Festivals & Jewish Calendar

HomeFestivals & Jewish Calendar
21 May 0Comments 0Likes

Kiddush Levana

Dear Rabbi Simon, Today [30 March 2025] is Rosh Chodesh Nissan, but as you pointed out in shul yesterday, the new moon was already visible in Yerushalayim earlier on Shabbat morning. In view of this (excuse the pun), could we have recited Kiddush Levana (Sanctification of the New Moon) after Shabbat last night already? Lev Dear Lev Thank you for your…

14 May 0Comments 0Likes

Shabbos Crunch Time?

Dear Rabbi Simon, Am I allowed to eat leftover Matzah from Pesach instead of bread for Shabbos? Matt Hi Matt, Sure. There is no objection to using matzah (in place of challah) for Shabbos. Use whole rather than broken pieces to fulfil the mitzvah requirement of lehem mishneh. By the way, there are those who have the minhag of using…

01 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Haircuts in the Omer

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a question concerning haircuts in the Omer: I am unaware of a family minhag in this regard. My paternal great grandfather was from Courland in Latvia. What is the minhag to follow in this case, regarding haircuts, shaving, etc during the weeks between Pesach and Shavuot? Shall I observe the days from Rosh Chodesh Iyyar…

26 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Shabbat Hot Plate for Pesach

Dear Rabbi Simon, We have a new (very hot) Shabbat plattah – which we have kept covered in foil when using for Shabbat. Am I allowed to use it for milky food or—looking ahead–for Pesach, if I change the foil (which I would anyway do each time I use it)? Thanks, Paltiel Dear Paltiel If you clean the plattah and…

22 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Tenant Moving in on Shabbat

Dear Rabbi Simon I hope that you are well. Sorry to trouble you but I wondered if there is any issue with allowing a tenant moving into a rental property on a Shabbos? The contracts have been signed and payments were made two months in advance but the tenant can only move in on a Saturday. The keys would be…

04 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Warming Gravy on Shabbat

Dear Rabbi Simon A quick Shabbos question for you. What is the best way to reheat a chicken in gravy that was baked in an oven? Thanks, Shabtai Dear Shabtai Thank you for your practical and important Shabbos question. If the gravy is substantial, reheating on Shabbos poses a problem, as the accepted halakhic view is that יש בישול אחר…

16 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

Etrog with Broken Pitom

Dear Rabbi Simon If the pitom [protrusion at the top of the etrog, more correctly known as shoshanta] of my etrog breaks off during hol ha-mo’ed [intermediate days of the festival], is it kosher [ie, valid] to use during the rest of Sukkot? Many thanks, Pini Dear Pini Yes, you may use it, and recite the berakhah in the usual way,…

14 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

Yom Kippur Candles

Dear Rabbi Simon Yom Kippur is nearing, and I have some questions about lighting a long-lasting candle for this day (is this a Minhag? Halacha? Humrah?). Is there a requirement for Ner Yom Kippur? Is it fulfilled by the Shabbos candles? If the light of the candle persists until nightfall the next day, can it be used for Havdalah as…

01 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

Hearing the Shofar

Dear Rabbi Simon I think I will find it difficult to hear all 100 notes of the shofar due to childcare and other responsibilities. Is this something I need to repent for on Yom Kippur. It does seem a shame to begin the year with a debit in my account already. Many thanks Shifra Dear Shifra Thank you for your…

26 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

Fast Approaching

Dear Rabbi Simon I fast on Tzom Gedaliah but did not know about the fast erev Rosh Hashanah (even just to midday) and feel terribly. Is it still commonly practiced? An obligation for women? Several people I asked about it did not seem to know of it. Many thanks, Dalia Dear Dalia The Fast of Gedalya is a statutory fast,…

Questions & Answers
this week

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
Events / Calendar

Upcoming Events

Sat, 07/12 8:00 PM
2025 Visions of the Fathers
Sun, 07/13 Whole day
Fast of Tamuz
Mon, 07/14 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Sun, 07/20 9:00 AM
Semichas Chaver
Mon, 07/21 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom