- Halacha
- Customs of Pronunciation and Wording
Customs for a Baal Teshuva to Follow
Question
I grew up in a home with parents who, while proudly Jewish, were non-observant.
I am now a Baal Teshuvah as is my wife (same kind of background), and as I have learnt I have picked up quite a few discrepancies in the customs I was taught growing up.
The customs my father keep seem to be a mix of Sephardi, Ashkenazi and Yekke. I have no idea where he got such a conglomeration since all eight of my great grandparents are from Lithuania (although three of my grandparents were born in South Africa).
My question is- do I follow what my father does or move to the Ashkenazi Litvak customs that my great grandparents would have utilised?
Answer
Since the conglomeration of customs of your father does not represent the custom of a specific community, they are not binding on you and probably would cause confusion to you and your children. If you are in a community where straight "Litvish" is "In", that would be fine, but if your community is mixed you have a bit more leeway if there are specific customs of your father you wish to maintain. At any rate, consult your LOR about specifics.

Hebrew or English?
Rabbi Eliezer S. Weisz | 24 Shevat 5764

Temani Pronunciation with Different Gimel (Jimel)
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 24, 5778

Nusach Sepharad
Rabbi David Sperling | Av 15, 5774

Hebrew pronunciation
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 12 Adar 5767

Rabbi Chaim Tabasky
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky teaches a shiur in gemarah at the Beit Midrash program of the Machon Hagavoah l'Torah at Bar Ilan University. He is also a certified examiner of STa"M (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot) and a narrative therapist.

Crossing the International Dateline
20 Iyyar 5764

Saying Shma in Space
29 Iyyar 5764

Tzniut in the Torah
29 Iyyar 5764

Dates,Years,Centuries
20 Iyyar 5764

When does the Jewish day begin?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 10, 5775

When does the Jewish day begin?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 10, 5775

Mezuzah for a Catholic Family?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 15, 5779

Giving Tzdaka with Right Hand
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 28, 5772
How to split expenses for a group event
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Shevat 9, 5783

Organization
Various Rabbis | Shevat 10, 5783
