Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
7
votes
2answers
87 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
50 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
116 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.
...
6
votes
1answer
114 views
Can you sing during the sheva brachos?
I have been to weddings where, during the recitation of the seventh bracha under the chuppah, the congregation sings "asher bara...". Sometimes it is along with the one reciting the bracha and other ...
3
votes
1answer
55 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
52 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
74 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?
0
votes
1answer
74 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 ...
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 ...
6
votes
0answers
81 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 ...
5
votes
0answers
53 views
Are there any ancient Jewish dances?
From what I've seen most (orthodox) Jewish dancing consists of people running or walking in a circle, sometimes with exciting variations such as foot stomping. Are there any records of ancient ...
5
votes
0answers
56 views
Minhag of bothering the chazzan on Simchas Torah
I have seen the custom of bothering the chazzan during the musaf service on Simchas Torah. I have seen people tie the chazzan's gartel to a chair, or try to move the chazzan to a diffrent place. I ...
5
votes
0answers
59 views
Original source for Maharil endorsing tunes as “MiSinai”?
Cantor Goffin describes how over 500 years ago, Maharil endorsed several cantorial tunes as "MiSinai" -- "so authoritative it's as if they go back to Sinai" -- for use in the prayers.
What's the ...
4
votes
0answers
26 views
Shir Hama'alos in “Barech”?
Among the many hagada versions in use at the seder I attended this year, some of them included Shir Hama'alos before birkas hamazon in the "Barech" section and others did not. Is there any reason to ...
4
votes
0answers
104 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? ...
4
votes
0answers
156 views
Why ad meah v'esrim?
Why do we bless people with "ad meah v'esrim"? Aren't we supposed to believe moshiach will come by then, and there will be eternal life (according to some opinions)? Thus by giving a blessing for a ...
4
votes
0answers
96 views
Matzah Shemurah on the 8th day of Pesaḥ (in the Diaspora)
According to those who hold that there is a Kiyyum Mitzvath 'Aseh DeOraitha (a fulfillment of a positive Biblical commandment) every time one eats a KeZayith (olive size's worth) of Matzah on Pesaḥ, ...
3
votes
0answers
22 views
Are there any minhag and customs specific to Czech Jews and have they been documented?
I'm a baal teshuva with Czech Jewish ancestry. I have an interest in the minhag of my ancestors as well as in common cultural practices, and perhaps pass them on where I can. Have they been documented ...
3
votes
0answers
141 views
Minhag not to learn Torah on the night of Nitel (Who and where)
This related question explains what this minhag is and a couple of reasons for it.
I was wondering to what extent is this minhag practiced today apart from Chabad (see Hayom Yom - 17 Tevet)...do all ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
Best practices for long-distance Nihum Aveilim and Kavod HaMeith
What are some best practices for people who learn from afar of the passing of an individual (not immediate family) and who want show their respects to the deceased and the surviving family?
If they ...
3
votes
0answers
69 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. ...
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 ...
3
votes
0answers
53 views
Why read about Rashb"i's death at a memorial ceremony?
Why do many people read the passage (known as אדרא זוטא) from Zohar about the death of Rabbi Shim'on ben Yochai at memorial ceremonies?
2
votes
0answers
48 views
Is a convert free to choose his own minhagim?
Back when Jews lived in the same communities for generations, they were obligated to follow the minhagim (customs) of their community. The classic example is that East European Jews held that one ...
2
votes
0answers
156 views
What is the proper greeting for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day)?
Here in Israel, there are many customs surrounding Yom HaShoah; the morning siren, ceremonies, storytelling from survivors, etc. However, I'm not sure I've ever heard a way to greet someone that ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
May a woman be a kvater?
May a woman serve as the sole kvater (person who brings the baby to the sandek) at a bris? At most britot I've been to, the duty of kvater was handled by a woman and a man (typically married), with ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Who wears a talis on leil Shabbos?
