Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
0
votes
2answers
74 views
Why aren't we Mahmir (stringent) with just Mikvah when ruling leniently on a technicality in Niddah cases?
I know from experience and some introductory study of the laws of Niddah that rabbis typically try to find leniencies wherever possible in issues of family purity. In many instances, a Posek will rely ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
+50
Should I rend k'riyah if I witness the death of a non-relative? If so, what's the procedure?
In "Must EMTs and others rend Kriyah each time they see a patient die?", Chalutznahal cites Yoreh De'ah 40:5, which says that when I witness a fellow Jew die, I must rend my shirt out of sadness. And ...
4
votes
2answers
133 views
Why do Sephardim tuck in their tzitzit?
It has been mentioned previously that Sephardic custom, according to R. Ovadia, is to wear the tzitziot from a talit katan inside rather than exposed.
Can someone provide an explanation for this ...
9
votes
1answer
104 views
Can one write one's own Hespid?
Tragically, I have an incurable disease and have little time left. I have told a number of friends about this and said good-bye to them in an email. In return, I have received a number of emails ...
3
votes
2answers
100 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 buried near others of similar ...
6
votes
1answer
61 views
Hatoras Nedarim for wife taking her husband's Minhagim
According to Minchas Yaakov 112:2 and Darchei Teshuva 112:94, one who is always careful with Pas Yisrael and now wants to start eating Pas Paltar would have to be Matir Neder. Suppose a girl who was ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
Chopping items makes them Kitniyoth?
This article has a line in a recipe that suggests that chopping an ingredient will make it Kitniyoth. The entire recipe is below with the line in question highlighted:
JICAMA APPLE SLAW
From ...
11
votes
5answers
393 views
Why does the Tefilin Shel Yad have a protective cover?
When you purchase Tefilin, the Tefilin Shel Yad has a protective cover. Why? Is it Halachically necessary?
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Additional names for refuah shlema
When praying for someone's refuah shlema (fully recovered health), is it halakhically required to use their additional names on top of their first names? Is it simply custom?
If someone is named ...
4
votes
2answers
230 views
When did the use of Rashei Tevot, Heh Kuf, הק׳ in writings, books, letters, etc., begin?
Perhaps I'm among the last to have found this out, but it took me quite a while to understand why, in a signature, the name was preceeded by a הק׳. THe Ozar Rashei Tevot book has 31 different ...
7
votes
2answers
89 views
Why omit “Av harachamim” for the four parashiyos?
"Av harachamim" is a prayer asking God to recall those who died al kidush hashem. It was written in response to the First Crusade (and is thus said only in the Ashk'nazi rite). Because of its somber ...
9
votes
3answers
273 views
Baal Teshuva Minhag
I have read that Rabbi Avraham Yosef (the son of Rav Ovadiah Yosef) paskened that a Baal Teshuva in Israel should adopt the Sephardic Minhag, regardless of family history, as their immediate ancestors ...
7
votes
5answers
168 views
Why do we say Vhu Rachum before Maariv?
Before Maariv, we say the pasuk "Vhu rachum yichaper avon..." (Psalms 78:38). Why?
2
votes
2answers
125 views
When did upsherins become part of standard American Orthodox practice?
According to Rav Wikipedia, the upsherin is a custom that was brought from Muslims to Palestinian Jews to Tzfat Sephardim to Chasidim.
Recently, I've noticed mainstream (non-charedi) Orthodox Jews ...
3
votes
0answers
48 views
Saying “Elokim” when not referring to Hashem
People often say "Elokim" instead of "Elohim" when speaking in order to avoid taking God's name in vain. I have observed, however, that some people always substitute the word "elokim" for "elohim" ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Hyphenating the word Hashem
I've seen the word Hashem hyphenated ("Hash-m"). Is there any valid reason for this practice?
4
votes
1answer
61 views
Reasoning for doing/not doing mourning customs in second half of the omer
In my observation, most people observe certain mourning customs between the beginning of sefirat ha'omer and lag b'omer (such as refraining from shaving, listening to live music, etc.). Some people ...
-2
votes
1answer
115 views
What allowed Jews to change the way they pronounced words?
The way we pronounce words has changed over many years and we now have many different customs. Many of the changes derive from Jews moving to different geographic locations and adopting similar ...
15
votes
1answer
629 views
Killing somebody with the keys to the synagogue
In Yoreh Deah 339:1, the mechaber brings a variety of things that one is not permitted to do to a goses (a person on the brink of death), since each of these things causes the goses to die sooner. ...
6
votes
1answer
125 views
Origin of the nine days
I just learned a gemara (taanit 30a) that seems to pretty clearly state that the mourning for tisha b'av starts the beginning of the week that tisha b'av falls out on, and ends with tisha b'av itself.
...
8
votes
3answers
248 views
Saying VaYhi Erev VaYehi Voker before Kiddush Friday night
The Minhag that many people have is to start Kiddush Friday night with VaYehi Erev VaYehi Voker before saying Yom HaShishi.
I heard that HaRav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal did not say VaYehi Erev VaYehi ...
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Spilling wine for Detzach, Adash, Be'Achav
I understand that we spill wine for the plagues. People died, they went through hardship, and it was not their fault.
But.... immediately after spilling wine for the plagues, we say that R' ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Where does the minhag of holding a pinky up to the Torah come from? [duplicate]
Where does the minhag to hold a pinky up to the Torah during hagbah come from? And in the same vein (or perhaps not) where does the minhag to dip your pinky into your cup on Pesach to remove wine come ...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
Is there an inyan to eat Cheesecake on Shavuos?
