Questions tagged [minhag]
Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
713
questions
9
votes
1
answer
229
views
Up part of the night on Shavuos
As described by Stephanie Hegarty for the BBC, Roger Ekirch, an historian, has evidence — and is convinced — that people used to have
a first sleep which began about two hours after dusk, followed ...
- 73.7k
8
votes
3
answers
757
views
Which Tachanun should I say when davening in a minyan with a different Nusach?
I daven Nusach Ashkenaz but I often daven mincha in minyanim with a different nuasach.
Should I say my ashekanzi tachanun or is there a minhag ha'mokom?
Moreover I have noticed sefardim davening their ...
- 81
8
votes
2
answers
314
views
Source for not having picture taken
Is there any source, halachic or otherwise, for an aversion to having one's picture taken?
- 3,968
8
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Bedikas Chometz - 10 pieces of bread
In Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 432:2 the Rama says that the Minhag is to place bread in such a place that the searcher can find it. Both the Be'er Hataiv and the Mishna Berura say that according to the ...
- 140k
8
votes
3
answers
513
views
"Chaparat Pesha" just through Adar II
We know that the phrase ולכפרת פשע is added to the Musaf Amidah of Rosh Chodesh during a leap year. However, in most minyanim I've davened in, the custom seems to be that one only adds it from ...
8
votes
2
answers
783
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 ...
- 41.6k
8
votes
3
answers
484
views
Yemenite Sefira
What is the source for the custom that Yemenite Jews people count Sefira in Aramaic? and why do they do it?
- 33.2k
8
votes
3
answers
444
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 ...
- 28.2k
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the origin of the dispute on which way to wrap tefilin shel yad?
Non-Chasidic Ashkenazim wrap their tefilin shel yad inward toward the body when coming over the top of the arm, while Sefardim and Chasidim wrap outward away from the body when coming over the top of ...
- 7,221
8
votes
3
answers
661
views
Which takes precedence - dina d'malchuta or halacha? What about minhag yisrael?
A more practical ramification of Is a ban on government workers wearing religious symbols a gezeirat hamalchut for which one would be obligated to give up his life?
If the law of the land (dina d'...
- 23.1k
8
votes
1
answer
545
views
Why has Judaism traditionally discussed intimacy only privately?
To quote msh210's formulation of this site's rule on intimate topics:
Please respect that in the Jewish tradition certain questions, especially certain questions relating to sexuality, are ...
- 21k
8
votes
2
answers
918
views
When do we start reciting Psalm 27?
Yesterday being the 30th of Av (and Rosh Chodesh Elul), prompted a question at shul: exactly when do we start saying Psalm 27—on the first day of Elul or the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul? Most ...
- 818
7
votes
2
answers
916
views
Why do the laws of kitniyot still apply today to Ashkenazi Jews on Passover?
How did the tradition start?
Why is it still around today?
What is the basis for this Halacha (הלכה)?
- 1,857
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Special occasions where various Chassidim don't say Tachanun
Various Chassidim have different customs regarding special occasions where they don't say Tachanun.
[I know this because sometimes I daven in a Vishnitz shule and, upon asking why they didn't say ...
- 4,393
7
votes
1
answer
476
views
Zecher L'Churban - Why a plate at Tenayim and a glass at the Chupah?
When a person gets engaged and married there are various things that we do as a Zecher L'Churban. At the Tenayim (whether done immediately or at the wedding) we break an earthernware plate, at the ...
- 140k
7
votes
1
answer
242
views
Standing for the last aliyah of a sefer
Right before the final aliyah today (Parshat Pekudei) the gabbai asked everyone to stand up. He does this before the final aliyah of each of the books of the Torah. While I have seen discussions about ...
- 38.3k
7
votes
1
answer
476
views
Selichot origins
In what year (CE) did saying selichot in Elul begin? In what year were they made a standard addition to prayer books? Looking for an academic answer, not the yeshivahish one. And did Sephardim start ...
- 91
7
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Stepping Back Before Amidah
Why do people step back three steps before the Amidah (as mentioned here in Mishnah Berurah, S'if Katan Gimmel) if the Gemarah only mentions stepping three steps forward? Is there a kabbalistic source ...
- 16.1k
7
votes
1
answer
324
views
tying tzitzis together on Simchas Tora
When I was a child in the 1980s, something the boys in my synagogue did on Simchas Tora was tie one person's talis to another, or sometimes to furniture. (Now that I'm older and in a different ...
- 73.7k
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Rav Scheinberg and Tzitzis (series of questions)
I have heard that Rav Scheinberg wore many garments with ציציות on them at a time. . .
Is this true?
If so, why did he do it?
If not, why do other people do it?
How many ברכות do they make when ...
- 23.8k
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
In a cemetery, when there is a headstone, what is the law or custom of walking OVER the "body" of someone buried there?
Our family recently unveiled the headstone on my mother's grave. Before the unveiling service, my elder brother told me NOT to walk over the grave of my mother. Through lack of space it was ...
- 61
6
votes
2
answers
618
views
Do we say "Ma Tovu" each time we enter the synagogue?
There is a custom to say the paragraph “מה טובו” on entering the synagogue (see “Avodah Shebelev” Rabbi A Z Sternbuch, 5753, page 18).
The idea (but without the possuk of “Ma Tovu”) is mentioned in ...
- 47.6k
6
votes
1
answer
984
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 ...
- 44.4k
6
votes
4
answers
462
views
Is cholent required?
Is making cholent on Shabbos a minhag that is so universal that it has in effect become required for Ashkenazim?
Or, if I am correct that it is required (by at least some authorities) to have hot ...
- 4,207
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Do modern Jewish cemeteries separate the "righteous" from the "wicked"?
