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The Clothing of the Chosson under the Chupah
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1. In most communities, the chosson wears a a kittel (white robe) under the chuppah (see Shulchan Haezer page 27, Maharam Mintz 109 and Radvaz 1:693). There are many reasons given for this custom. Some explain that the white kittel is meant to remind the chosson of the white shrouds that he will wear when […]
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Standing Up For The Chosson And Kallah
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The common custom is that the congregation stands as the chosson and kallah walk past them. Harav Yisroel Belsky shlit”a addresses this custom and writes that it is a bit unclear as to why everyone stands. The most logical explanation is that one stands before all people that are on their way to perform a […]
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The Mitzvah Tantz (Part 2)
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(This should not be relied upon for practical halacha. When a question arises a Rabbi should be consulted.) Who Dances 1. Father- The Sefer Mor V’Ohalos (page 82b) maintains that the father of the kallah may dance with his daughter without using the gartel. He explains that many poskim rule that a father may have […]
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The Mitzvah Tantz (Part 1)
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(This should not be relied upon for practical halacha. When a question arises a Rabbi should be consulted.) 1. Few customs in Judaism are as debated as the mitzvah tantz. The mitzvah tantz, or mitzvah dance, is the chassidic custom of honorable men (related to the chosson or kallah) dancing before the bride, after the […]
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Lag B’Omer
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In this article we will discuss some of the laws and customs of Lag B’Omer. A number of reasons are given for commemorating Lag B’Omer: 1. It commemorates the students of Rav Akiva who ceased dying during this day (Shelah, Pesachim 525). 2. This day is the yahrtzeit of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai, who revealed […]
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Peeled Eggs, Onions or Garlic Overnight (Part 3)
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Other Possible Exceptions- 1. The Gemara states a possible exception to the rule and that is if some of the original outer layer, peel, shell, or root hairs remain, then one need not worry about Ruach Ra’ah, as it is not considered to be peeled. 2. The Smak (171) understands this to mean that the […]
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Attending a Simcha During Sefira
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1. The Gemara states that twenty four thousand students of Rabbi Akiva died during the period of Sefira, which is the time between Pesach and Shavuos. Since Talmudic times, the period of Sefira is treated as a time of mourning and the conducting of weddings is prohibited during this season. 2. There are various customs […]
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Sefira and the View of the Arizal
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1. According to the Arizal, haircuts are not allowed from Pesach until Erev Shavuos. It is even prohibited to do so on Lag B’Omer. (Kaf Hachaim 493:13) 2. The Minchas Elazar of Munkatch writes that weddings are permitted according to the Arizal on Lag B’Omer itself. He explains that the Arizal forbade haircuts even on […]
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Standing Before Elders at the Chuppah
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[As a continuation of the last post I want to address some of the laws of standing before elders during the Chuppah. These laws are not exclusive to the Chuppah and would apply anytime an elderly person walks past.] 1. The Torah (Vayikra 19:32) says, “Mipnei Seiva Takum V’Hadarta Bifnei Zakein.” This verse teaches that […]
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Placing the Chuppah Outdoors
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1. The Rama writes that there is a custom to have the canopy (chuppah) outdoors under the stars. This is a siman tov (good omen) for the couple to have “as many children as the number of stars in the sky.” (Rama Even Haezer 61 and Maharam Mintz 109. See also Ezer Hakodesh on Shulchan […]
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