Reply To: Interesting Customs on Pesach

Sometimes people have minhagim that are contrary to halacha. Example: The minhag of nittel nacht is contrary to halacha. The minhag of the Liska Rebbe not to eat matzah was vehemently opposed by some rabbis, including Rabbi E. Waldenberg, as being contrary to halacha.

The minhag is to bow when saying Baruch ata Hashem in me’ein sheva Friday night. However, technically you are not supposed to bow in any place where Chazal did not institute to bow, and here we don’t find (in the Shulchan Aruch) that there is any takana to bow. Nevertheless, one should bow because that is the minhag. (Rav Elyashiv talks about it.)

The minhag is to eat before shofar. However, according to Rav Henkin, this minhag is shelo k’din. (Rav Henkin literally begged the rosh yeshiva of BMG to abolish this minhag).