Do modern Jewish cemeteries separate the "righteous" from the "wicked"? I have read in various sources that "we don't bury rashim near tzadikim"--that people must be ...
- 19.8k
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Peeling vegetables on Pesach
It is a minhag in Chabad to only eat vegetables that you can peel on Pesach. There is a possibility that either the wax coating on certain vegetables contains chometz or that certain processing of the ...
user1292
6
votes
1
answer
248
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 ...
- 28.5k
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Cutting chala with a knife
Are people insistent upon cutting bread with a knife rather than tearing it apart manually?
If so, why?
- 23.8k
6
votes
3
answers
340
views
6
votes
2
answers
372
views
Saying korbonos
Do you have to say korbonos? If so, why is it not said with the shaliach tzibbur?
- 211
6
votes
4
answers
761
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 ...
- 24.7k
6
votes
5
answers
1k
views
What siddur do Satmerer Chasidim use?
Many Chasidic groups have a particular siddur that is used by most in that group. Does Satmer have such a siddur?
- 7,221
6
votes
2
answers
2k
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 ...
- 13.4k
6
votes
2
answers
357
views
Pirkei Avos on shabbos during mincha?
It seems clear from the Rama, MB, and other sources (as well as from most printed siddurim) that Pirkei Avos is said in the synagogue at Shabbos Mincha as part of the tefillah in the summer months, ...
- 637
6
votes
0
answers
571
views
Height of havdalah candle = height of spouse?
I have seen havdalah ceremonies where a unmarried person is charged with holding the havdalah candle and is told to hold it at the height that s/he would want their spouse to be. What is the source ...
5
votes
1
answer
665
views
Under what circumstances can Ashkenazim rely on Sephardic poskim?
Is there any reason an Ashkenazi Jew should not hold by the psak of a Sephardi rov--or vice versa--for decisions relating to general matters (not ostensibly to do with particular minhagim)?
If so, ...
- 19.8k
5
votes
1
answer
249
views
Kitnyot and hatarat nedarim
Can a Ashkenazi do hatarat nedarim on kitnyot? According to Halachipedia the Rosh holds that one can do hatarat nedarim (annuling of a Neder) on a meritorious personal minhag. The pri chadash says ...
- 1,287
5
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What happens when the neshama has an aliya?
there is a common practice to learn torah for someone who is deceased 'l'iluy nishmato/a' - to raise her/his soul. There is also a common (american/ashkenazik?) custom for a relative of a deceased ...
- 14.2k
5
votes
1
answer
196
views
Where did the idea of a shul kiddush come from
In many communities I have been in around the world after mussaf on shabbat there is often a 'kiddush'. This consists of the Rav of the shul (or some other designee) who makes kiddush and food is ...
- 14.2k
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is one permitted to change one’s minhagim from Sefardi to Ashkenazi?
If a person grew up Sefardi and wanted to change his minhagim to Ashkenazi (including pronunciations) is it permitted to do so?
user9478
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Are women allowed to drive?
Prompted by this article is there any basis for not allowing woman to drive? Can this practice even be termed a 'minhag'? If so, what is the motivation behind this 'tradition'?
As quoted from the ...
- 10.3k
5
votes
0
answers
179
views
Is there a tradition not to mention the pink animal?
My family always say "pink animal" in reference to, well, the pink animal. But now we find nobody remembers the reasons for this.
It seems to me I've seen the Hebrew writers say "davar acher," or "...
- 2,235
5
votes
2
answers
121
views
Can a public fast day be used for a Yahrtzeit fast?
Some people have a minhag to fast on a yahrtzeit (see Shulchan Aruch OC 567,7-9). If the day of the yahrtzeit occurs on a public fast day such as 17 Tamuz, can the fasting done then count for the ...
- 70.5k
5
votes
2
answers
823
views
Vihi Noam customs
In my siddur, I noticed when reciting Psalm 91 (for example, Kriyas Shema shel Mitah, Pesukei Dezimra Shabbos morning, Maariv Motzei Shabbos), there are two unusual things indicated:
The last verse ...
- 19.9k
5
votes
2
answers
418
views
Source for "Hamakom" said at shiva and variations
What is the source for the text of hamakom?
In Israel I noticed that they add some words that I never heard in the States (something like"vlo yosifo lidavek?od") , what is the source for them and why ...
5
votes
1
answer
225
views
language of betrothal at wedding
Traditionally, before a husband betroths his wife he says, "Harei at mekudeshet li btabaat zo kdat moshe vyisrael."
Is this language necessary in halacha or standardized by tradition (minhag)? If not ...
- 153
5
votes
2
answers
168
views
What is the source of the additions before תתקבל צלותהון, יהא שלמא, עושה שלום in Kaddish Tiskabel?
In Kaddish Tiskabel, there are parts to be said (see page 131) by the congregation just before the three phrases that begin: תתקבל צלותהון, יהא שלמא, עושה שלום.
These do not appear in all siddurim ...
- 47.6k
5
votes
1
answer
525
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 ...
- 73.7k
5
votes
1
answer
245
views
When we say "עַל צִיצִת הַכָּנָף" at which point do we kiss the tzitzis?
When we say Krias Shema, the widespread custom (referred to in OC 24 (4) Rema), is to kiss the tzitzis when we say the word, “צִיצִת”.
When we come to the words, עַל צִיצִת הַכָּנָף (which Singer ...
- 47.6k
4
votes
1
answer
665
views
What defines "hard cheese" [duplicate]
I grew up with the minhag that after "hard cheese", one must wait for 15 minutes before one may eat meat. However, the question often arises as to what qualifies as such in terms of halacha and minhag,...