Minhag ( "custom", classical pl. מנהגות, modern pl. , minhagim) is an accepted tradition or group of traditions in Judaism. A related concept, Nusach (), refers to the traditional order and form of the prayers. Etymology The Hebrew root N-H-G () means primarily "to drive" or, by extension, "to conduct (oneself)". The actual word minhag appears twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the same verse, and translated as "driving": Homiletically, one could argue that the use of the word minhag in Jewish law reflects its Biblical Hebrew origins as "the (manner of) driving (a chariot)". Whereas Halakha (law), from the word for walking-path, means the path or road set for the journey, minhag (custom), from the word for driving, means the manner people have developed themselves to travel down that path more quickly. The present use of minhag for custom may have been influenced by the Arabic minhaj, though in current Islamic usage this term is used for the intellectual methodology of a scholar or school of thought (cf. Hebrew derech) rather than for the customs of a local or ethnic community. Minhag and Jewish law In addition to the 613 commandments, observant Jews consider halakha, Jewish law as derived from the Talmud, binding upon all Jews. In addition to these, there have always been customs. Some customs were universally adopted (e.g. wearing a head covering), or almost universally (e.g. monogamy). Others are observed by major segments of Jewry but not by others (e.g. not eating kitniyot on Passover). Other customs are bound to certain localities or groups that originated in certain localities. These minhagim exist in various forms: Ancient minhagim go back to the time of the Talmud and earlier. Today they are generally regarded as universally binding. The oldest recorded minhag is that of 'beating the Aravot' (willow branches) on Hoshana Rabbah, and dates back to the era of the Prophets. Later minhagim are followed by specific groups. Jews whose ancestors continued to live in the Middle East and Africa until the establishment of the State of Israel, regardless of where they live now, tend to follow a variety of customs, such as Mizrahi-Sephardi or Temani. Jews whose ancestors lived in Central Europe in the Middle Ages (regardless of where they live now) tend to follow Ashkenazic customs, while those whose families originated in the Iberian peninsula generally follow Sephardic customs. (The Talmud gives detailed rules