A new episode has been released on the “Menorah” YouTube channel featuring Chief Rabbi of Dnipro Shmuel Kaminezki and his daughter Sarah. This time, they examine familiar everyday rules, superstitions, and secular customs, explaining how Jewish tradition views them and what meaning may be hidden behind everyday actions.
At the center of the conversation is Jewish etiquette in the most diverse situations: from gifts and greetings to behavior at the festive table and relationships between men and women. Why is it not customary to blow out candles with one’s mouth, to gift watches, or to congratulate someone on their birthday in advance? How are the wedding ring, the chuppah, and the kesubah understood in Jewish tradition, and why do they hold special significance in establishing a family?
Special attention is given to respect for others and the rules of everyday communication. Rav Shmuel and Sarah discuss tipping in restaurants, paying the bill on a date, men’s etiquette, and concern for a woman’s safety. The conversation also touches on widespread notions about the evil eye, the red string, the hamsa, and the mezuzah, as well as familiar superstitions – for example, whether one should return home if one has forgotten something.
The episode helps clarify where a familiar custom is, where a superstition is, and where behind a rule stands a profound spiritual meaning. Through simple life examples, Rav Shmuel Kaminezki and Sarah speak about respect, responsibility, and attentive treatment of other people.
Watch the new video from “Menorah” with Rav Shmuel Kaminezki and Sarah, and share your thoughts and questions in the comments.
