Reply To: Differences between oberlandish and yekkish minhogim

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hakohen53
Participant

As an oberlander, its hard for me to go through thousands of minhagim throughout the year that are different. Also, I don’t consider my self an expert on Yekkeshe minhagim. A few that come to mind, although I am not completely sure how the Yekkes do it, as as follows: I believe that the Oberlander men went to mikve more often than the Yekkes throughout the year, although that too depended on each family’s individual minhag. The oberlander said Hallel on Pesach night which I don’t think the Yekkes did. In oberland the kohanim did not duchan on a Yom Tov day that fell on Shabbos, except on Yom Kippur, at which time they also sang. Also, oberlander sang by duchaning on Simchas Torah at shachris (don’t know what the yekkes did). Chassidim don’t. In fact, in many oberlander kehillos on Simchas Torah the kohanim sang 3 different songs each time they sang, which may be against halacha (but we know that minhag can override halacha). The oberlander definitely exhibited more emotion during davening, and singing.

Whenever anybody asks me what an oberlander is, I usually answered that they are similar to yekkes, but more to the right. Even in Europe, many oberlander yidden would go to Chassidic rebbes for brachos (forget about the yekkes) and in most oberlander kehillos the Rav that was hired for the town was usually Chassidic. That explains the present affinity to Chassidim and why many oberlander became Chassidic instead of litvaks. I am an oberlander that davens ashkenaz, but find myself more comfortable in a sfard/Chassidic shul because it is closer to what I am. Most present ashkenaz minyanim are litvish/American who don’t say yotzros, etc. In fact, I usually lag behind on Yom Tov night during davening because I also say the Maarovos, which chassidim don’t say, but either do litvaks/americans.

By the way, it is considered minhag Chasam Sofer. Although the Chasam Sofer had many private minhagim that were different, I think minhag Chasam Sofer is really talking about minhag Pressburg during the time that the Chasam Sofer, Ksav Sofer, etc. were the rabbanim there.

I wish I could think of more differences, but there are just too many.