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In our neo-Yekke shul, Etz Chaim in Manchester, we make kiddush and havdala in shul. In fact, the shul raises considerable money every year by auctioning off the gelt for yayin l'kiddush v'havdala, as the donor is the beneficiary of the weekly mi sheberach before mussaf.<BR>
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IIRC, it was the Ashkenazi Rishonim who struggled with the fact that making kiddush in shul nowadays violates ein kiddush ela b'makon seuda. It was the Sephardi Rishonim, such as the Rashba and Ran, who were more enthusiastic about the custom, and even suggested that it was a takkanas Geonim so that those who could not make kiddush for themselves at home would at least be yotze min hatorah in shul. This is all from my memory of the relevant siman in the Tur/BY. However, one thing is certain - the custom was widespread and ancient, except in EY. The BY held that the custom should not be adopted in communities without a fixed custom. I have never understood why shuls that have dispensed with this beautiful custom, has retained the custom to light chanuka neros in shul. Both are problematic in strict halachic terms. Also, kiddush in shul has a positive educational impact on children. I think this argument was raised by the Seridei Eish in one of his teshuvos.<BR>
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There is a divergence in customs whether to make kiddush in shul on Sukkos. <BR>
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Does anyone know what Sephardim (outside of EY) do?<BR>
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RMB referred to the practice in the Litvish Yeshivos not to say kiddush in the Beis HaMidrash. However, I am curious as to the mainstream custom in shuls in pre-war Lithuania. I don't have the AhS to hand, but don't recall his saying that the custom was not practised, so presumably it was (together with the recital of maarovos and other customs that are now stigmatised as "Yekkish"). I notice that many Litvaks (or neo-Litvaks) davka adopt Yeshivishe customs, even though these were not practised in the vast majority of shuls in Lita (eg yisgadeil rather than yisgadal). Does anyone know where to found a collection of mainstream Litvish minhag (other than AhS)?<BR>
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Kol tuv <BR>
Dov Kay<BR><br /><hr />For the best free wallpapers from MSN <a href='http://wallpapers.msn.com/?ocid=[B001MSN42A0716B]' target='_new'>Click here!</a></body>
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