Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
13
votes
2answers
196 views
Why don't we use a translator during Torah reading?
Outside of the Teimanim I am not aware of any other segments of Judaism that still employ a meturgamen (translator) during kriat ha'torah. Why has this practice fallen into disuse?
10
votes
3answers
356 views
Talis Gadol for Unmarried Individuals
In my minhag (and I believe it's minhag Ashkenaz), unmarried men do not wear a Talis Gadol (only a Talis Katan).
Why is this so?
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Singles not wear Talit Gadol [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Talis Gadol for Unmarried Individuals
Where did the idea of not wearing Talit Gadol before marriage come from? Also, where did the Minhag of Sefaradim get the Minhag to ...
8
votes
1answer
80 views
Why is it considered respectful to capitalize G-d and its derivatives/pronouns?
I recognize that in English proper nouns are supposed to be capitalized, especially in the case where a proper noun is also a common noun (e.g. the mall vs. the Mall), but only when referring to G-d ...
3
votes
3answers
142 views
why don't Jews meditate?
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan has 3 (in my opinion excellent) books on the history, importance, and benefit of Jewish meditation. Yet meditation does not seem to be an integral component for much (though, ...
5
votes
3answers
118 views
Megilas Esther by day - why is it done after Kriyas HaTorah?
We read Koheles on Succos, Shir HaShirim on Pesach, and Rus on Shavuos, and we always read it prior to Kriyas HaTorah. Then why do we read Megilas Esther on Purim day after Kriyas HaTorah?
5
votes
2answers
364 views
Trop (cantillation) for leining
Who created the trop (cantillation) for leining? Is it a Mesorah from when the Torah was written?
3
votes
1answer
122 views
Who wrote Shoshanat Yaakov?
Who was the Author of the Piyut "asher
hanee" that ends with Shoshanat Yaakov? Why is it said by Ashkenazim after they read the Meggilah at night?
10
votes
3answers
245 views
Why do Jewish people sway while praying?
Is there a reason that people sway back and forth while praying?
I saw a lot of people pray like this, but I'm too shy to ask them why do they do this.
8
votes
2answers
137 views
What is the source for washing Mayim Acharonim with only a few drops of water?
OC 181 (4) MB [10] says that when washing mayim acharonim one must wash up to the second knuckle and using a few drops does not fulfill the mitzvah at all. Shulchan Oruch HaRav 181 (4) says there is ...
7
votes
2answers
126 views
Should we say Al Naharos Bavel?
Tehillim 137 is printed in several bentchers before birkas hamazon, but from what I have seen most people do not say it. What is the correct thing to do: say or omit? Are there different minhagim?
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?
3
votes
3answers
127 views
Conventions for derivation of Hebrew names
How is a Hebrew name chosen for a person whose legal name is English (or other vernacular)? Is the name chosen based on phonetic resemblance to one's English name, a resemblance in meaning, or mere ...
4
votes
1answer
218 views
Tzitzit tying: the real way
1)There are two authentic ways to tie the Sisit (Tzitzis) that have sources. Maran writes to make 7-9-11-13. First question: why does he write this is he then says Gimtarya Hashem is One, when in fact ...
7
votes
1answer
120 views
Piyyutim on Yomim Noraim. Why do we split phrases against their meaning?
Why is it that in the davenning for Yomim Noraim, we split up the phrases in many of the piyyutim against their real meaning?
For example, in “Vechol maaminim shehu…” (p 538 Artscroll Machzor For Yom ...
4
votes
2answers
115 views
Handling Conflict between Jewish and Civil Law
This question is an offshoot from the one titled "Questions about Polygamy in Jewish Law and Culture"
Taking under the knowledge that the previous question was well answered with an observation:
It's ...
14
votes
2answers
243 views
Naming after the living. Why is it considered bad?
This is a fairly straight forward question. I am under the impression that this is bad. This is why you don't see many Moishe Abromowitz, III.
Why is this bad, and why isn't that practice carried ...
5
votes
2answers
500 views
What are Jewish conventions regarding honeymoons?
What are Jewish conventions regarding honeymoons? Is a honeymoon taken, and, if so, is it done immediately after the wedding--or later, once the woman is again tehora?
5
votes
3answers
322 views
Hair dyeing for women
What are the halachic issues involved in hair dyeing for women? Most importantly, does hair dye constitute a chatzitza for mikvah?
Also: are there any communities that forbid hair dyeing altogether? ...
6
votes
1answer
204 views
Walking around the house after shiva
I'd heard something about how some people, when getting up after the week of "sitting shiva" (mourning), take a walk around the outside of their house before going back to "normal" life. Has anyone ...
3
votes
1answer
822 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 ...
11
votes
2answers
366 views
Why don't brides (always) cover their hair for their weddings?
Why don't brides (always) cover their hair for their weddings? I understand that in some ultra-religious groups they do, but there seem to be many groups within Orthodoxy where they do not cover their ...
5
votes
1answer
145 views
Putting a talis on during Shabas mincha
Why (in some synagogues) does the shatz (leader) put on the talis during mincha of Shabas, before "Vaani s'filasi", rather than before the start of mincha?
As Gershon Gold notes in his answer, Shaare ...
5
votes
1answer
235 views
When to make a bracha on lightning
The general practice is to make a bracha on the sky illuminating from lightning without actually seeing the bolt.
Does anyone know a source for this? Is this the most appropriate practice?
Also, ...
13
votes
1answer
213 views
Why don't people bentch on a kos nowadays?
Bentching with a kos (recite Grace after Meals with a cup of wine) was clearly a popular thing to do in the times of the gemara. Additionally many Ashkenazi rishonim (Rosh, Ri, and many other ...
