Why We Do What We Do
“Why” is probably the most Jewish question you’ll hear Jews ask. In this series with Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman explore a new topic in Judaism each week and answer the big question: Why do Jews do it?
Why We Do What We Do: The Question ‘Why’ & Is It Ok To Ask?
Hello Everyone,
“Why?” is a question that we all ask about all sorts of things. In 1956, Frankie Lymon asked “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” There is no shortage of puzzling phenomena.
In the Torah, by which I mean the entirety of Torah there are many puzzling things. Sometimes answers are easily found and sometimes our “Why?” is not answered.
So we will talk about “Why?”
I don’t have answers to “Why?” but I hope that we will see how each of us can seek answers by studying the works of our Sages. To abuse an old cliché, the journey itself may be the answer.
Why We Do What We Do: Lighting Shabbat Candles
Hello Everyone,
“Shabbos candles” are one of the most beloved customs of the Jews. Today we will discuss why we light candles on Friday nights even when our residences are already well-illuminated by electric lights.
Why We Do What We Do: Eating Chulent / Chamin
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In our series “Why We Do What We Do” we will discuss why we (Ashkenazi) Jews eat cholent and why Sephardic Jews eat chamin.
Why We Do What We Do: Breaking a Glass at a Jewish Wedding
Hello Everyone.
From what I have seen in movies and such, it seems that the great moment in Christian wedding ceremonies is when the priest ( or reverend or other member of the clergy) says “You may now kiss the bride.”
This is very romantic and at least in the movies the guests all go ooh and ah and the mothers and aunts get all weepy. So this seems like a reasonable way to finish a wedding ceremony.
Jews are different. The big moment of the wedding, the grand finale, is of all things, the groom stepping on a glass.
Today we will talk about this odd practice.
Why We Do What We Do: Head Coverings
Hello Everyone,
Today we will speak about one of the identifying traits of Jews ( or to be more precise, of Jewish males). That trait is the yarmulkeh (or what we call it in Israel, the kippah). Why do we wear these caps that (in my experience growing up in New York) invite scorn and occasionally violent attacks? Why do we cover our heads even when we are not performing a ritual.
Why We Do What We Do: The Kaddish Prayer
Hello Everyone,
Today we will talk about something that is perhaps the most well-known passage in our liturgy- the Kaddiah. Even people as far removed from Jewish observance such as Allen Ginsburg and Leonard Bernstein wrote works with the title Kaddish. Even a n0n-Jew, the composer Ravel wrote a work titled Kaddish.
Today we will learn about kaddish and why it generated so much fascination.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone
This is the final session on the subject of “Why We Do What We Do?” And the answer to that question is, as the song from “Fiddler on the Roof” says, “tradition.” Tradition, מנהג is very important in the system of Halacha. This may seem odd, that a system of laws grant importance to custom. Laws come from some higher authority, whether Divine or, להבדיל אלפ אלפים, human. Laws are imposed. But customs originate among the people. nevertheless, the Halachic system enforces customs so that they too become laws.
I enjoyed these sessions and I hope that we all be זוכה to a peaceful summer and ביאת הגואל במהרה בימינו
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to another series of classes on the subject of “Why We Do What We Do.” In the first series of these classes we learned about the various customs which we practice which are distinctly and identifiably Jewish.
But I think that now our class should begin by asking a more fundamental question. Before we can answer a question about “Why We Do?” we need to ask “Why Are We?” Ever since the horrifying events of last Simchat Torah we, the Jewish people have been attacked not only by physical violence but more perniciously by intellectual violence. Our ethics, our beliefs and indeed our right to existence as a separate people have been questioned and challenged.
All of us say with pride “I am a Jew.” But I would like to explore what this statement means.
So this evening and probably in the two meetings I hope to discuss the most critical of all the “Why “ questions.
I look forward to meeting with you. If anyone has questions or suggestions ease write to me at [email protected]
Stuart FIschman
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
As I wrote in the introduction to last week’s session I think that since the horror of last year’s Simchat Torah it is is important to ask some fundamental “Why?” questions. Last week we talked about the question “Why are we Jews?” Today I wish to discuss the question, “Why do we insist on living in Israel?”
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Judaism is is how Judaism engages technological innovations. Sometimes Judaism embraces technology; even the most hidebound of Orthodox Jews will use microphones and loudspeakers to deliver a Torah lecture to a large audience. On the other hand even the most liberal of Jewish communities will insist that the Torah scroll in their synagogues be hand-written by a scribe who uses a pen dipped into ink.
In the coming sessions ( probably three) we will see how the Halacha treated three technological innovations. They are the wax candle, the printing press and the incandescent light bulb.
I hope that you will find the classes interesting.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
As part of our series on how Halacha accepts (occasionally) new technologies, we will talk about the wax candle and how it was accepted (after much discussion) as an acceptable surrogate for the oil lamp known to the Sages.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
Something that always puzzled ( and even annoyed, on occasion) my Christian friends and co-workers was the fact that “you people” have two days to celebrate New Year’s day.
And it is in fact puzzling.
So today we will have a brief session on our unique calendar with its 2-day New Year’s day.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
Something that puzzles not only non-Jews but other Jews as well is why do the self-styled Chareidi Jews not wear the same clothes as everybody else?
Today we will discuss this subject.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
Today since Chanukah is coming we will talk about the wonderful Jewish toy- the dreidle.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
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I fervently hope that Mashiach will arrive speedily in our days. But if this not to be then Friday will be the fast day of עשרה בטבת. This fast day commemorates the beginning of the siege on Jerusalem during the First Temple period. But it also commemorates another disaster. In 1949 the Chief Rabbi of Israel. Rav Unterman zt”l said that עשרה בטבת should be “יום הקדיש הכללי”- the day for saing Kaddish for all those who were killed by the Nazis.
So today we will talk about how various Poskim felt regarding the creation of a Holocaust memorial day.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
In Jewish American popular culture ( and since Jews played a prominent role in American popular culture probably all American know about this part of Jewish practice) the bar-mitzvah was a huge thing back when I was youngster. But all those years ago, even though boys were given the opportunity to run amok when they became adults at the age of 13, girls were not given the same opportunity when they reached adulthood at the age of 12.
Why not?
Today we will talk about the bat mitzvah.
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to our final session in the series “Why We Do What We Do.” Today we will discuss the Mechitzah which has aroused ( and I guess still arouses) much debate , if not outright antagonism.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.