Rabbi Chanina would don his talis gadol on erev Shabbos (Mas. Shabbos 25b, Rambam Hilchos Shabbos 30:2). While this has been practiced by individuals, is it today the practice of any particular ...
2
votes
0answers
80 views
Sitting or Standing for Kaddish - historical divergence between Conservative and Orthodox minhag
At most (maybe even all?) Conservative synagogues, the congregation remains seated during every kaddish (except mourner's kaddish, and then only mourners rise). At Ashkenazic Orthodox synagogues, the ...
2
votes
0answers
66 views
Which Names of Hashem can/can't we say [in regular conversation]?
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (6:3) writes that one shouldn't say Hashem's name except by way of praise or blessing whenever required, or when learning (Torah)
[see this answer and this question ]
Indeed, ...
2
votes
0answers
55 views
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 ...
2
votes
0answers
43 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
95 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 ...
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.
1
vote
0answers
33 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.) ...
1
vote
0answers
55 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Meditation before Mitzvah activities
Who invented the meditation that is often printed before such things as counting the 'Omer, inviting the Ushpizin, and other Mitzvoth or Mitzvah-related activities, and what is the basis for it?
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Noda B'Yehuda and the Tzavah of Rebbe Yehuda HaChossid
The Noda B'Yehuda (Tinyanah Evan HaEzer Siman 79) famously writes in regards to making a match between a bachelor that has the same name as the father of the potential bride that one need not be ...
1
vote
0answers
59 views
Who should observe Isru Chag?
I have been trying to understand Isru Chag. While there is a source in tehillim for the words and the gemara derives a notion of extra celebration, there seems to be little about the scope of the day.
...
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Decorating of the Beitzah
Somebody told me in Israel some have the custom of decorating the egg for Pesach (like an Easter egg). Wouldn't that be considered chukas hagoyim or avoda zara?
1
vote
0answers
80 views
Why do we wish someone “long life” on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of relative?
Why do we wish someone “long life” on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of relative?
I can understand this wish directly after the death when I have heard that a person should consider ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Triennial reading cycle for guests
On one Shabbos, to accommodate a large number of guests from another shul who follow a triennial Torah reading cycle, can we revert to the triennial cycle reading for that one Shabbos?
1
vote
0answers
65 views
What if there is no object for use in a mitzva?
There is a story I once heard about the Ben Ish Chai examining the only known etrog available in Iraq. Despite the great need for it, he declared the etrog passul for use and no one could fulfill the ...
1
vote
0answers
78 views
Saying Misod and Reshut (introduction) for piyutim, then skipping them
I have seen that many yeshivos (and recently, even some shuls) often say just Misod and the Reshus on RH and YK, and then skip the actual piyutim they are meant to introduce!
This is even more evident ...
1
vote
0answers
63 views
Should people not say Vidui before Tachanun?
Assuming that it is a hefseik and forbidden to interrupt between amidah and tachanun, should a person who regularly recites vidui change his custom and delay the recital of vidui until later on, after ...
0
votes
0answers
22 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
How should the items on the noticeboard in the synagogue be arranged?
On a board where the name of the week’s parsha and the relevant additions in the prayers are displayed as shown here for example, is there an order of placing the items accepted by halacha or minhag?
...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
Is there an 'Inyan of Upsherin for girls?
Upsherin is cutting a boy's hair at or about the age of three for the first time. Is there any 'Inyan (idea) of an Upsherin for girls? Why or why not?
0
votes
0answers
54 views
Stuffed cabbage on Sukkoth
There is a well-known custom to eat stuffed cabbage on Simhath Torah. But many also eat it on Sukkoth. Is it an extension of the same reason? Are the reasons cited for Simhath Torah (in the answers to ...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Davening by a Tzaddik on Rosh HaShanah
Where does the inyan of davening with a Tzaddik on Rosh HaShanah come from? Where did it start? Was there ever such a minhag before chassidus come along? (Assuming it started with the Chassidim -- my ...
0
votes
0answers
44 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?
