[Avodah] What is a minhag?

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

> the difference between minhag and practice (the former being binding
> and the latter not) starts to break down.
> Ben

Who says every minhag is binding?

I found the missing shaarei teshuva.. s'lichos before RH is nidcheh by
tiqqun Hatzos 681:4

Here are many optional minhaggim
    Ushpizin 
    Tashlich 
    Visiting cemetaries On certain occasions
    Miqveh (execpt perhaps erev RH as per Rema)
    Kapparos
    Fasting Behab and YK Qatan
    Everyone lighting Hanuukah M'norah (instead of just baal habayyis)
    More than 1 shabbos candle
    Yahrtzeit licht and Fasting on Yahrtzeit
    Everyone getting aliya on Simchas Torah
    Avinu malkeinu on taanis tzibbur
    Probably hataras nedarim Before RH - except when a known neder
	needs to be nullified


Minhag Cat#1 which is as I defined about P'saq is binding.

Minhag Cat#2 IE
A Minhag re: a g'zeira may be binding (EG qitniyyos, matza ashira)

But many minhaggim are by no means "binding" and are merely preferential
or even merely optional.

KT
RRW
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