Usually in every religion, I highlight some interesting and less-known oddities about the religion I'm studying, and I will do that in Judaism as well... here are some interesting beliefs (and superstitions) Jews have.
Like all ancient traditions, religious or not, there are multitudes of customs and superstitions regarding all aspects of life and death. I found these the most interesting today...
If a woman drinks the havdalah wine she will grow a beard.
Havdalah means "separation" and marks the end of the Shabbat and other religious holidays. In Jewish tradition, Havdalah is recited over wine. In the ceremony, a candle is lit, and the five senses are used. Havdalah is recited over kosher wine or kosher grape juice, although other beverages may be used if wine or grape juice are not available. On completion of the Shabbat, a special braided Havdalah candle with more than one wick is lit, and a prayer is recited. It is customary to gaze at one's fingernails reflecting the light of the candle. Spices, often stored in a decorative spice container, are handed around so that everyone can smell the fragrance.
Havdalah is intended to require a person to use all five senses—to taste the wine, smell the spices, see the flame of the candle and feel its heat, and hear the blessings.
If a woman drinks the wine during Havdalah, however, tradition says she will become like a man, with chest or facial hair.
Failure to properly dispose of your nail clippings may cause a pregnant woman to miscarry, if she steps over them.
Like all ancient traditions, religious or not, there are multitudes of customs and superstitions regarding all aspects of life and death. I found these the most interesting today...
If a woman drinks the havdalah wine she will grow a beard.
Havdalah means "separation" and marks the end of the Shabbat and other religious holidays. In Jewish tradition, Havdalah is recited over wine. In the ceremony, a candle is lit, and the five senses are used. Havdalah is recited over kosher wine or kosher grape juice, although other beverages may be used if wine or grape juice are not available. On completion of the Shabbat, a special braided Havdalah candle with more than one wick is lit, and a prayer is recited. It is customary to gaze at one's fingernails reflecting the light of the candle. Spices, often stored in a decorative spice container, are handed around so that everyone can smell the fragrance.
Havdalah is intended to require a person to use all five senses—to taste the wine, smell the spices, see the flame of the candle and feel its heat, and hear the blessings.
If a woman drinks the wine during Havdalah, however, tradition says she will become like a man, with chest or facial hair.
Failure to properly dispose of your nail clippings may cause a pregnant woman to miscarry, if she steps over them.
The Gemorah (Moed Katan 18a; Niddah 17a) tells us that "the righteous burn their nails, the pious bury them, and the wicked carelessly discard them."
The Gemorah explains that nail clippings must be carefully disposed of lest a pregnant woman pass over them and miscarry.
Listening to a woman singing will make men want to have sex with her. Kol Isha states that listening to a woman sing will cause arousal in men, and thereby detract their attention from God. In modern Orthodoxy, they really only apply this to prayer time.
It is bad luck to sleep with your head to the door... due to the fact that that is how the dead are carried out, probably.
So... although in modern Judaism, superstition and belief in something without proof is pretty much frowned upon, its interesting to see what the orthodox beliefs are!
Science and Judaism... our topic with Joel today!
Sources:
So... although in modern Judaism, superstition and belief in something without proof is pretty much frowned upon, its interesting to see what the orthodox beliefs are!
Science and Judaism... our topic with Joel today!
Sources:
http://www.hakirah.org/Vol%2010%20Zivotofsky.pdf
http://judaism.about.com/od/orthodoxfaqenkin/f/kolisha.htm
http://www.frumsatire.net/2011/03/16/strange-orthodox-jewish-beliefs-and-customs/
http://judaism.about.com/od/orthodoxfaqenkin/f/kolisha.htm
http://www.frumsatire.net/2011/03/16/strange-orthodox-jewish-beliefs-and-customs/
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