Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
4
votes
2answers
154 views
Source for not having picture taken
Is there any source, halachic or otherwise, for an aversion to having one's picture taken?
4
votes
2answers
82 views
What is the origin of the shofar sounds?
There are 4 major shofar sounds, or notes, sounded on Rosh Hashana:
Tekiah: A long, continuous blast.
Shevarim: Three short "broken" blasts.
Teruah: A rapid series of nine or more very short blasts.
...
4
votes
2answers
296 views
No kaddish for a sister?
I have heard that some (e.g. Chabad?) have the practice not to say kaddish for one's deceased sister. Can anybody confirm this? What might be the reason for this? I had thought there is an ...
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?
4
votes
3answers
136 views
4
votes
1answer
511 views
What's the earliest source/discussion on green beans being “kitniyot” (prohibited legumes) on Passover?
My understanding is that most Ashkenazic communities today don't eat green beans on Passover, treating them as kitniyot (a bunch of legumes for which the custom arose to avoid on Passover). What's the ...
4
votes
3answers
211 views
Donut and its deeper significance
What is the significance for eating Donuts on Chanukah Beyond the Oil connection?
4
votes
2answers
145 views
What determines a Minhag?
How does a Minhag become a Minhag? More specific is it possible to enact new Minhagim in todays generation?
4
votes
2answers
215 views
4
votes
3answers
350 views
Should I wear tefillin during Chol HaMoed?
If I don't have a known family minhag regarding this, how should I decide whether to wear tefillin during Chol HaMoed? Which communities generally follow each option, and what are the reasons behind ...
3
votes
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?
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
What's done on Zos Chanuka?
I know people call the last day of Chanuka "Zos Chanuka" (taken from Bamidbar 7:84, read on that day). How is it specially commemorated if at all? I've heard it is, but know no details.
I'm not ...
3
votes
1answer
114 views
Source for checking talis over shoulder
What is the source for checking one's tzitzis while the talis is over one's right shoulder: isn't the halacha just to check the knots and strings? Can't the checking be done on a table?
3
votes
0answers
69 views
Why kiss Tzitzith?
Why do we kiss Tzitzith when making the Birchath HaMitzvah, reciting Shema', and after Baruch SheAmar (at least acc. to Minhag Ashkenaz)?
An acceptable answer (for my purposes) would either
a. ...
3
votes
1answer
407 views
What is the source of the Birkat Habayit?
What is the source of the text of the Birkat Habayit:
I've seen them written on a hand, and some come with garlic, multi-colored beads, and some other strange objects.
Inspired by: ...
3
votes
1answer
823 views
Wishes to a mourner in addition to “Hamokom Yenachem Eschem”
I have heard some people say in Yiddish after "Hamokom Yenachem Eschem B'Soch Shaar Aveilei Tzion V'Yerushalayim" ("May God comfort you alongside the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem"), "Zulst Mer Nisht ...
3
votes
1answer
104 views
What is the source for the garlic and sugar at a Pidyon HaBen?
At a Pidyon HaBen I have observed that the Minhag is to put sugar cubes and garlic cloves on the tray with the baby. What is the source of this Minhag? And why specifically sugar and garlic?
3
votes
2answers
130 views
3
votes
1answer
92 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
128 views
What happens at bedeken?
Wikipedia says both that the groom puts on the veil, and in a separate paragraph says he uncovers it. Which is it?
Does he put it on, lift it, and then drop it again?
Can he just lift it and ...
3
votes
2answers
171 views
Yom Tov Sheni - Seeking All Relevant Sources
There is an article on Wikipedia about Passover that gives a very non-traditional (if not anti-traditional) explanation - rather, a series of explanations - for the origin of Y"T Sheni Shel Galuyoth. ...
3
votes
2answers
331 views
Chabad Minhag for Shalosh Seudos
Is it true that the Chabad custom is specifically not to wash hands for (and eat) bread for shalosh seudos, and, if so, why?
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?
3
votes
3answers
236 views
Kitnios on Pesach
Why and when did the minhag start that allows Sephardim to eat Kitnios (Legumes)but not Ashkenazim?
