Search results for: ""Halacha""

Donation after Aliya
If you receive an aliya to the Torah on Shabbat and Jewish festival mornings, it is customary give a donation to the synagogue, but you are not required to do so by halacha (and you may not give the donation ON Shabbat!).
Note A synagogue may request a donation on Shabbat or Jewish festivals from someone who has received an aliya on Shabbat and may give that person a card to mail in after Shabbat has ended.
Note There is no expectation of giving a donation for aliyot on weekdays or at mincha on Shabbat.
Attire: Women: Socks or Stockings
Women wearing skirts below their knees do not need to wear socks or stockings, unless that is the custom in their community.
Note Custom is defined by how people who follow halacha dress, not by how non-religious people dress, even if the non-religious are the majority of a community.
Blessing the Children: When To Bless
Bless children on:
  • Friday night,
  • Saturday night (this is so we start the new week with a blessing), and
  • Jewish festival nights.
Note This is a non-binding custom, not a halacha.
Introduction to Using God's Name in Vain
You may use God's correct names and not the defective version (Hashem, Adoshem, Elokim...) whenever you are teaching, even if you are only quoting a partial pasuk. This is the halacha, even though many people have the custom of using only the defective versions.
 
Being Together
Neither the husband nor the wife should be alone for the first seven days after their marriage.  If they are apart, they should each be accompanied by someone else. This is a custom and not a halacha.
Note There is no requirement for bride and groom to be together all of the time during the seven days after their wedding if they don't want to be together.
Birkat HaMazon: Standing Up to Honor God
Stand up a little to honor God when you say God's name in the introduction (nevareich eloheinu) if you ate with 10 men. This is a non-binding custom, not a halacha.
Sleeping Covered
A person should be covered with something when sleeping.  This may either by a sheet/other bedding or by a garment that is worn.
Note This is a good practice and is expected but is not a halacha. It is part of modesty (tzni'ut) between people and God.
How To Fill the Havdala Cup
For havdala, pour at least a revi'it (4 fl. oz., or 119 ml) for enough wine (or other beverage being used) to overfill the cup. This is a non-binding custom, not a halacha.
Reason Doing so is a symbol of blessing (siman bracha) that we are so rich that the wine or other drink that we spill is not important. Don't overfill your cup if you are using wine from a shmita year!
 
Kissing Tzitziyot in Shema
Kiss all four tzitziyot in a talit gadol when saying the shema. Just kiss the front two tzitziyot if you only wear a talit katan. Doing either one is a non-binding custom, not a halacha.
 
Correcting a Mistaken Blessing
If you make a mistake when saying any blessing or in any prayer, you may correct it within 2.5 seconds by simply saying the correct blessing. 
Note If you did not correct the blessing within 2.5 seconds, see next halacha:
Covering Eyes for First Line of Shema
Cover your eyes with either hand when saying the first line of shema. This is to help prevent distraction. There is no need to remove your glasses first.
Note Covering your eyes for the shema is a widespread custom, not a halacha.
Tefilin: Storing: How To Put Away
Put tefilin into its bag so that the knot on the arm tefila (tefila shel yad”) faces away from the head tefila (tefila shel rosh).
Reason So that the arm tefila does not abrade the head tefila.
Note This is not a halacha, just good advice.
Jewish Festivals: Candles: How Many To Light when Eating Elsewhere
A wife lighting Jewish festival candles in a place other than her own home lights only two candles, even if she normally lights more than two candles in her own home. This is a non-binding custom, not a halacha.
 
Recordings of Movies and Other Entertainment
You may loan a DVD or other recording of a movie or other entertainment as long as it is legally permitted.
Note If uploading that recording onto the internet--or sending copies of it to friends--would violate copyright laws, it is not permitted by halacha.
Attire: Man's Head Covering for Prayers or Torah Study
Wearing a hat for prayer (for men) is formal wear that shows honor to God. Men do not need to wear a hat but must have some type of head covering when saying blessings, when praying, or when studying holy texts (this is halacha). If a man said a blessing or prayer without a head covering, b'di'avad, it is OK and he does not need to repeat the blessing or prayer.