Festivals & Jewish Calendar

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Answering “What Day of the ‘Omer?”

Dear Rabbi Simon, I wanted to check a matter regarding counting the Omer. Earlier today I was asked “what day of the ‘Omer is it?”. I already counted last night, but the person who asked me had not yet counted. I told him the correct day, but then someone else said I should not have done so–rather I should have…

31 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Lighting Candles in a Hotel

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Dear Rabbi Simon Can I light my Yom Tov/Shabbos candles in the lobby of a hotel if I am unable to light in my room? Many thanks, Ora *** Dear Ora, Yes, you may. You should linger near the candles for a while to benefit from the light (or even the ambiance). 10 minutes or so after sunset is sufficient.…

23 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Frozen Vegetables for Pesach

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Dear Rabbi Simon, I hope you don’t mind – I have a question for Pesach. Are you able to buy frozen vegetables from a supermarket? Many thanks, Perri Hi Perri Generic (ie, unsupervised) frozen vegetables should be avoided. This is because many factories use starch or citric acid during processing, and some process chametz products on the same lines. So…

23 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

House-Sitting over Pesach

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Dear Rabbi Simon Our friends are away over Pesach and have offered us their house to stay in during that time. They have said they’ll do a basic cleaning, but not the counters (kitchen won’t be properly Pesach cleaned/kashered). Are we able to stay there over Pesach? They’ll be selling their chametz. Do we need to ensure they sell only their…

17 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Pesach Preparations

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Dear Rabbi Simon As Pesach approaches, I find myself overwhelmed and bamboozled every year regarding the Halachot of cleaning. Some public websites are too machmir (stringent) and some don’t provide any practical guidance. For instance, some say you don’t need to clean toys/clothes, others say you must and some say nothing at all! With young kids at home, I find…

25 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Two Days of Purim?

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Dear Rabbi Simon I am hoping to travel to Israel around Purim. I wanted to please check if it is acceptable to fly to Israel on the night immediately following Purim, arriving in the morning of so-called Shushan Purim (when the festival is celebrated in Jerusalem). My plan is to go to Jerusalem, but I am not keen on having…

18 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Sensors on Shabbat

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Dear Rabbi Simon Sensors were recently installed outside our block of flats which automatically come on when someone enters or leaves the block. Sometimes, we need to go out in the evening on Shabbat or yom tov (e.g. going to hosts for a meal). What implications does this have for Shabbat and Yom Tov observance? Many thanks, Esti Dear Esti…

16 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Chanukah in Camp

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Dear Rabbi Simon, Just a question from camp. We have 110 people here and we are all being covered (at least the campers) by one menorah lighting. (So we’re doing mehadrin, but not mehadrin min ha-mehadrin.) Should one person (such as me) recite the blessings on behalf of everyone, or should each camper recite she-asah niasim and she-hehiyanu (1st night)…

11 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Latest Chanukah Lighting

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Dear Rabbi Simon, What’s the latest time one can light his or her Chanukiah? Many thanks, Meir Dear Meir, Nowadays that people are out and about until quite late, depending on the street where you live, in extremis one may light until at least 10:00pm, or even midnight or later (eg on Finchley Road). Indeed, in accordance with the minhag…

06 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

Sukkah in the Rain

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Dear Rabbi Simon I have a quick question if you have time. Assuming it rains tonight (first night of Sukkot), how long should one wait to make kiddush and eat? Should one make kiddush in the sukkah in the rain and eat challah in the normal way, but no blessing on the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah, then eat…

Questions & Answers

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Questions and Answers

Ask the Rabbi: Quinoa on Pesach

Dear Rabbi Simon,
Where do you stand on quinoa (and the kitniyot ban) for Pesach?
Many thanks,

Tzippy

***
Dear Tzippy,

In line with other American authorities, I am in favour of quinoa. Although I reject completely the voices (mostly from Israel) seeking to abolish the ban on kitniyot entirely, IMO we do not need to include in the prohibition pseudo-grains that were unknown in the Old World until modern times. Best to buy with a Pesach hechsher though, to be free of any possible wheat contamination.
Rabbi Rashi Simon

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