Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site mhuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!dual!qantel!ihnp4!mhuxi!dsg From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (David S. Green) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: throwing candy Message-ID: <344@mhuxi.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 08:37:15 EDT Article-I.D.: mhuxi.344 Posted: Tue Aug 13 08:37:15 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 05:07:37 EDT References: <741@lsuc.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 34 [] > Does anyone know the origin of the custom of throwing > candy at an Aufruf, and why or how it has spread to > barmitzvahs? How widespread is the custom? > Dave Sherman > { ihnp4!utzoo pesnta utcs hcr decvax!utcsri } !lsuc!dave The Talmud ( Berakhoth 50b ) states: "One may let wine flow through pipes before the bridegroom and the bride and one may throw before them parched corn and nuts in the sunny season, but not in the rainy season; yet cakes not, not in the sunny season and not in the rainy season." Berakhoth deals mostly with blessings and prayer. This gemara sort of digresses a bit and speaks about wasting food. Obviously, it was a custom over 2000 years ago to throw nuts ( walnuts ) and other food before a bridegroom and bride. The commentary notes that the food thrown should be wrapped so that it can be eaten later, i. e., not wasted. I think the part about flowing wine refers to ornamental fountains so that the wine is not wasted. Now I am going to speculate a little bit. The Mishna ( Keth. 2,1 ) says that food should be thrown only if the bride is deemed to be a virgin. Since today this is not usually the case, the food is thrown at the Aufruf and not at the wedding. Now why has this spread to barmitzvahs? Well, I can guess that since the Mishna says "if the bride is deemed a virgin" maybe some people think that the bridegroom should also be a virgin. Since this is even rarer, one should throw food at the barmitzvah -- you stand a better chance of finding a virgin. Please note that the Talmud quote is correct and the keyword in the last is speculate. Shalom, David S. Green ..mhuxi!dsg