Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
4
votes
0answers
96 views
Matzah Shemurah on the 8th day of Pesaḥ (in the Diaspora)
According to those who hold that there is a Kiyyum Mitzvath 'Aseh DeOraitha (a fulfillment of a positive Biblical commandment) every time one eats a KeZayith (olive size's worth) of Matzah on Pesaḥ, ...
12
votes
2answers
189 views
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? Why or why not?
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? What about someone who may have been an oved avoda zarah? Someone who is definitely such?
I'm asking because I've seen such discussion ...
4
votes
1answer
35 views
Doing something in one breath
I am looking to make a list of halachot/minhagim that involve doing something in 1 breath so I can see if I can draw any connections between them. So far, I have 3 things:
the shevarim-tru'ah (or at ...
4
votes
2answers
62 views
Naming a child after two relatives
I once heard Rabbi Shmuel Niman, Mashgiach Ruchani of the Chafeitz Chaim Yeshiva, say that he had "recently learned" that it is improper to give a child parts of the names of two relatives. For ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
May a woman be a kvater?
May a woman serve as the sole kvater (person who brings the baby to the sandek) at a bris? At most britot I've been to, the duty of kvater was handled by a woman and a man (typically married), with ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
What level of obligation is of kriat shema al hamita?
What is the level of obligation for krias shema al hamita (the recitation of Shema before going to bed)? Is it a mitzvah deoraisa, mitzvah derabanan, is it a minhag avoseinu byadeinu? Maybe it's ...
5
votes
6answers
286 views
fish before meat - why?
To the best of my knowledge eating fish after meat has the same Halacha as eating meat after fish. You are supposed to eat a cracker and take a drink to seperate between them. Why is it most common ...
15
votes
1answer
173 views
Is there any source for not sharing a baby's name before the bris?
For some reason, I have it ingrained in me that a baby boy's name before the bris is a secret and should not be shared. Are there any sources for this, or is it something made up?
-3
votes
1answer
73 views
Americans and Kippas [closed]
I'm from Israel, and when I just moved to the US, I went to one temple where things were different. I saw some women that wore kippot (plural kippa in Hebrew). Also, why is the kippa referred as a ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
Is Ahimsa related to Hamsa?
Is Ahimsa related to Hamsa (both the symbol and the name)? If so, does this lend credence to those who view Hamsa as being of non-Jewish (at best, or pagan, at worst) origin?
4
votes
4answers
253 views
Are Sephardic Jews allowed to dress up in costumes on Purim?
The custom of dressing up in costumes on Purim originated from Ashkenazic communities in Europe and has become a popular custom today for Ashkenazim (cf. Rema in Shulkhan Aruch Orach Chaim 696:8).
...
8
votes
2answers
112 views
What was the attitude of Rabbonim regarding Purim Torah?
Purim Torah seems to be a two sided concept. On one hand, many people do it for many years (for example, Maseches Purim was published in 1871).
On the other hand, it seems to be a Bizayon HaTorah ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Who wears a talis on leil Shabbos?
Rabbi Chanina would don his talis gadol on erev Shabbos (Mas. Shabbos 25b, Rambam Hilchos Shabbos 30:2). While this has been practiced by individuals, is it today the practice of any particular ...
2
votes
0answers
79 views
Sitting or Standing for Kaddish - historical divergence between Conservative and Orthodox minhag
At most (maybe even all?) Conservative synagogues, the congregation remains seated during every kaddish (except mourner's kaddish, and then only mourners rise). At Ashkenazic Orthodox synagogues, the ...
4
votes
1answer
155 views
Origin of two customs on wearing the Talis after making the brocho
How do we wear the Talis Godol immediately after making the brocho?
1) There seems to be one method practised by those following German minhogim. Can someone give a source for it please? Is this ...
1
vote
2answers
225 views
Rambam Tzitzith: 7 or 13 chulyoth?
The Gemara says you have to tie no fewer than 7 chulyos and no more than 13. According to most shitas, 13 is the ideal. My question is, according to the Rambam, can you do whatever you want - 7 or 13? ...
2
votes
3answers
116 views
Candles on Purim?
In Esther 8:16, we read that after the Jews were saved from an evil decree, they had "light and gladness and joy and honor." Is anyone aware of Rabbinic texts that discuss celebrating Purim with ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
adoption and qualifying for being “officially” considered Jewish
My wife and I (no known Jewish heritage) are adopting an infant child. The child's birth-mother was herself adopted and raised as a Jew by Jewish parents. We do not know of any Jewish heritage ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Why do we still blow shofar during mussaf?
The gemarah (rosh hashana 32b) asks why we wait until mussaf to blow the shofar and answers that the ruling enemies of the Jews mistook the shofar sound for a rallying war cry and forbade it. They ...
9
votes
1answer
58 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
What's the connection between Tu B'Shevat and (Bukser) carob?
Tu B'Shevat many people eat many different types of fruit. Growing up and continuing until today there seems to be a Minhag to specifically eat (bukser) carob. Is there some sort of special connection ...
4
votes
2answers
180 views
Ostrich eggs in Shul?
Kinyan L'Shabbos (published weekly by Hamodia) - July 18, 2012, page 11 has a fascinating article by Rabbi Avraham Y. Heschel regarding an ancient custom of displaying ostrich eggs in a Beis Knesses. ...
