Customs of Israel
The Sephardic Jewish sages preserved the customs of their communities and saw them as a literal mitzvah. They respected every custom their community held, even if they did not know its origin. We have gathered from the words of their Torah in order to get to know the customs and know their power.
Hacham Aaron Ma'ali Hacohen Tawil - in which he teaches "You give it openhandedly" as the way a shadow does as the person does
Hacham Abraham Alkalay - in which he teaches that women should make a plea at the Mezuzah to fulfill the commandment of prayer.
Hacham Abraham Dayan - in which he tells of the custom of visiting the cave of Ezra the Scribe, and the spring in which he would bathe
Hacham Abraham Haim Naeh - in which he teaches that the Tahanun prayer should not be recited when a youth, learning to put on tefillin, is present in the synagogue
Hacham Avraham David Shalem - in which he encourages maintaining the custom of gathering at the baby's home on the eve of a circumcision
Hacham Eliezer Rachamim Yedid Halevy - in which he teaches that swaying to and fro during prayer is not appropriate behavior
Hacham Eliyahu Cohen - in which he gives the reason for reciting "Kol Israel" before engaging in Torah study, for the portion [of the World-to-Come] is rewarded not only to the one who studies
Hacham Eliyahu Lavi - in which he teaches that men and women differ in giving precedence to blessing over lighting
Hacham Eliyahu Yitzhak Hazan - in which he permits replacing the olive oil Ner Tamid lamp with an electric lamp
Hacham Ephraim Navon - in which he allows eating meat in an obligatory festive meal [se'udat mitzvah] despite the custom to refrain from eating meat from the 17th of Tammuz
Hacham Ephraim Navon - Machaneh Ephraim, Halakhot on Vows, Section 40, p. 77, Or Haim – New Press, The Center for Jewish Books, Jerusalem 2011
Hakham Abraham Halevi - in which he teaches that a sage accustomed to fulfilling eiruv for others may consider that he has fulfilled it for himself
Hakham Abraham Halevi - in which he teaches the fasting individual to recite the blessing on fragrances, because by so doing he is blessing world-mending
Hacham Baruch Assebag - in which he teaches of the custom to release vows [hatarat nedarim] on the 19th of Av out of concern that one be in a state of banishment from Heaven on Yom Kippur
Hacham Ben Zion Meir Chai Uziel - in which he responds to the question of women participating in elections for public institutions
Hacham Bougid Hanina Saadon - in which he teaches that when any link of a chain is shaken, the first one moves as well.
Hacham David Ben Shimon - in which he teaches that there is no vanity in the Jerusalem custom of wrapping oneself in the tallit prayer shawl
Hacham David Hacohen - in which he likens the hillula [the festive commemoration of a righteous person's death] to a celebratory day that requires a meal, song and study
Hacham Haim Benvenisti - in which he annuls the custom of not raising the Torah scroll on the 9th of Av morning Shacharit prayer
Hacham Hezekiah Shabtai - in which he gives the reason for naming the Sabbath before Shavuot Shabbat Kallah [the Bridal Sabbath]
Hacham Yaakov Chaim Sofer - Going up to the Torah Reading on the anniversary of a death - the deceased take no pleasure if one goes up quarreling
Hacham Yaakov Hacohen Tarab - in which he teaches that sounding the charity done on the day of Purim is called holy.
Hacham Yehuda Alkalai - in which he teaches to appoint elders to institute the ingathering of the exiles and to unify customs.
Hacham Yehuda Aryeh of Modena - in which he teaches that the holy Sabbath is like a bride, and that it is a mitzvah to adorn it with rejoicing of all kinds
Hacham Yehuda Ben Atar - in which he teaches that the wise women prepare so that the weepers at funerals evoke tears
Hacham Yehuda Ben Yaakov Nechama - in which he tells of the protest at covering hair, a custom originating in the Zohar
Hacham Yehuda Leon Ashkenazi - in which he teaches that our tradition to grow beards is no impediment to the acknowledgement that all people of Israel are brethren
Hacham Yehuda Tzedaka - in which he shares the reason for holding the lulav in the right hand and the Etrog in the left
Hacham Yihya Omassi - in which he rebukes those adhering to a new custom whereby each person recites the blessing alone and so loses benefits
Hacham Yitzhak Bokhobza - in which he teaches that the reason for setting a tombstone is so that it serve as a covenant and pledge between the deceased and the living
Hacham Yitzhak Eliyahu Laniado - teaching that a person on his deathbed is gladdened and strengthened by seeing his friend come visiting.
