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My question is generally speaking which is better (yes both extremes are bad and of course they arent exactly opposite)
I can be skeptical/cynical and when something sounds strange I dont usually accept it.
for example soemone had mentioned that the root of the Yiddish word “einekel” (grandchild) stems from the PAssuk “Vehasneh eino ukal” Certainly a nice idea, that yiddish doros continue although so many have tried to destroy us.
It didnt sound likely though, and 30 seconds of googling revelaed that “granchild” in German is “enkel”
This fellow Got annoyed at me “Why do you have to be so cynical” just accept it .My reply was why accept it, if it deosnt sound likely and is easily disproven?
What do you think is it better to be more accepting of these kind of things or skeptical?
When the thing is not true, it’s better to be skeptical.
I think you need to be cautious and open minded at the same time (within certain limits of course).
For example, I am disturbed by your skepticism about schlissel challah. I’ve heard from what I consider a reliable source that it’s an ancient minhag, from well before it was ever recorded in a sefer.
I don’t like to dismiss (e.g. call silly) anything which a large segment of klal Yisroel, including gedolim beyond our comprehension, do.
I like to quote Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entiltled to his/her opinion. No one is entitled to his/her set of facts.” I tend to be skeptical/cynical. As for your example, Yiddish is “low-class” or “guttural” German. One should first look at the German word to determine the etymology of a Yiddish word. You have the right to be “cynical”.
I have made statements in the CR that I thought was correct only to be disproved. When that happens I accept it and move on. When I have an opinion I will defend it no matter what.
DY: I am not sure what you are referring to about “shlissel challah” (BTW schissel=pail; schlissel=key). The Sefer Taajmei Haminhagim states that it is a “remez” back to the time when Klal Ysroel entered Eretz Yisroel. Since the mohn stopped on Tes Zayin Nissan, Klal Yisroel had to rely on there food supply “bderech hatevah” and it is HKBH who holds the “keys to parsanah”.
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=38691&st=&pgnum=151 (hebrew)
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=36722&st=&pgnum=62 (yiddish)
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=36722&st=&pgnum=63 (yiddish)
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