Tagged Questions
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Singing Lecha Dodi before Shabbos
In every community I have been in there is a custom to sing Lecha Dodi, sometimes along with yedid nefesh or shir hashirim, during kabbalat shabbat. Are there any communities which do not sing lecha ...
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
170 views
I heard not to say “Good Shabbos” after mincha. Is it true, and what defines mincha?
I heard from somewhere that, on Shabbos, one does not say "Good Shabbos" after mincha. I am not sure whether it's in a halacha sefer somewhere (I tried looking) or just a minhag.
First of all, is ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Pirkei Avos on Shabbos Tisha B'Av
When Tisha B'Av comes out on a Shabbos, do we say Pirkei Avos in the cycle on that Shabbos?
6
votes
1answer
147 views
Hand movements when lighting shabbat candles
When women light shabbat candles I often see them making hand gestures. These look like two or perhaps three circles around in the air. What is the source for this practice? Is it a law or custom? Is ...
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
276 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 ...
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 ...
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?
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Shalosh Seudos song - B'Vo'o M'Edom/Yetzave Tzur Chasdo
At Shalosh Seudos - the third Shabbos meal often the song B'Vo'o M'Edom/Yetzave Tzur Chasdo is sung. Some people/Shuls start from B'Vo'o M'Edom and some people/shuls start from Yetzave Tzur Chasdo. ...
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
172 views
Flexibility in choice of verses for morning Kiddush
The morning Kiddush on Shabbat and holidays consists of one or more Torah verses followed by the blessing on the wine (or perhaps other beverage). I have seen in print and in practice various ...
7
votes
3answers
162 views
Why don't we say Tachanun at Mincha on Erev Shabbat or Erev Yom Tov?
It says in the Rambam that there is a custom not to say Tachanun at Mincha on Erev Shabbos and Yom Tov. What is the reason for this custom?
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
89 views
When to say “Yehallelu” by Mincha Shabbos Afternoon?
Chabad starts the Half-Kaddish by Mincha Shabbos afternoon just after Hagbahah and continuing the Kaddish until the Sefer Torah is put back in the Aron.
Since one should not interrupt in the middle ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
In Shabbos Shacharis which is right “sheboro bemidas rachamim” or “sheboro bemidas HOrachamim”?
In the brocho of “hakol yoducho” Shabbos Shacharis, some siddurim have “sheboro bemidas rachamim” while some have “sheboro bemidas HOrachamim”. Why?
6
votes
2answers
226 views
Why do some women light additional shabbat candles for the past weeks they didn't light?
Some women have the custom to light an additional shabbat candle for every week which, for whatever reason, they did not have a chance to light shabbat candles in the past. For example, if a woman ...
4
votes
2answers
257 views
Can one follow Rabbeinu Tam time for beginning Shabbos?
Does anyone today follow Rabbineu Tam time for the beginning of Shabbos? Reading some tshuvas (e.g. Eretz haTzvi) it is clear this was widespread in Europe.
If one has previously been accustomed to ...
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
והוא ידרוש לציון עיר ה…
In the song "ברוך א׳ עליון" (text) is the line:
וְהוּא יִדְרֹשׁ לְצִיּוֹן עִיר הַנִּדָּחָה
My grandfather, ע״ה, when singing this line, would replace הַנִּדָּחָה with another word (I think ...
3
votes
1answer
327 views
Women Making Kiddush
Let's say a husband and wife are alone on Friday night or on Shabbos day. Can the wife make kiddush for herself and her husband?
0
votes
1answer
101 views
Schlisel Challah [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Parnassah Segulah
What is the source of the Minhag to make Schlisal Challah the week after Pesach? Is it better to make a Challah in the shape of a key or is it better to ...
3
votes
2answers
330 views
Chabad Minhag for Shalosh Seudos
Is it true that the Chabad custom is specifically not to wash hands for (and eat) bread for shalosh seudos, and, if so, why?
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Where and when do we light Shabbos candles 15 minutes later than usual? [closed]
Where and when do we light Shabbos candles 15 minutes later than usual?
5
votes
6answers
286 views
fish before meat - why?
To the best of my knowledge eating fish after meat has the same Halacha as eating meat after fish. You are supposed to eat a cracker and take a drink to seperate between them. Why is it most common ...
4
votes
4answers
377 views
6
votes
2answers
105 views
Repeating Seder HaKitores
Why do Nusahos Ari, Sefard, Edot HaMizrah, and Ashkenaz of Eretz Yisrael repeat the order of the kitores (incense offering) at the end of Shaharis every day and why does Nusah Ashkenaz of Hutz LaAretz ...
4
votes
1answer
324 views
Mizmor l'David (Psalms 23) at Shalosh Suedos
There is a common minhag (custom) to sing Mizmor l'David at Seudah Shlishis, the third Sabbath meal. It is common to sing this song three times in a row and I was asked this Shabbos by a friend why ...
1
vote
4answers
208 views
Shalom Aleichem and Eishes Chayil
Who wrote Shalom Aleichem and Eishes Chayil? Is it minhag Yisrael?
12
votes
4answers
530 views
Why do people frequently change tunes toward the end of Lecha Dodi?
Frequently, perhaps even most of the time, I've noticed that the chazan (prayer leader) for Kabalat Shabbat switches tunes for the last four verses of Lecha Dodi. Is there any reason for this, or are ...