5
votes
2answers
164 views
Why do we put the belt (gartel) of the Sefer Torah on the top third?
I have observed in the Shuls I Daven in that the one who does Gelila often puts the belt (gartel) on the top third of the Sefer Torah. Is there a reason or source for this? Why not in the middle?
5
votes
3answers
211 views
Kissing Tzitzis during Shema
There are those that kiss their Tzitzis during Shema at Shacharis as per Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 17:7 and the Kaf HaChaim 18 and there are those that do not. What is the source and reason for those that ...
3
votes
3answers
78 views
Number of Fruit on Tu B'Shvat
Is there a specific number of fruit that you are supposed to eat on Tu B'Shvat?
6
votes
1answer
150 views
Is there a source for not buying things for a baby before it is born?
Is there any source for the custom to not buy things for a baby before it is born? I have heard that the reason is due to averting ayin hara, but I would like to know if there is any recorded source ...
3
votes
1answer
52 views
Moving nails better than burning them?
It says in the Gemara that one who buries his nails is a Tzaddik (he did what he should, to avoid a pregnant woman from stepping on them) while someone who burns his nails is a chossid (Tosfos ...
12
votes
2answers
121 views
The custom of adding a candle for each child
Many people, including myself, added or will add a candle on Friday night for each child that is born. Where and when did this custom originate?
7
votes
6answers
508 views
Custom to refrain from eating meat at the Pesach Seder?
I recently heard from two separate people about a custom not to eat any meat at the Seder (i.e. only fish and chicken are eaten). This was surprising to me, as the minhag mentioned in the Mishnah, ...
6
votes
1answer
115 views
Dropping a phone siddur or chumash
If you have a siddur or chumash on your phone and you drop it, do you kiss it if...
the siddur is not open
the siddur is open, but shem hashem is not showing
the siddur is open and shem Hashem is ...
12
votes
2answers
154 views
People half-standing for אלקינו in zimun
When conducting a zimun with ten or more men, the nusach is to say "...ברוך אלקינו שאכלנו משלו".
I have noticed that many people, when saying the word "אלקינו", get up from their seats at least a ...
4
votes
2answers
153 views
Children attending a parent's wedding
Recently a relative of mine who is a widow got engaged. The children were told that the Minhag is that children do not attend a wedding of their parents. What is the source of this Minhag? What is the ...
3
votes
2answers
150 views
The number of Challot on Shabbat and salt
If my understanding is correct we use two Challot on Shabbat to represent the two portions of mana the Jews received in the desert of Friday to prevent them from having to collect on Shabbat. We use ...
5
votes
2answers
178 views
If it's your minhag to daven Hanetz, do you do so even without a minyan?
A friend once told me that if one's minhag is to daven with Hanetz (i.e., starting the Amida prayer at sunrise), and if there's no Hanetz minyan nearby, you should still daven Hanetz, even without a ...
10
votes
3answers
173 views
Who distributed the zemiros across the three meals?
Any book of zemiros whether it's a siddur, birchon, or what have you divides the zemiros between the three meals. Sometimes the rationale is obvious as with the tikkunim which are written for each ...
8
votes
1answer
188 views
Following the Biur Halacha
As far as I know, the most accepted Posek around the entire non-Chassidic Ashkenazi world is the Mishna Berura (and of course the Rama). He wrote the sections to his commentary to the Code of Jewish ...
11
votes
1answer
107 views
Placing notes in the Kotel/Western Wall
Is there any source for the custom to place notes in to the Western Wall? A very prevalent practice in Israel.
And even if there is no source, is it a good idea?
8
votes
3answers
205 views
Wear your tzitzis out or in?
There seems to be some misunderstanding/machlokes (disagreement) on how you should wear your tzitzis - with the strings sticking out or tucked in. What's the proper way?
3
votes
2answers
203 views
Why is the atara on a tallis always the same design?
Maybe a frivolous question, but I am intrigued as to why the atara (the strip of cloth denoting where the tallis should rest on your shoulders) on every standard tallis (other than the fancy ones with ...
10
votes
2answers
277 views
40 minutes offset for candle lighting?
Several Zmanim apps are giving a choice on my "candle lighting offset". The default here is 40 minutes instead of the usual 18 minutes I've heard.
Why 40? Why do I even have a choice?
Does the fact ...
3
votes
1answer
103 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?
10
votes
2answers
141 views
Different Teffilin, now what am I required to do?
If I do not have my regular Teffilin one morning and need to borrow someone else's, but that person's Teffilin are different from mine, is that sufficient, or should I get a pair of Teffilin later on ...
6
votes
1answer
157 views
how to call up a kohen/levi as acharon
Shulachan Aruch (OC 135:10) holds, and Rama (there) seems to also hold, that if a kohen (or levi, m.m.) is called as acharon then the gabai should say "af al pi shehu kohen". The purpose of this is to ...
5
votes
2answers
174 views
Start of the Upsherin ceremony
When did it become popular to have a ceremony for a boys Upsherin, his first haircut when he reaches the age of three?
2
votes
3answers
134 views
Source for a Vacht Nacht
There is an event the night before a Bris. It's called Vacht Nacht in Yiddish and called Zohar amongst certain Sefardim; I am aware that people of German decent have a third name for it, which I can't ...
4
votes
1answer
97 views
When you do Hagba - do you say V'Zos HaTorah?
If you are the one who is doing Hagba - lifting up the Sefer Torah after Leining - (the Minhag is to point or to bow at the Torah when you say V'Zos HaTorah and it is impossible for the one doing ...
5
votes
2answers
72 views
Special Grace After Meals in a House of Mourning
The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De'ah 379 outlines a special version of Bentching to be recited in a House of Mourning. I have been in several houses of mourning and have never seen this done. Has anyone ...
