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What is the single most widely practiced minhag (religious Jewish practice that's not mandated by halacha) among Jews in the United States today? By "widely practiced" I mean practiced by the most people.

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11 Answers 11

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Hands down it is - not saying Birchas Kohanim on a daily basis

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I think there are two questions here:

  • What custom is most widespread among observant American Jews that is less common in other countries?
  • Name something post-Talmudic that most American Jews, observant or not, keep.

For the latter category, I think we could point to the Jewish customs of mourning, which are observed overwhelmingly across the spectrum of observance. Most notably, saying Kaddish! (Post-Talmudic.)

For a custom that is, let's say, post-Shulchan Aruch, I would say covering the mirrors in a shiva house. Some say this was simply a matter of covering the mirrors in rooms where prayers would be held (we don't pray facing a mirror), but Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveichik argued that this was a version of a Talmudic custom regarding repositioning all the beds in the house -- they're both ways of expressing the loss of humanity experienced.

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Are we including minhage sh'tus? How about gift-giving on Chanuka?


Edit: See http://mi.yodeya.com/questions/3572 — apparently it might not be a minhag sh'tus.

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Yizkor is a big one.

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Keeping Yomtov Sheini, which now that we have a set calendar is only an obligation due to minhag avoseinu. Yet, it still has the full force of mandated halacha. (Thank you Shalom!)

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I'd bet it's the Pesach Seder.

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Well one I can think of offhand is reading the Haftorah on Shabbos. But I'm sure there are plenty more.

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Celebrating (purposely using very vague term), wrongly (Halachicly) or rightly Yom Kippur.

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What about candle lighting 18 minutes before sunset?

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Blowing Shofar in Elul is a Minhag which I think all follow.

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Bathing on Friday.

מצוה על כל אדם לרחוץ בכל ערב שבת פניו ידיו ורגליו בחמין. ואם אפשר, ירחץ כל גופו בחמין.‏

קיצור שולחן ערוך, סִימָן ע"ב, סעיף י"ב

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