzei Shabbos Shabbos Hagadol which falls out a week before Pesach (The first night of Pesach is on Friday Night) Luach Kollel Chabad writes:
On Saturday night, we ...
