Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
5
votes
2answers
193 views
Hardboiled eggs and salt water at the Seder
I've participated in only 3 different families' Passover Seders, so my experience is limited in terms of different families' traditions.
How widespread is the custom of eating a hardboiled egg in ...
6
votes
2answers
82 views
Why a Beitzah on the Seder Plate?
Why do we use a roasted (maybe?) egg on the Seder Plate to represent the Festival offering?
3
votes
0answers
53 views
The, um, Seder of the Seder [closed]
Since I have only experienced a handful of families' traditions of how they conduct their Sedarim, I thought I'd ask what others do.
What are some of the widely practiced customs for how to actually ...
5
votes
4answers
202 views
May musicians practice their instruments during Sefirah?
Although one should not listen to music during Sefirah, may musicians practice their instruments during this time?
Would it matter if their livelihood is or is not dependent on their musical talent ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
159 views
Al Hannisim for Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim
Are there any special additions one can add to the shemoneh esrei on Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim?
Is there any problem with saying these additions? Do any major shuls in America say them?
4
votes
2answers
215 views
3
votes
1answer
119 views
Birkat Kohanim in Mussaf on Simchas Torah?
MB 669 seif koton 17 says in the name of the Levush that the custom is that the Kohanim do not bless the people at Mussaf on Simchas Torah because there is a likelihood that the kohanim may be ...
9
votes
3answers
164 views
4
votes
1answer
46 views
Can we say the “Adir bamarom” prayer after the prayer which we say instead of “Birkat Kohanim”?
Extracted from here:
The prevailing custom in the Diaspora to relegate the Birkat Kohanim to the major holidays.
After Birkat Kohanim, the congregation silently recites the short Adir bamarom prayer.
...
3
votes
0answers
98 views
Young boys returning Chumashim after Torah reading
I often see young boys going around shul after the Shabbos/Yom Tov morning Torah reading to collect Chumashim and return them to their shelves. Is this an actual 'minhag' with a history behind it? If ...
11
votes
2answers
230 views
Stacking Seforim
From the things I heard in yeshiva category:
Are we allowed to place less revered seforim on top of more revered seforim? I believe that the consensus is that you are only allowed to stacks seforim ...
7
votes
1answer
92 views
Is the Haftarah a Minhag?
Is reading the Haftarah a Minhag?
I know that the practice was instituted when we couldn't publicly read torah, and then it was kept. Does that make it a Minhag?
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Fasting on Modern Days of Mourning
I was wondering if some people fast on Yom HaShoah or Yom HaZikaron. After all, these are somber days and hit close to home for many people.
Do some people fast on these days? Why or why not?
5
votes
2answers
174 views
Tallit with Wool Atara
The only tallit I know of that has an all wool atara is the Beit Yosef Tallit, which is marketed for Sephardim. Is there a specific source for this or is it simply being machmir to wear an all-wool ...
7
votes
1answer
83 views
Is one allowed to eat foods that were grown from non-kosher materials?
There is a known story of how one time a person brought a giant carrot on Erev Pesach to the Belzer Rebbe (back in Europe) for Karpas. After the donor left, he said "burn it with the Chometz". As the ...
2
votes
0answers
41 views
When did the Ashkenazi custom to NOT bake matza on Pesach start?
Historically, when did the Ashkenazi custom to not bake matza on Pesach start? I am specifically interested in when this custom arose, rather than the reasons/opions pro/against.
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
“Motzi Matzah” or “Motzi and Matzah” (separately)? Passover Seder
In some haggadot, I have seen the numbers of sections as being 14, with Motzi Matzah being combined, and in other haggadot, I have seen 15 with them separated. What is the reason behind each side?
4
votes
2answers
124 views
What is the halachic source for the minhagim of mourning during Sefira?
What is the earliest halachic source for the minhagim of mourning during sefira? Note that this does not mean the story of R' Akiva, I'm talking about halachic references to prohibitions such as not ...
6
votes
6answers
371 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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
4answers
268 views
Matzah meal before פסח
On the subject of not eating Matzah before פסח, may one eat products containing Matzah meal in that time?
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
176 views
Who should walk the Chosson and Kallah to the Chupa?
