Jews deriving from, roughly, Muslim lands.
6
votes
1answer
211 views
Tallis gadol with white stripes
An interesting question has been posted on the signification of tallis' stripes : Stripes on a Talis
About stripes color the Rambam position's noticed as black being closer to techeiles color.
My ...
10
votes
4answers
161 views
Not falling on hands for Tachnun
How come Sepharadim do not "fall on their faces" during Tachanun as Ashkenazim do, if the prayer is called "nefilat apa'im" (literally the falling of the faces)?
The Shulchan Aruch seems to hold of ...
8
votes
2answers
189 views
Ashkenazic vs. Sefardic grammar tendencies
I notice that when referring to God in the second person in a possessive form, Sefardim often use the female form where Ashkenazim use the male form.
For example, where Ashkenazim say in kedusha, ...
7
votes
2answers
274 views
מרדכי = Mord'chi?
When learning with Jews of the Syrian community, I noticed that they pronounced מרדכי (the name of the halachic commentary on the g'mara) as "mord'chi", as if the final vowel were a chirik. Why is ...
5
votes
3answers
155 views
May one use a Sephardic Torah in an Ashkenaz minyan?
May an Ashkenaz minyan use a sephardic torah (written in כתב וועליש) for their minyan or vise versa? Please cite a source
4
votes
1answer
181 views
Ashkenazim and Kitniyot on Erev Pesach
The following hypothetical case was raised in class today:
An American (ashkenazic) Jew is visiting Israel. On Erev Pesach, he has a hankering for sushi (the word hankering was not used in class -- ...
4
votes
1answer
233 views
Basar Shenis'aleim Min Ha'ayin
Ashkenazim are not concerned for meat being unwatched for a few minutes as per the Ramah. I want to know do Sefardim have this concern? Meaning, in a work situation, when a Sefardi puts a meat ...
9
votes
2answers
221 views
How does Hagbah work on a Sephardic Torah case?
How does one do Hagbah on a Torah in a Sephardic Torah case, such as one of these silver cases (picture courtesy of Hadad Brothers) :
See also the Ashkenazi version of this question.
5
votes
4answers
159 views
What are Brochos differences of Sefardim and Ashkenazim?
For example, according to sefardim the bracha on matzo is mezonos (during the year), while it's hamotzi for Ashkenazim.
What are other differences between Ashkenazim and Sefardim with regards to ...
14
votes
1answer
438 views
What was daily life like for Jewish women living in al-Andalus in the 10th/11th centuries?
The emir of Al-Andalus (approximately the Iberian peninsula) declared himself a new caliph, breaking off from the caliphate in the east, circa 950 CE. I have read that the next couple hundred years ...
7
votes
3answers
211 views
Why the split between Sefardim and Ashkenzim?
Why is there a much bigger split between Sefardim and Ashkenzim and not, say, between Sefardim and people who lived in Bavel? The distance between Spain, and say, Israel should have been big enough to ...
7
votes
2answers
165 views
The Split Between Sefardim and Ashkenazim
How did this split happen historically and halachically before Shulchan Aruch, and why is not like having two Torahs? Where is the source for the split?
6
votes
2answers
123 views
Bowing during Barechu
Many Sepharadim have a custom to take a slight bow when saying Barechu both during Shacharit and Arvit. Others insist on standing. Is there any source for such a minhag in the sifrei Halacha (or ...
6
votes
4answers
120 views
Parshas Zachor Sfardi versus Ashkenazi
Can a Sefardi be Yotzeh Zachor with an Ashkenazi Laining and vice Versa?
5
votes
1answer
91 views
When do Sefardim start mourning in a year that Tisha B'av is postponed until Sunday?
As mentioned here, Sefardim observe the mourning period known to Ashkenazim as "The Nine Days" only during the week that Tisha B'av occurs.
Tisha B'av falls out on Shabbat this year (5772), and the ...
4
votes
1answer
306 views
Yerushalmi Versus Bavli
What are the differences between the two Talmuds? or are there differences? Why did the two Talmuds develop separately or did they? Why do we Poskin like the Bavli or do we? Is it true that the ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Why can Sephardic Jews Eat Rice on Passover?
Why can Sephardic Jews eat rice on Passover? Is this specified in the Torah somewhere?
3
votes
2answers
233 views
Sefardic contemporaries for Techelet?
Are there any Sefardic Poskim today that have written a book and discuss the Techelet? If so, can you bring one that is FOR the Techelet?
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Are there any brands of mustard powder (flour) that are kosher for Passover for Sephardim?
Prepared mustard (containing vinegar and the like) is certainly not kosher for Passover. According to Ashkenazic practice, the mustard plant itself is included in "kitniot" and prohibited on ...
3
votes
3answers
236 views
Kitnios on Pesach
Why and when did the minhag start that allows Sephardim to eat Kitnios (Legumes)but not Ashkenazim?
2
votes
1answer
249 views
How do rabbis explain the reason for the Spanish Expulsion. Why did the Jewish people deserve it
I notice you already have this question for the Holocaust but haven't found it for the Spanish expulsion. I understand that many great people gave reasons for it, like the seder hadoros, tsror hamor ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Why did the Shulchan Aruch hold of waiting until Lad LaOmer to cut one's hair?
The Shulchan Aruch (493:2) writes that one should not cut one's hair until the morning of the 34th day of the 'Omer ("אין להסתפר עד יום ל"ד בבקר"). What is the source for waiting until the morning of ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
Is the Magen HaElef Sefaradi or Ashkenazi?
There is a Sefer written by someone named Yaakov Ben Yaakov Moshe called Magen HaElef. Is he Sefaradi or Ashekneazi?
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Selichos start: Ashkinazim vs. Sefardim
Why do Sefardim start saying Sleichos earlier than Ashkinazim?
1
vote
3answers
90 views
What do Sephardic sources have to say about women wearing t'filin?
This answer to another question about women and talit/t'filin says (about t'filin):
Because of the Rema is the foremost Ashkenazic authority of halakha, the great modern Askenazic poskim (R. Moshe ...
1
vote
2answers
184 views
Main Sefardi Rav
Which rabbi do the majority of sefardim follow? Or, do a majority of them not follow a single rabbi?
