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?
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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
Hello Everyone
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
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
Why We Do What We Do: Why We Do What We Do
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.