At the Chuppah in some weddings I've been to, the father and father-in-law escort the Chosson and the mother and mother-in-law escort the Kallah. In others, the mother and fathers each escort their ...
7
votes
3answers
131 views
7
votes
1answer
104 views
Origin of Spilling Wine by 10 Plagues
The custom among all Jews (as far as I know) is to spill a drip of wine for each of the plagues as they are mentioned in a list in the haggadah. This custom is not mentioned anywhere in the Talmud (as ...
6
votes
2answers
180 views
Wearing Gold On Yom HaKippurim
Besides for the minhag that one should not wear jewelry on Yom HaKipurim because of the "fear of the judgment" there is also the minhag to not wear gold (even as a decoration on a tallis or kittel) ...
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. ...
6
votes
0answers
80 views
Do some communities still allow more mingling between the sexes on Tu B'Av?
Do some communities still allow more mingling between the sexes on Tu B'Av? I understand that this used to be a custom, in addition to allowance of a more relaxed approach to women's tznius on that ...
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 ...
11
votes
5answers
604 views
Wearing your tzitzis out
Why do certain people wear their tzitzis out for people to see, and others do not?
7
votes
1answer
149 views
6
votes
1answer
107 views
Where does the custom to spill of from a drink come from?
I had a lubavitcher classmate in high school who used to spill off from his cup whenever he would drink anything. He claimed it was a minhag.
What is the reason/source for this practice?
1
vote
4answers
208 views
Shalom Aleichem and Eishes Chayil
Who wrote Shalom Aleichem and Eishes Chayil? Is it minhag Yisrael?
15
votes
3answers
190 views
Glasses and Shema
The Shulhan Aruch records the custom of placing one's hand over his eyes in Shema in order to increase concentration. What about someone who wears glasses? Must he move them or remove them?
2
votes
3answers
416 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
78 views
5
votes
3answers
305 views
Source of Burning Lulav with Chometz
What is the source of the custom to keep the Lulav untill Erev Pesach and burn it with the Chometz?
5
votes
1answer
159 views
Eating faux-Matza Before Pesach
Mishna Berura 471:2:12 says there are those that do not eat Matza starting Rosh Chodesh Nissan. May one eat Matza that is Chometz?
7
votes
2answers
121 views
How do we operationally define kitniyos?
I've heard/read much debate on whether certain plants qualify as kitniyos, such as snow peas and quinoa. What exactly halachically defines "kitniyos?" is it based on what was popular in 13th century ...
7
votes
1answer
159 views
3 year olds lighting a shabbat candle
When my eldest turned three her male cousin also turned three. Many of her friends and her cousin were getting Tzitzit. She asked for her own. We explained that boys wear TzitTzit and girls light ...
6
votes
1answer
173 views
Speaking while wearing Tefillin
Is there a real halachic source for the widespread practice not to speak while wearing tefillin? Of course, one is required to keep his mind on the tefillin, and may not get drawn into conversations ...
-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?
15
votes
7answers
1k views
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Why are children given money on Purim?
There seems to be a minhag (or at least what appears to be a minhag) that children who deliver mishloach manos are given a small sum of money by the recepient.
Is this an actual minhag?
And if so, ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
Godparents in Judaism
Does Judaism have any tradition resembling the Christian practice of assigning godparents? Godparents are a man and a woman entrusted by the birth parents to take care of their child spiritually and ...
7
votes
1answer
106 views
Baal haTanya's donning shel yad seated
I have heard that the baal haTanya put on his t'fila shel yad while seated (as S'faradim do).
Does anyone have a source for this (or for the opposite: that he put on his shel yad standing)?
If he ...
11
votes
1answer
269 views
Why is the Lubavitch custom to have short Peoth?
If R' Schneur Zalman of Liadi had long Peoth, as in this famous sketch, why is it not the custom in Lubavitch circles these days for adult men to maintain long, emphasized Peoth as it is in many other ...
3
votes
2answers
219 views
Who says the Ribbono shel Olam in Birkas Kohanim?
I've "seen" many Talmidei Chachamim not saying the Ribbono shel Olams following each bracha of Birkas Kohanim. At least, I hear them chanting with the Kohanim from start to finish. Are these tefilos ...
