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I'm reclaiming ancestral minhagim (practices) that were lost during American Assimilation. My family came of Nowy Zmigrod, Poland in Galicia before both world wars. I believe my family were chassidim as my grandfather insisted they were sefardim (galicianer Yiddish for people who took on praying nusach sefard) and wrapped tefillin outwardly and specifically told my father "we wrap outward unlike ashkenazim."

Sanzer Chassidim were very active in that town, and a Halberstam was the rabbi there. I understand that there are many offshoots of Sanz today that may have different practices (Satmar/Bobov/Klausenberg) so I am just curious of the minhagim of the region I came from.

I am hoping for a book of haminhagim or somesuch, specifically of the Sanzer chassidim.

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    In attempting to reclaim ancestral minhagim, remember that while your grandfather may have practiced Hassidic practices, his grandfather's grandfather's grandfather, likely didn't. As always, for practical halakhic guidance consult a competent halakhic authority.
    – mevaqesh
    Mar 5, 2017 at 17:33
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    As @mevaqesh said, while you should CYLOR for a final p'sak, both the Steipler Gaon (R' Ya'akov Yisroel Kanievsky) and R' Moshe Feinstein held that there is no issue with shedding minhagei Chassidim (although they did not hold that the reverse was true, for the reasons stated above) Mar 5, 2017 at 23:38
  • I didn't know Satmar is an offshoot of Sanz.
    – user9643
    May 5, 2017 at 1:22
  • I inherited my father's tefillin - his father was from Zmigrod and moved to Berlin where my father was born, and he would visit his grandparents in Zmigrod as a young child. His tefillin follow minhag sefarad. We also inherited my grandfather's siddur, also minhag sefarad. I live in Chicago now, and of course my shul uses a minhag ashkenaz siddur. Nov 21, 2022 at 23:51

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A book on Sanzer customs is the series Kol HaKasuv LeChaim. However you should know that there's an emphasis on the customs of the founder, the Divrei Chaim, whereas his illustrious son, the Divrei Yechezkel ("the Shinyaver", or, Sieniawa), veered from his father in many customs and even practical halachos. This is important because you indicate that you aren't certain which Sanzer influence prevailed in your family. In this edition of the Divrei Yechezkel [HaChadash] (can't locate it online so here's a picture) there is a compendium of the DY's particular customs, occasionally highlighting differences within the Sanzer arena. Another great set is Chemda Genuzah on the Sanzer dynasty. Although the progenitor of Sanz was a student of R. Naftali of Ropshitz ("the Ropshitzer") their customs were not identical. For customs of R. Naftali see Nezer HaKodesh. These books can hopefully aid you in sorting through or identifying the earlier customs of Sanz and certainly before the offshoots from within.

Divrei Yechezkel HaChadash

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If you wish to seek the Minhogim of Galitzia (I'm actually a Poilisher {Jew from central Poland}) I would suggest researching the Minhogim of the teacher of the Divrei Chaim, Rebbe Naftali Ropshitzer, it's called Minhagei Ropshitz. I'm not sure it's under a certain sefer but they're certain customs prevalent throughout certain Galitzianer Chasidim, look it up.

Zai Gezunt

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  • Welcome to Mi Yodeya Ariel!
    – mevaqesh
    May 5, 2017 at 1:24

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