48
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
The Rema writes in the first Halacha of Shulchan Aruch (Partial Quote)
וְלֹא יִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם הַמַּלְעִיגִים עָלָיו בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה' יִתְבָּרַךְ גַּם בְּהֶצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת.
And ...
- 4,245
42
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
There is not such a thing as "too orthodox", no. There can be such a thing as "too pushy" when people are too direct in trying to change others, but that's not the situation you've described. Never ...
- 56.4k
18
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
You might be a source of inspiration for others that want to be more observant. Keep going.
- 305
15
votes
Accepted
What's an appropriate greeting for Motzei Yom Kippur?
While I'm accustomed to "gut voch" or "gut (gebentched) yar," I noticed that the "מחזור המפורש" (Gefen, Jerusalem 5772 [Ashkenaz, page 999]) indicates that a regular yom tov greeting (either "gut yom ...
- 19k
14
votes
Accepted
First use of modern names for books of Torah
Sefer B'Reshit: the Yerushalmi (Sotah 1:10) already refers to it as Sefer B'reshit. This is also found in the Zohar (Raya Mehemna Vol. II Parashat Mishpatim 119b).
Sefer Sh'mot: The Midrash Lekah Tov (...
- 35.4k
13
votes
What's an appropriate greeting for Motzei Yom Kippur?
In addition to "good yom tov" and "good year" (or the Yiddish or Hebrew equivalents) mentioned in other answers, I've heard "a gutn kvitl" or the equivalent "piska tava", meaning "a good note", ...
- 73.7k
11
votes
Accepted
How to suggest a kosher restaurant for a meeting?
In most cases, when this sort of thing comes up I say something like: "I have some dietary restrictions and wouldn't be able to eat there; could we meet at $other_restaurant instead?".
For someone ...
- 56.4k
11
votes
Accepted
What's the Jewish attitude towards work and unionizing?
We do not glorify poverty, but we do view work as ennobling. G-d could have poof! given the people a Tabernacle in the desert, but the process of everyone working together to build one (and it was ...
- 131k
9
votes
Accepted
Is it better to say a blessing quietly or loudly?
The basic obligation is only to recite blessings loud enough that you can hear them, as brought by the Rambam in Mishnah Torah, Hilchos Berachos, Chapter One, the beginning of Paragraph Seven:
כל ...
- 276
8
votes
What's an appropriate greeting for Motzei Yom Kippur?
In addition to "gut yor", I believe I've heard "gmar tov" till Hoshana Rabba.
- 17.7k
8
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
The word "Orthodox" is ambiguous. Technically, it is a sociological grouping. Because in practice, that group is of people trying to observe classical notions of halakhah, we think of "Orthodox" as ...
- 9,388
8
votes
Why do we use the masculine form in a Shabbat greeting?
With respect to your friend, the fact that shabbat pluralises as shabbatot is itself insufficient for demonstrating that it's a feminine word. Lots of masculine words take that plural - such as אבות, ...
- 18.8k
7
votes
On what social issues were the rabbis ahead of their times?
R Ken Spiro has a wonderful book on this topic: Worldperfect, the Jewish impact on civilization (a similar book by a non-Jewish author is The gifts of the Jews: how a tribe of desert nomads changed ...
- 47.8k
7
votes
Accepted
What does LAYT stand for?
Kitzur.co.il has the entry
לאי"ט
standing for
לאורך ימים טובים
LAYT will be the transliteration into English.
Idiomatic Translation - "for a long and good life"
(I normally write LOY”T.)
- 47.2k
7
votes
When is it acceptable to be impolite or rude
No it is never ok to be rude. As Jews, we have to set the standard and example for others.
Indeed, this was the difference between Yaakov and Eisav. The Zohar on Parshas Toldos writes:
וַיַּעַשׂ גַּם ...
- 30.1k
6
votes
Accepted
When did shuckling begin?
Based on: On the Mainline, the OU.
The History
To summarize, we see a negative portrayal of swaying during study in the 11th century in a poem of R. Shemuel HaNagid. [i] We find more positive ...
- 35.4k
6
votes
Accepted
Is there a salutation/greeting recognizing the last day of Channukah for my Jewish friends?
Welcome to Mi Yodeya, and thanks for your efforts to show respect for your Jewish friends.
I'm not aware of any special greeting for the last day of Chanuka, in particular. "Happy Chanuka" is the ...
- 47.8k
6
votes
What is the best way to correct someone who has unwittingly violated halacha in public?
I have been corrected on several occasions, so I can describe what worked better or worse for me. I've tried to apply this when I'm doing the correcting (doesn't happen often), and so far it has ...
- 56.4k
6
votes
History of chattan & kallah classes
Based on the book "Halachos of Niddah" by Rabbi Shimon D. Eider (first published in 1981), the origin of the modern Chassan and Kallah classes began shortly after the Holocaust. Historically, mothers ...
- 6,753
6
votes
Greeting other people (Jews and Non-Jews alike)
A Talmudic passage that may be relevant here:
Berachot 17a
מרגלא בפומיה דאביי לעולם יהא אדם ערום ביראה מענה רך משיב חמה ומרבה
שלום עם אחיו ועם קרוביו ועם כל אדם ואפילו עם נכרי בשוק כדי שיהא אהוב
...
- 49.1k
5
votes
Title to use when addressing a rav
The Shulchan Aruch (in Yore De'ah סימן רמב - שלא להורות בפני הרב, ודין רב שמחל על כבודו) discusses greeting one's Rav - and mentions that one doesn't greet him as one does any other person, and ...
- 42.8k
5
votes
Accepted
What age is the kapoteh donned in Chabad circles?
From the wedding day onward.
Discussed in the book Mazal Tov by Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov on page 64
169. After the Kabbolas Ponim the chosson prepares for the chuppah in the following way.
170. The ...
- 4,303
5
votes
Standard engagement timeframe in modern Orthodox and Yishivish circles
From my experience the average engagement period in the Yeshivish circles is 2 - 4 months. Although I know of cases where the wedding was in as short as 4 -5 weeks and others where it was as much as 6 ...
- 139k
5
votes
Greeting other people (Jews and Non-Jews alike)
In addition to the previous answer, here are two more sources that address the topic of greeting people:
וא"ר חלבו אמר רב הונא כל שיודע בחברו שהוא רגיל ליתן לו שלום יקדים לו שלום שנאמר בקש שלום ...
- 24k
5
votes
Why ask guest to make kiddush?
The reason many prefer to make their own Kiddush rather than be yotzei from the host is because of the dictum מצוה בו יותר מבשלוחו - it is preferable to perform a Mitzvah personally [based on ...
- 7,891
5
votes
When is it acceptable to be impolite or rude
The Ramban advises in his Iggeres Haramban (Sefaria translation taken from here):
Accustom yourself to always speak all of your words calmly, to every
man and at every time. In doing so you will ...
- 377
4
votes
On what social issues were the rabbis ahead of their times?
Chazal set up a publicly funded school system around the first century of the common era (Bava Basra 21:1). They strongly condemned any city that did not fund a school for its children (Eicha Rabba ...
- 5,310
4
votes
Accepted
What is an appropriate greeting for Yom Kippur?
Well, Yom Kippur is over for 5776. But the most common greeting is G'mar Chatimah Tova, meaning literally "A good finish of the sealing."
The concept is similar to what is said as part of the ...
- 70k
4
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
No there isn't..
Truth is truth..No name can change it..If it is changed then it doesn't remain truth..So if one one obeys the truth,people's remarks does not matter..
It happens just because people ...
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