Tosafas story of rav visiting from israel re hallel on rosh chodesh --apparent that custom in israel was not to recite hallel on rosh chodesh. how did it evolve that ashkenazim , who generally follow the customs of israel in contradistinction to sefardim who follow babylonian customs ,recite half hallel on rosh chodesh
JACK BRUDER, new rochelle,usa
Both Ashkenazim and Sefardim follow the customs of Bavel, not of Yerushalayim, because it is the Talmud Bavli that has been accepted by the whole of Yisrael, not the Yerushalmi. I am not sure what makes you think that Ashkenazim follow the ancient Minhagim of Eretz Yisrael.
Kol Tuv,
Eliezer Chrysler