Hacham Yitzhak Even Denan - in which he provides the reason for the custom to refrain from eating black olives during the month of Nissan
Hacham Yitzhak Farhi - in which he tells of the saintly monthly assembly that meets to pray for all our kin
Hacham Yitzhak Mejaled - in which he rules to accord a widow more than is required so that she may . . . . as do others???
Hacham Yoram Michael Abergil - in which he teaches that those of a ready heart are privileged with experiencing the pleasure of the Sabbath in this world
Hacham Yosef Massass - in which he gives the reason for the custom of accompanying Torah scrolls to geniza [repository for old religious manuscripts] with songs and piyutim.
Hacham Yosef Tzarfati - in which he teaches that a father's blessing will not apply to brothers whose hearts have been estranged
Hacham Yoseph Ben Joya - in which he praises the custom of eating candied fruit and cakes on the Sabbath and on Festivals, despite that they may have various designs on them
Hacham Yoseph Elmaliakh - in which he rules that since the custom is to make an imitation there is no case of an erroneous transaction
Hacham Yoseph Rubin Elkabelah - in which he teaches that one abates one's grief when weeping along with the public who weep at the house of the deceased.
Hacham Menachem Menashe - in which he praises those who light candles and mention the names of Tzadikkim, all the more so those who do so and learn Torah
Hacham Menini Bitan - in which he teaches about the custom of reading Hallel psalms while baking matzah
Hacham Mordecai Attiah - in which he teaches that those who believe in the Coming of the Messiah should precede him by coming to the Land of Israel
Hacham Mordecai Azran - in which he teaches that the day of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai may be likened to the Giving of the Torah itself
Hacham Moshe Cohen Shauli - in which he instructs that Jews of different ethnic communities should be drawn close to one another, but their distinctiveness maintained
Hacham Moshe Dayyan - in which he teaches to pray not for a limited term but to be considered for a long and good life.
Hacham Moshe Maimaran - in which he explains why Torah is to be read melodically, so that it can be inscribed and retained in our hearts
Hacham Nissim Yaggen - in which he teaches the reason behind the custom reciting Shalom Aleichem hurriedly before Kiddush
Hacham Allwan Shimon Avidani - in which he tells of the town of Amadiah's custom to hearten mourners during the Passover festival
Hacham Ovadia Yosef - in which he instructs that the custom, in this Ashkenazi tradition, is not to be considered as a rule, because they were under domination
Hacham Faraj Haim Yehuda - in which he recounts that it was customary to go up on the roof to see the sunrise with the Temple Mount in view
Hacham Frija (Yeshua) Zoaretz - in which he recounts the custom of the righteous Jewish women of Libya who would collect money for the Rachel Imeinu Fund every New Moon
Hacham Peretz Maimon - in which he teaches that an Ashkenazi who has settled in their moshav is to follow Sephardi custom
Hacham Zion Sofer - in which he teaches that people approaching sanctity or studying Torah must strengthen themselves by giving charity
Hacham Wobasht Ayetgav - in which he teaches devotion to observing customs that do not contradict Halakha.
Hacham Wobasht Ayetgav - in which he teaches that we should pray that our brethren in Ethiopia come to the Land of Israel.
Hacham Rakhamim Melamed Hacohen - in which he teaches that one who sings at his table gains many things
Hacham Raphael Elashvili - in which he teaches that the customary custom to study Avot is primarily between Passover and [Shemini] Atzeret.
Hacham Sasson Ezra S'hayak - in which he teaches the reason behind the custom of holding a festive meal at the reception for a new Torah scroll
Hacham Shalom Aaron Lopes - in which he warns students raised in yeshiva not to abandon their family customs
Hacham Shalom Moshe Chai Gaguine - in which he teaches about of the Jerusalem custom of publicly welcoming the Sabbath at the Western Wall
