Questions tagged [minhag]
Questions about Jewish customs and traditions.
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Ashkenazim eating kitniyot that is batel b'rov on Pesach
According to various opinions, Ashkenazim may eat food that comprises kitniyot on Pesach (e.g., mixtures), if it is batel b'rov (see Peninei Halacha here). For example: foods comprising kitniyot ...
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Breaking a cheap glass under the Chuppah
The source for breaking a glass under the Chuppah according to many commentaries is a Tosfos in Berachos 31a. The Gemara there says the following- (taken from the Sefaria website)
רַב אָשֵׁי עֲבַד ...
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Were there any instances of Ashkenazim using a tallit with white stripes?
I heard that such tallits were worn by Yekke and Yemey Norayim. Did anyone else use white stripes from Ashkenazim?
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Where is the source that one is supposed take out their peyos when they are davening Shemona Esrei?
There have been many times where I have seen people pull out their Peyos from behind their ears right before Shemona Esrei. Anyone I have asked said there is a source, but I can not locate it. (...
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Minhag - for each of the tribes
I heard that there was a "minhag" (custom/practie) for each of the twelve tribes.
Does anyone have a source for this?
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Are men allowed to refer to another man's wife by her first name?
I heard a halacha a long time ago that men are not allowed to use the first name of a married woman who is not their wife. The suggestion I heard was to refer to her as Mrs. So-and-so.
Does anyone ...
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(Not) kissing the mezuzah
Kissing one’s mezuzah seems to be an almost universally accepted custom nowadays, at least among Ashkenazim. However, I once heard it was the minhag of R. Hirsch to simply look at it and meditate on ...
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Is there a makor for the simcha of a siyum/hachnasas Sefer Torah?
I heard once that it says that the simcha of a siyum Sefer Torah is greater than that of a chasunah. Does anyone know if/where this is from?
Also, are there any other פתגמים (gemara, medrash, etc) ...
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Personal Prayer - Silent or Audible
Several years ago, a sofer gave a class and said that personal prayers (prayers composed by myself) outside the synagogue must be said aloud. You can say them quietly, but the words must be audible. ...
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Why is there a Minhag not to eat sesame in Erev Yom Kippur?
I found sources that say that there is a Minhag not to eat sesame in Erev Yom Kippur, since it is considered as a heavy food and might disturb the dawening in Yom Kippur. I would like to understand ...
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Is there a term used to refer to a certain passage from Shemot?
I’m wondering if this passage from Shemot 34:6 is referred to with a “title” or “name”, if you will. There are many variations of the English translation. I like the one below.
I very much love this ...
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Source for fasting בה"ב to prevent weather-induced illness
I one time heard that the reason you have בה״ב is because when the seasons change a person could get sick because of the change of seasons so we have בה״ב to daven that we shouldnt get sick has anyone ...
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Removing the rings from the Lulav - when?
I have observed 2 different minhagim when it comes to removing the 3 rings of the lulav on הושענה רבה.
To remove it right after the bracha on the lulav, prior to hallel.
To wait until after Hallel ...
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Sources that are against אושפיזין custom?
Are there any rabbinic sources that speak against the Sukkoth custom of inviting אושפיזין into the Sukkah? Or the formulation of its attendant text(s)?
I of course do not intend the righteous and ...
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Was there a custom of praying twice a day and what was it like?
The Talmud [Berachot 26b] gives two opinions about the origin of the daily prayers:
Prayers replace two daily sacrifices in the Temple.
Prayers are composed in honor of the forefathers Abraham, ...
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Grammar and word choice of the Mi Shebeirach for Yom Tov
On Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, the phrase "ויזכה לעלות לרגל" - "he should merit to go up [to the Beit Hamikdash]" is added to the end of the Mi Shebeirach after each aliyah.
I've ...
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Minhag vs Halacha - 3 types of clashes
There are minhagim that seemingly go against halacha. I want to know essays or sources that cover this age-old debate.
It is my view that these minhagim are of three types:
Machlokes of major poskim ...
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Live until 180 (Chabad)
In chabad circles we often hear the blessing. may you live until 180 years old.
What is the source of this
Related Why do we say "You should live till 120"?
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Buying a Kittel for oneself, is that a problem?
I heard of a minhag not to buy a Kittel for oneself. Does anyone know a source For this minhag? Also, how does one practically go about this, if there is no one else willing to spend the money on the ...
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Bar Mitzva בו ביום on Shabbes - when to start putting on Tefilin?
Multiple customs of when to start putting on tefilin exist, one of such being to start the day a boy turns 13. If that day occurs on Shabbes, are there any customs to begin putting on Tefillin on the ...
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What’s the source for saying Parshyot Yirah and Teshuva daily?
In many Siddurim, after Shacharit the Parshas of Yirah and Teshuva, both from Sefer Devarim, are written. What is the source for this?
NB: Parshas HaMon is usually printed along with them, but I know ...
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What is the purpose of all the candles around the dead body of a Rabbi before the levaya?
I saw the pictures of R' Shalom Cohen and the Gaavid and I am wondering.
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Shabbos Candles That Went Out On Shabbos - Relighting Them After Shabbos
I have heard that some have the custom to relight after Shabbos any Shabbos candles that went out on Friday night. What is the source for this custom if any?
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Syrian Custom re: Nine Days
Anyone have information on the Syrian minhag re: wearing freshly laundered clothing during the Nine Days? Does Rav Eli Mansour say anything about this?
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Is there any point in davening at the kever of a tzadik, where it's questionable as to whether or not they are actually buried there?
The reasoning for the custom of asking for a tzadik's intercession was explained to me growing up, that because the neshamah of a tzadik continues to be present at their burial site it isn't avodah ...
