Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
3
votes
1answer
174 views
Should a woman wear a gartel?
My understanding of the halachic need for a gartel is very limited; is there any reason a woman should or should not wear one during prayer?
2
votes
2answers
103 views
Kibbud for wife
There is no Torah obligation (as far as I am aware) for kibbud for a wife; however, in my experience, husbands tend to show a special honor for their wives. An example where this is frequenetly ...
4
votes
3answers
696 views
Eating at a shiva house
What is the basis for some people's practice not to eat the food at a shiva house; is there a halachik basis for this, is it a minhag or perhaps just superstition?
4
votes
0answers
109 views
Lithuanian minhag for talis katan material
Not an halachic question, but we can read many things about talis katan: wool over cotton, tzitzis out or in, etc. It seems that the Lithuanian minhag was to tuck them in, but what about the material? ...
2
votes
1answer
121 views
Why do Lubavitch talisos ensure tzitzis hang off the side?
A Lubavitch chasid's talis gadol has a special way of being tied that ensures that the tzitzis hangs off of the side of the talis and not off of its front or back.
Why?
13
votes
2answers
195 views
How old is the custom to eat dairy on Shavuos?
I don't think I've ever seen a rationalization for this custom in works earlier than those of the Acharonim. I've never seen any Rishonim even mention it; certainly not earlier authors.
What's the ...
5
votes
3answers
121 views
Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos - when is the proper time?
When is the proper time to eat dairy on Shavuos? (night meal, day meal, prior to day meal, Shul Kiddush)
4
votes
3answers
161 views
Shalom Aleichem to angels?
The zemer "Shalom Aleichem" is obviously addressed to angels. The Tur (OC Siman 3) gives a short text to says before entering the bathroom: התכבדו מכובדים משרתי עליון, etc. (also obviously addressed ...
7
votes
1answer
80 views
Why do we strike ourselves during prayer?
Why do we strike ourselves when confessing sin either during shmoneah esrei or viduy?
6
votes
0answers
88 views
Father being Matir Neder for himself: does it affect the family?
If a father is Matir Neder on a minhag (gebroktz, let's say) for himself for a valid reason, does that include his whole family? Are they now also permitted to eat gebroktz because that is now the ...
3
votes
1answer
123 views
How could boiling 3 eggs at a time help?
A lot of people have a custom of boiling 3 eggs at a time, as mentioned here, among any other places.
One reason given for this practice is that if one egg turns out to be unkosher, the remaining two ...
5
votes
5answers
177 views
Shavuos and Malachim(angels)
We all know that there is a custom on Shavuos to eat dairy. One of the reasons given is based on a Medrash that When Moshe Rabbenu went up to Heaven to receive the Torah the angels complained and said ...
12
votes
6answers
772 views
Why is Soy milk considered Parve and not Milchig/Halavi?
Considering that milk is forbidden with chicken (as stated in this answer), because chicken could be confused with meat, why isn't soy milk considered milchig as well?
In Israel, chicken is ...
5
votes
1answer
69 views
Why is the Eicha reading broken up?
It seems to me that everywhere I've been, the reading of Eicha on Tish'a B-av night has been broken up, with different chapters read by different people. Why is this custom so prevalent, specifically ...
6
votes
2answers
286 views
The value of the daily study of Chitas (Chumash, Tehilim, Tanya)?
What's the value of learning "Chitas" compared to any other daily Torah study?
Side question: If it's so important, why was it introduced only recently?
11
votes
1answer
215 views
“Yaamod p'loni ben p'loni… chazak”?
The last ole (person called to the Torah) (besides the maftir) of Vaychi, P'kude, B'chukosay, and Mas'e is, in my experience, called using the formula "yaamod p'loni ben p'loni sh'vii chazak", with ...
2
votes
0answers
44 views
Minhagim pertaining to the consumption of locust with other foods?
BS"D
So based on the concept that locust are the only other "meat" that is parve besides fish, do the same or similar Halakhic or even minhag based restrictions apply to it?
For instance its some ...
7
votes
4answers
309 views
Where do the different traditions for hours of waiting between meat and milk come from?
As far as I can tell, there are 5 different traditions for how long one has to wait between eating meat and milk:
wait 6 full hours
wait into the 6th hour (thus, 5 hours and 5 minutes would ...
5
votes
1answer
110 views
When did “Zal” give way to “Zatzal”?
Inspired by this answer and it's comments.
Early on, it was standard to refer to great Rabbis who had passed away with the appellation "Zal" - "zichrono/ah livracha "May his/her/their memory be a ...
8
votes
2answers
462 views
Is there an issue with ladies going to the zoo when they are pregnant?
Is there an issue with ladies going to the zoo when they are pregnant? If yes then why is it a problem?
10
votes
2answers
118 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
249 views
Can you turn your back to the Aron HaKodesh?
I'm quite certain that it is mentioned in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch that one should not turn one's back to the Aron HaKodesh (ark which holds the Torah Scrolls).
Can anyone tell me where this is ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Pirkei Avos on Shabbos Tisha B'Av
When Tisha B'Av comes out on a Shabbos, do we say Pirkei Avos in the cycle on that Shabbos?
8
votes
1answer
117 views
Do the customs in regards to *Yud Av* apply to *Yud-Aleph Av* on a year when the fast is pushed off?