3
votes
4answers
478 views
Do bananas make the best karpas?
For karpas at the seder, one is supposed to eat a food on which the blessing "borei pri ha'adama" is made. However, many of the most commonly used food items for karpas (e.g. parsley, raw onion, raw ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Drinking Water after Eating Fish
Is anyone familiar with the practice of not drinking water after eating fish? I know that something has to be used to clean your mouth before eating meat, but somehow I got the idea in my head that ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Egg matzah in early Nisan
This shabbos, my LOR announced that the shul was done being kashered for Pesach, and so kiddush would be pesadich. To fulfill the need for mezonot, he had brought in egg matzah, saying that egg matzah ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
What is the source for “the custom of our forefathers is in our hands”?
Where does "minhag avoseinu byadeinu" as a halachik concept, which is commonly cited as the source for keeping two days of yom tov outside of Israel, originate from?
2
votes
2answers
88 views
Source listing all Jewish wedding customs?
Is there a comprehensive source that lists all various orthodox wedding customs (mitzvah tantz, mezinkah, etc.)?
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Earliest source for diping apple in honey on Rosh Hashana
What is the earliest source for the custom of dipping an apple in honey on Rosh Hashana?
(It is found in the Tur (Siman 683), the Abudraham (quoted by the Rama there) - believed to be a student of ...
2
votes
0answers
81 views
Why does a hamentash have three sides and filling? [closed]
All Hamentashen that I've seen have three sides and all Hamentashen have filling.
Why is that?
2
votes
2answers
145 views
Is Shir HaShirim recited on a Yom Tov that falls on Friday?
There are those (Sephardim and Chassidim, I guess) who have the custom to recite Shir HaShirim on Friday, Erev Shabbat. Do they also recite it on a Friday when Yom Tov leads directly into Shabbat?
If ...
2
votes
2answers
197 views
Can a person start swimming in the three weeks?
Someone told me that if a person did not swim prior to the three weeks, he may not start swimming during the three weeks? Is there a source for this? (sources)
2
votes
1answer
386 views
Why should A Capella music be allowed during Sefirah?
I'd like to breathe new life into, and put a new spin on, this thread: http://mi.yodeya.com/questions/1046/live-vs-recorded-music-during-the-omer
So, a series of questions:
I'm not sure how I feel ...
2
votes
1answer
139 views
Urchatz - does everyone wash?
I have heard different Minhagim regarding washing at Urchatz. It seems that in some families everyone washes and in others only the Baal HaBayis. Does anyone have sources as to the different Minhagim ...
2
votes
4answers
256 views
Yotzros and Musaf for the 4 Parshios
Are there any Nusach Ashkenaz Shuls that say Yotzros or Musaf on the weeks of the Four Parshios?
2
votes
2answers
125 views
Nusach for silent Amida when chazzan in an other-nusach congregation
My understanding (based, if I recall correctly, on R' Moshe Feinstein) is that when I pray in a congregation that uses a different version of the prayers (nusach) from the one I usually use, I should ...
1
vote
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?
1
vote
1answer
83 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
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?
1
vote
2answers
97 views
What kavanos should one have when sharpening a challa knife Erev Shabbos?
What are some kavanos should one have in mind when sharpening a challa knife on Erev Shabbos? I'm sure I heard that there are kavanos but never learned what they are.
1
vote
5answers
271 views
Cholopshkes or stuffed cabbage on Simchas Torah
Many people eat Cholpshkes or stuffed cabbage on Simchas Torah. Is there a source for this Minhag, and are there other names for this dish in the other languages of Jewish communities?
-1
votes
1answer
63 views
Sheasa Nisim ALL 8 nights? [closed]
Why do we say SheAsa Nisim all 8 nights? Shouldn't we only say it one night, the first?
-4
votes
2answers
207 views
Why do people say “God” in English and not “Gosh”?
When people speak Hebrew, they say Hashem instead of Y-HVH, because saying His name is impossible/forbidden. Additionally, when writing, some people write G-d instead of God. Why when speaking ...
