There is some confusion in Ashkenazic synagogues regarding how the prayer leader should position ... more There is some confusion in Ashkenazic synagogues regarding how the prayer leader should position himself after receiving the Torah from the Ark and saying "Gadlu." For example, the ArtScroll Siddur writes that the prayer leader "turns to the Ark and raises the Torah slightly as he bows" while reciting Gadlu. 1 The Koren Shalem Siddur also states that the prayer leader "bows towards the Ark" and says Gadlu, 2 while the Hebrew Koren Siddur explicitly states that the prayer leader "turns to the congregation" when saying Gadlu on weekdays, with no mention of bowing, but on Shabbat the instruction is to face the Ark and bow. 3 In this article we will determine the origin of the various approaches as to how Gadlu should be recited and gain a clearer understanding of how the prayer leader should perform this part of the service. 4
Braided bread for Shabbat, commonly referred to as challah (plural: challot), is the familiar and... more Braided bread for Shabbat, commonly referred to as challah (plural: challot), is the familiar and traditional form known to Ashkenazic Jews. While the challah itself takes on various shapes, and the number of strands varies, the braided appearance remains an essential and distinctive component of this bread. This defining characteristic of challah was adopted from the baking styles of the communities among which Ashkenazic Jews lived. This article will explore the origins of this particular custom.
There is a popular Ashkenazic custom to serve chickpeas at the Shalom Zakhar celebration on the f... more There is a popular Ashkenazic custom to serve chickpeas at the Shalom Zakhar celebration on the first Shabbat after a male child is born. Numerous homiletic reasons have been given for this in rabbinic literature. The origin of the custom lies in the practice to serve legumes, a food traditionally associated with mourning, at happy celebrations in order to confuse demonic forces who were understood to desire harming celebrants at such events. The chickpea was the legume of choice due to its longstanding association with fertility.
Explaining the custom to dip the vegetable commonly called karpas in salt water at the beginning ... more Explaining the custom to dip the vegetable commonly called karpas in salt water at the beginning of the Seder.
There is some confusion in Ashkenazic synagogues regarding how the prayer leader should position ... more There is some confusion in Ashkenazic synagogues regarding how the prayer leader should position himself after receiving the Torah from the Ark and saying "Gadlu." For example, the ArtScroll Siddur writes that the prayer leader "turns to the Ark and raises the Torah slightly as he bows" while reciting Gadlu. 1 The Koren Shalem Siddur also states that the prayer leader "bows towards the Ark" and says Gadlu, 2 while the Hebrew Koren Siddur explicitly states that the prayer leader "turns to the congregation" when saying Gadlu on weekdays, with no mention of bowing, but on Shabbat the instruction is to face the Ark and bow. 3 In this article we will determine the origin of the various approaches as to how Gadlu should be recited and gain a clearer understanding of how the prayer leader should perform this part of the service. 4
Braided bread for Shabbat, commonly referred to as challah (plural: challot), is the familiar and... more Braided bread for Shabbat, commonly referred to as challah (plural: challot), is the familiar and traditional form known to Ashkenazic Jews. While the challah itself takes on various shapes, and the number of strands varies, the braided appearance remains an essential and distinctive component of this bread. This defining characteristic of challah was adopted from the baking styles of the communities among which Ashkenazic Jews lived. This article will explore the origins of this particular custom.
There is a popular Ashkenazic custom to serve chickpeas at the Shalom Zakhar celebration on the f... more There is a popular Ashkenazic custom to serve chickpeas at the Shalom Zakhar celebration on the first Shabbat after a male child is born. Numerous homiletic reasons have been given for this in rabbinic literature. The origin of the custom lies in the practice to serve legumes, a food traditionally associated with mourning, at happy celebrations in order to confuse demonic forces who were understood to desire harming celebrants at such events. The chickpea was the legume of choice due to its longstanding association with fertility.
Explaining the custom to dip the vegetable commonly called karpas in salt water at the beginning ... more Explaining the custom to dip the vegetable commonly called karpas in salt water at the beginning of the Seder.
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