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First things to put in a house when moving
I heard that when one moves into a new house that the first thing he should bring into the house is bread and salt, it's supposed to be a Segulah for something. Does anyone know a source for this ''...
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Do any minhagim use Psalm 45 during chuppah?
I know that many Ashkenazi communities of the community use Psalm 128 during the chuppah ceremony. However, there is a Psalm 45 that expresses the joy of marriage no less. I heard that some use it at ...
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Saying the word "Pig" [duplicate]
There seems to be a sensitivity among some people not to say the word "Pig". Aside from simple purity of speech, where does this come from? Is there a source?
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What do you call casual bekishes (or formal robes) for wearing at home or while learning
I have seen various rabbanim in video clips or in pictures that sometimes wear a type of bekishe that drapes more like a nice robe. This version of the bekishe (if that is even the correct term) seems ...
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Why do some communities not accept converts? [duplicate]
Why do some communities not accept converts? I heard that syrian communities don't accept converts. Also in Argentina.
Why did they stop accepting converts?
Also the gemara (yevamos 47b) says we push ...
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Wearing black on Sabbath
On the Sabbath it is a custom to wear white.
Is it fine to wear black underwear on Shabbath, as long as your outer garment is white?
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LeDavid Mizmor in Shavout morning
Following this question. The answer for why saying in Shabbat morning, Mizmor Ledavid (Ashkenaz, Nosah Sfard) and on a regular day and on Yom Tov that is not Shabbat, LeDavid Mizmor is that on Shabbat ...
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What is the source that the "skies open up" on Shavuat night?
I remember having been taught that the "skies open up" on Shavuot and that there is a tradition to go outside on the night of Shavuot and do personal tefilot at night.
I can attest to ...
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Does the Shaliach Tzibur need to be at the Amud throughout Pesukey D'Zimra?
I observed a shul where the Shaliach Tzibbur left the Omud after saying Korbonos and only returned to say the concluding part of Pesukei Dezimro.
What is the origin of this practice?
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Mekor for Dayenu 'warfare' seder tradition
I recall seeing a minhag in which the participants enjoy hitting each other with scallions during Dayenu at the seder night. I don't know much about this but I was very curious on learning what is the ...
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Recitation of Hallel Accompanied by an Aramaic Targum? (in Megilla 21b)
I recently noticed in גמ' מגילה כא עמוד ב a possibility that there was some point where Targum accompanied the public recitation of the Hallel, due to the line:
"ובהלל ובמגילה אפילו עשרה קורין ...
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Ma Nishtana Candles
So I was introduced to something new this year when someone sent me an Erev Pesach checklist which included the preparation of Ma Nishtana candles? I had never heard of this practise and looked online ...
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On A Fully-Jewish Town in Spain
I'm preparing a shiur on Golden Age Spain and their minhagim. I remember reading in a historical chronicle (which I could have sworn was the Sefer HaKabbalah of the Raavad HaRishon) about a fully-...
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Banging by Zeresh in the Megillah
In The Monsey Mevaser (page 100), a six-year-old child child asked the following:
We have the custom to bang when we hear Haman's name in the Megillah. Why don’t bang the two times his evil wife ...
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Hands together 🙏 for mode ani
The Rebbe Rashab told the previous Lubavicher Rebbe that it was always to Jewish custom to say mode ani with hands together
Did he mean literally?
Any sources that true?
Anyone else except Chabad do ...
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Why do Jews write down their wishes to deposit into the cracks of a wall? [duplicate]
Why do Jews write down their wishes to deposit into the cracks of the Western Wall (the western retaining wall of the Second Temple)?
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“Poteach Et Yadecha” Before Hamotzie
It is a known Minhag among Sepharadim before Hamotzie to say the pasukim “Eyine Kol Elecha Yesaberu… Poteach Et Yadecha…”
I’m trying to hunt the original source for this minhag - the best I can find ...
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Was the term shlita (שליטא) always reserved for rabbis or prominent people? If so, why? If not, how come it became limited in this way? [duplicate]
"Shlita" is customarily added to the name of a living rabbi or leader, either in addressing or speaking/writing about him. It is often written as an acronym, as in "shlit"a" ...
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Is there a source to this being an "ayin hara", or something like that?
I remember often hearing this as a child. When other children would use things like wheelchairs or crutches, people would tell them not to, on the basis that it would be an "ayin hara" and ...
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Are there any sephardic customs for a pidyon haben?
I am persian and my wife is iraqi. We are looking to find sephardic and especially customs from our background to do at our son's pidyon haben. I believe it adds a lot to include customs beyond doing ...
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What is the reason for specifically using a Havdala candle made of beeswax?
The minhag for using Havdala candle made of beeswax is mentioned in Kaf-Hachaim 298:12. What is the reason that Havdala candles should specifically made of beeswax? What is the connection between ...
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Kiddush before or after a yahrtziet
I know that there is a custom to get an Aliyah and give kiddush the Shabbat preceding a yaharzeit. Does this apply to the first yarhzeit as well, when the person is still in availus-assuming the ...
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Maftir Yonah riches?
It is common tradition that the one who purchases the rights to Maftir Yonah will be blessed with much wealth the following year. Are there any sources for this?
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What Nusach did the Twansa use?
In most of the places that Sefardim settled after being kicked out of Iberia, there were already Jews living there, usually called "Musta'arabi". In most places, these communities ...
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Is there a formal Jewish way of wishing someone a safe journey?
Before someone you know goes on a trip, such as a flight, it is polite to wish them a safe journey. In English, one might use some variation of "safe travels" or "have a safe trip"....
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