Dear Rabbi,
I do not have a rabbi but am in need of your advice.
I made teshuva a while ago and am confused. Ashkenazi Jew with no minhagim from father. I live in Israel and made teshuva in israel. I am married with 2 children to yemenite jew.
1. What nusach do i choose? (currently i have none just choose any siddur)
2. Do i learn say Mishneh Torah or Shulchan Aruch? And why?
3. If shulchan aruch sefardi or ashkenazi? And why?
I would love an answer before Rosh Hashannah but either way Hag Sameakh ve shannah tova!
Answer:
Sorry for the delay in replying!
1. You should preferably side with the Nusach of your fathers – Ashkenaz. This is based on a Teshuvah of Rav Moshe Feinstein who writes that Jews from Ashkenazi origin should prefer their ancestral nusach.
2. The basic learning should be the Shulchan Aruch. The reason is that normative halachah does not always follow the Rambam, and there are many additions in the Shulchan Aruch and the Rema (glosses to the Shulchan Aruch for Ashkenaz practice) that are important.
3. Shulchan Aruch was written by Rav Yosef Cairo, and it is normative Halachah for Sefardic Jewry. For Ashkenazim the Shulchan Aruch is likewise normative, but Ashkenazim follow the Rema’s rulings when they differ from the Shulchan Aruch, since they reflect Ashkenaz custom.
Best wishes and much success for the future.
