Festivals & Jewish Calendar

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08 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Shaving in the 3 Weeks

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a question for you.  Are there any leniencies around shaving during the 3 Weeks/9 Days, such as on Erev Shabbos or for important business meetings? Thank you, Dave Dear Dave, Thank you for your question. There are grounds to permit shaving on Friday for the honour of Shabbos. This was our practice in Yeshiva (based…

01 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Travelling During the 3 Weeks

Dear Rabbi Simon, Is it possible to travel and more specifically to Israel during the 3 weeks/9 days? Thanks Dinah Dear Dinah, Thank you for your question. Three Weeks is fine. To travel to Israel I would allow during Nine Days as well. Avoid 8 or 9 Av. And stay safe. Best wishes, Rabbi Rashi Simon

24 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Candle-Lighting Query

Dear Rabbi Simon, I had a question on candle-lighting. I am going to Shabbat dinner in Hendon. To avoid being very late for dinner, I would need to go to shul in Hendon (much as I will miss the Kesher experience ????). As I understand it, in general it is fine for me to light in my flat before I…

20 May 0Comments 0Likes

Yom Tov Guests

Hi Rabbi Simon, I wanted to clarify the issue of inviting non-Jewish guests on Yom Tov.  My understanding is that it is allowed to invite people who are already formally engaged in the conversion process.  However, it is less clear to me for partners/friends of a Jewish person or people who are not yet part of the Beth Din program. …

22 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

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

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

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

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

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?

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…

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
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