Question: Must a wife change her nusach and minhagim to those of her husband?

Discussion: Contemporary Poskim are divided on this matter. Some are of the opinion that she must adopt her husband’s minhagim and nusach.125 She should accept both the leniencies and stringencies practiced by her husband. Yet, even among those who maintain this position, some say that the husband may allow his wife to maintain the practices she grew up with.126 Others do not seem to provide this option.127

Other Poskim hold that a woman has no obligation to align herself with her husband’s minhagim. They argue that a change in minhag is not one of the obligations that a woman has towards her husband.128

125 Igros Moshe, Orach Chaim 1 158; Halichos Shlomo, Tefillah 1:7.

126 Dvar Halachah ibid., 7.

127 Based on the understanding of Igros Moshe ibid.

128 R’ Chaim Kanievsky, cited in Da’as Notah, p. 392.