I know everybody does it, and I know there is an inyan to eat dairy, but is there an inyan specifically for eating cheesecake on Shavuos? And if so, where does it come from?
4
votes
1answer
85 views
Blowing shofar at a wedding
Friends of mine are getting married this Sunday and asked me if I would blow shofar at the chuppah. I have been ba'al toke'a probably 2/3 of the years since my bar mitzvah (2002) in three different ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Can I cut my toenails consecutively? [duplicate]
Should I be careful about this issue or there is no rule regarding this?
2
votes
1answer
54 views
chassan/kallah signing the kesubah or tenaaim
I have seen bridegrooms and brides sign their names on their kesuba or tenaaim (prenup) before the chuppah (wedding ceremony). It seems maybe to be a chassidish custom, though I'm not sure.
Is there ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
Not making a wedding on the first 3 days of a month
I've heard there is a custom (practiced in various kehillas, I heard Belz is one of them) to not make a wedding on the first 3 days of a month (meaning alef, beis, or gimmel of a particular month.) ...
8
votes
1answer
168 views
Why do we mention dreams during *Birchas Kohanim*?
I don't know how many sects actually do this, but some people have the custom to say a tehfillah which is all about dreams. In it we ask Hashem to make all our good dreams come true whether "...I have ...
13
votes
4answers
823 views
Which passages comprise the classic Tikkun Leil Shavuot?
As we count down to Shavuot, I find myself wondering:
[First, some background for those who don't know what a Tikkun Leil Shavuot is]
According to tradition, we overslept the morning of Matan Torah ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
What are the parameters of 'minhag yisrael'?
I went to a non-Jewish self-catering apartment and I was discussing with my friend whether we can use the utensils or not. Of course, if they are clean and used for cold there are no problems. We ...
9
votes
4answers
369 views
Why do we eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
Why do we have a Minhag to eat Milchigs (dairy) on Shavuos?
3
votes
1answer
49 views
Why do children wear crowns on Shavuot?
Here in Israel, the tradition is for young children to wear flower crowns to celebrate Shavuot. (Along with the obligatory white shirts.) See my twins:
Why is this? Is it related to Shabbat 88A ??
...
2
votes
2answers
290 views
End of Davening - Al Tira MiPachad Pisom
It seems like (other than Chabad) most people do not say Al Tira at the end of davening - they finish with the end of Aleinu/V'Al Kein. Is this an error or is this intentional? If it is intentional ...
4
votes
3answers
137 views
6
votes
3answers
233 views
spitting in aleinu leshabeach
Does anyone know the origin of the custom to spit in Aleinu after the words
Shehem mishtachvim lahevel vlarik
Where did it start? and in which sforim it is mentioned?
I have seen the sefer Hayom ...
4
votes
1answer
156 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?
5
votes
4answers
166 views
When do we say “Alenu L'shabe'ach”?
What are all the times when we say the t'fila beginning with the words "עלינו לשבח" commonly known as "Alenu"?
4
votes
1answer
42 views
What is the source for a Bar Mitzva seuda?
What sources are there for our minhag of doing a Bar Mitzva Seuda (meal), and do the sources state that the seuda must specifically be done on the day of the Bar Mitzva (or the night of)? And is this ...
11
votes
2answers
214 views
May one walk under the Arch of Titus?
I have heard that it is prohibited (or at least that the custom is not) to walk under the Arch of Titus in Rome. Is this accurate? If so, what is the source? Would it make a difference if a large ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
When the first of the 3 days of hagbalah is Sunday, are haircuts permitted the Friday before?
When lag b’omer fell on a Sunday, it was permitted to take a haircut on the Friday before for the honour of Shabbos.
This year the first day of the three days of hagbalah also falls on Sunday and ...
6
votes
3answers
162 views
Misreading a k'suva
The k'suva text varies slightly depending on whether the bride is a virgin, independent of whether she has been married previously. (For one thing, the amount of money mentioned in it is different; ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Is there a custom that the person who makes the siyum on the fast of the first-born should be a bechor?
I have notcied that at my shul, whoever gives the siyum on the fast of the first-born each year before Pesach is always a first-born himself. Is this a generally practiced custom? I cannot imagine a ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Rules for Cutting Nails
My question about nail-cutting is whether each of the following is halacha, minhag, or old-wives' tales.
Not cutting both fingernails and toenails on the same day.
Not cutting nails at night (is ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
When does the cantillation for Ester and other books change?
Sometimes people read some verses in Ester and other books in a different cantillation. For example, in Ester, some read the verse of "אשר הגלה מירושלים" to the tune of Eichah, and the Mishnah Brurah ...
2
votes
1answer
175 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?
9
votes
1answer
190 views
Not to give a divorce (Get) in the month of Iyar
I heard today in Shul that there is a Minhag not to give a divorce in the month of Iyar. What is the source and reason for this Minhag?
1
vote
0answers
64 views
When did the Kanievsky family switch from Chasidic to Litvish?
R' Chaim Kanievsky shlita davens Ashkenaz and wears Ashkenazi tefilin. His grandfather z'l was a Chernobyler chasid. It's not clear to me how the Steipler Gaon ztz'l conducted himself with regards ...
4
votes
3answers
338 views
Aufruf and Shabbat Chatan?
Why is an aufruf (Askenazim) before and a shabbat chatan (sefardim) after the wedding? I know there is an idea of a chaasan going to shul from the Pirkei d'Reb Eliezer 17 but how did it get split ...
2
votes
2answers
80 views
Holocaust Rembrance Day(s)?
What is with the different Holocaust Remembrance Days?
When I was a kid, my entire community observed Yom HaShoah. This came about approximately one week after Pesaḥ. Although I'm not totally sure, I ...