11
votes
5answers
451 views
Nittle Nacht Meaning
What is Nittle Nacht?
What does the name mean?
What is its significance?
Which Halachic authorities speak about it, and what do they say?
What is the actual date for it?
How is it effected this ...
9
votes
6answers
311 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
90 views
Explanation for couple not seeing each other before the wedding?
What is the source and reason for a couple not to see one another before the wedding?
6
votes
7answers
523 views
Why do Sephardic Jews dress in black and white?
Many observant sephardim in Israel, especially those in yeshivot, dress in black and white. Does anyone know how this happened?
There is no tradition of Jews in North Africa or in the Middle East ...
6
votes
2answers
170 views
Is there a minhag for a chassan and kallah to hold hands after the chupah?
I have been to many weddings where the chassan and kallah hold hands after the chupah on their way to the yichud room. It seems like a widespread (minhag?) thing that everyone does, even by couples ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Minhag of throwing Challah at the Friday night Seuda
Aruch HaShulchan 167:31 and Be'er Hataiv 167:22 both say that it is forbidden to throw the (Challah) bread. I have heard that there are some people (I heard that there are some Rabannim who do so) ...
5
votes
6answers
142 views
Apple on Rosh HaShanah
There is a custom of eating an apple dipped in honey on first night of Rosh HaShanah (among the other foods) as a sign that we should have a sweet year. Why is this done specifically with an apple and ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Minhag not to hold your hands together behind your back? [source] [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a Kabbalistic source for not walking with one’s hands behind one’s back?
I was saw someone telling another person off because he was holding his hands together ...
3
votes
3answers
98 views
Kissing the hand to catch a cold?
There is a popular custom in Israel to shake a person's hand and then kiss your own. In every single Sephardic and Mizrachi synagogue I've ever been to in the country this is the standard way of ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
Which Names of Hashem can/can't we say [in regular conversation]?
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (6:3) writes that one shouldn't say Hashem's name except by way of praise or blessing whenever required, or when learning (Torah)
[see this answer and this question ]
Indeed, ...
3
votes
0answers
139 views
Minhag not to learn Torah on the night of Nitel (Who and where)
This related question explains what this minhag is and a couple of reasons for it.
I was wondering to what extent is this minhag practiced today apart from Chabad (see Hayom Yom - 17 Tevet)...do all ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
When did upsherins become part of standard American Orthodox practice?
According to Rav Wikipedia, the upsherin is a custom that was brought from Muslims to Palestinian Jews to Tzfat Sephardim to Chasidim.
Recently, I've noticed mainstream (non-charedi) Orthodox Jews ...
5
votes
2answers
119 views
Which tefilot you say when your minhag differs from that of the shoul your praying in?
Here is the case: This past Sabbath, at an ashkanazi synagogue, a sephardi comes to pray. This is the synagogue that he normally attends (there are about 20 within 1 sq mile).
He prays with the ...
8
votes
1answer
122 views
When to close the ark after putting away the Torah
On shabbat morning when putting away the Torah, many chazzanim like to draw out different tunes for the verses recited then. Should the one honored with putting the Torah back wait until after the ...
15
votes
2answers
400 views
Why do we say Mazel Tov? Shouldn't we thank Hashem?
Why do we say "Mazel Tov" when something good happens to a person? Doesn't that mean "good luck?" Are we saying that what happened, happened because of luck?
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
66 views
Removing Yarmulka last when undressing (source)
I have noticed that some people remove their Yarmulka last when undressing
and wear it first when dressing.
Is this custom mentioned anywhere?
15
votes
1answer
309 views
Blessing the Children on Friday Night
I have noticed that many families (including my own) have the custom for the father to bless all the children on Friday night before kiddush.
When and where did this custom originate, and by whom, ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
144 views
Speaking while wearing Tefillin - revisited
In today's day and age the vast majority of the time we only wear Tefillin when we are Davening. However, in theory, we should wear them all day (ibid). So what about the requirement not to speak ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
71 views
Who doesn't make Kiddush from 6-7pm?
From this question I learned that "many" people don't make Kiddush between 6-7pm.
Who does this? Is this primarily a Lubavitch Minhag? If so, among Lubavitchers, how prevalent is it?
5
votes
1answer
354 views
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?
Is there a problem of "chukat goyim" with the bride having "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" at her wedding?
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Decorating of the Beitzah
Somebody told me in Israel some have the custom of decorating the egg for Pesach (like an Easter egg). Wouldn't that be considered chukas hagoyim or avoda zara?
3
votes
3answers
234 views
Husband deciding how his wife should cover her hair
Issues of Shalom Bayis (peace in the home) and any other deciding factor aside, does the husband have any "right" or "privilege" (from a halachic standpoint) to decide how his wife will cover her hair ...
10
votes
3answers
316 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
139 views
Sitting for “Ashre”?
I have seen people seemingly careful to sit down when beginning the paragraph of prayers that starts "Ashre yosh've vesecha" (Ps. 84:5). One such person told me that he was, in fact, careful to do so, ...
1
vote
0answers
80 views
Why do we wish someone “long life” on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of relative?
Why do we wish someone “long life” on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of relative?
I can understand this wish directly after the death when I have heard that a person should consider ...