I know that people have the custom (I don't know how universal it is), to keep a lot of the restrictions of the nine days until Chatzos on Yud Av. Such as not eating meat or doing laundry.
This year ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
The power of a seudat mitzvah to obviate minhagei aveilus
The prohibitions which Ashkenazim take on themselves during the nine days seem to spring from post-Talmudic thinking and application of the notion of "reduced joy." For some reason, the particulars ...
6
votes
2answers
106 views
Repeating Seder HaKitores
Why do Nusahos Ari, Sefard, Edot HaMizrah, and Ashkenaz of Eretz Yisrael repeat the order of the kitores (incense offering) at the end of Shaharis every day and why does Nusah Ashkenaz of Hutz LaAretz ...
7
votes
1answer
166 views
Electronic communication immediately before wedding
Is it permissible to chat with your future spouse during the week before the wedding when you are not supposed to see each other face to face? Are any, all, or none of the following permissible:
...
3
votes
1answer
85 views
Birkat hamazon w/ cup of wine Vs. Prohibition on wine during shavua shechal bo
For one whose custom is to drink wine (or grape juice) after reciting Birkat Ha-Mazon and to refrain from eating wine during shavua she-chal bo Tisha b'Av:
Does the requirement to use a cup trump the ...
4
votes
2answers
155 views
Which sephardic groups forbid eating rice during Pesach and why?
I was recently at a shiur where this came up briefly and somewhat tangentially. Does anyone know which groups forbid rice but allow other kitniyot (e.g., beans) during Pesach? Any references/pointers ...
6
votes
2answers
249 views
Why Do Converts Change Their Names?
Rabbi Avigdor Miller said that it used to be that gerim (converts) and baalei teshuvah (repentants) who had been given non-Jewish names did not change their names when they became part of the Jewish ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Coffee Urns left out throughout the week?
Many people still keep to the halacha that one isn't allowed to drink from water kept in metal overnight.
How would one be allowed to drink from a Coffee Urn on Shabbos?
How could one drink from a ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
A new knife for Rosh Hashanah?
There is a custom to buy a knife for Rosh Hashanah: the qualifier is that the knife not be serrated. What is the source for this custom and what is the significance of the knife not having edges?
0
votes
0answers
45 views
Taking food from a Seudas Bris
When I am at a Bris I have noticed that many people take food for others who are not there. What is the source for taking food from a Bris?
5
votes
2answers
334 views
Reasons for different minhagim regarding if and when to put tallit gadol over head?
I'm curious about the reasons and sources for the different customs about if and when to cover one's head with the tallit gadol during davenen. For example:
cover head from after bar'chu until after ...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Don't Put a Needle in Bread? (What is the Taz referring to?)
The Taz YD 116:6 on the last line brings a case that he heard that one should protest putting a needle into bread. What is the Taz referring, to and what exactly is he worried about?
4
votes
1answer
136 views
Song while dressing the Torah
As we dress the Torah in my congregation and many congregations I've been to, we sing (from the siddur's liturgy on putting away the Torah):
Mishlei 3:18,3:17
עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים ...
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Splitting up Shacharis between two Chiyuvim
I have Davened in a few Shuls where they have split up Shacharis between two Chiyuvim. (One Davens until Ashrei after Tachanun / One davens from Ashrei until the end.) What is the source for doing so?
...
5
votes
3answers
253 views
2
votes
0answers
101 views
Text for birchat habayit
I'd like to write a couple birchos habayis and get them illuminated as gifts. Does anyone know of a good existing text? I'm looking for something five or six lines long, preferably not the usual one ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
3
votes
0answers
71 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. ...
0
votes
0answers
138 views
Difference between Artscroll siddur and Chabbad siddur? [closed]
What's the difference between the Artscroll siddur "Kol Yaakov" and the
Chabbad siddur "Tehilas Hashem"?
13
votes
2answers
286 views
Shape of the Luchot
According to the Talmud in Bava Batra 14a, the Luchot HabBerit were square. Where did the common "tablet" shape come from, with rectangles and a rounded top? Besides in pictures, I see it in ...
7
votes
2answers
165 views
The Split Between Sefardim and Ashkenazim
How did this split happen historically and halachically before Shulchan Aruch, and why is not like having two Torahs? Where is the source for the split?
6
votes
1answer
96 views
Why Start Pirkei Avos With Kol Yisroel?
Why do we start off saying Pirkei Avos by first saying the Mishna from Sanhedrin "Kol Yisroel"?
7
votes
9answers
269 views
When do you say a beracha on a minhag?
When lighting Hanukkah candles in the synagogue, we say a beracha "asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav.." on a minhag. Unlike kiddush in shul, and early counting of the omer in shul, nobody would say that one ...
10
votes
3answers
400 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?
2
votes
2answers
207 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)
13
votes
1answer
267 views
Time-frame for naming a newborn girl
I have heard many differing Minhagim as to the time-frame for naming a newborn girl. There are those that name at the first possible opportunity and some that wait till the second Shabbos. Many others ...
7
votes
2answers
427 views
Why do we give tzedakah money to someone to pass along in Israel?
Reuven is planning a trip to Israel. Shimon, knowing this, gives Reuven money for tzedakah with the expectation that Reuven will distribute it when he gets to Israel. Reuven and Shimon both ...
