3 Weeks/9 Days

HomeFestivals & Jewish Calendar3 Weeks/9 Days
16 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Haircut for Shabbat during 3 Weeks?

Hi Rabbi Simon, I hope you are well. I was surprised to learn that the restrictions during bein hametzarim [the interval from 17 Tammuz until 9 Av, often known as the Three Weeks] are only minhag and not actually enacted by the Sages of the Talmud (ie D’Rabbanan). I read your reply re shaving on Friday during the Three Weeks…

29 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

How Early the Fast?

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was wondering why you are starting the fast of 17 Tamuz (this past Tuesday 11 July 2017) at 3.43 am, when most sources I can find say 1.35am? Regards Steven Dear Steven The simple answer to your question is that I am following the straightforward approach of Dawn = 72 minutes before sunrise. Others calculate based…

29 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Swimming Lessons during the Nine Days

Hi Rabbi Simon. I wanted to ask you about signing up Zev for swimming classes during the 9 days.  There is a summer swim crash course for children happening from July 24th-28th, which happens to be right at the start of the 9 days.  I know there are prohibitions against swimming, but I wanted to check with you if I’m…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

La Rafle

Dear Rabbi Simon, You may have seen advertising for the French film “The Round Up”, a story based on the arrest and detention of Parisian Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1942. Would one be able to go to see such a movie during the 3 Weeks / 9 Days? As an aside, the film has received rather average ratings, but…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Purchasing property in the 9 Days

Dear Rabbi Simon, We may have found a property to purchase. The property has tenants in who vacate on Friday 20 July and my lawyers are aiming to complete the purchase on this day. This is of course Erev Tisha B’Av. Would your advice be to complete on this day or to delay, and if so would completing on Monday 23 July…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Dangling by a hair(cut)

Dear Rabbi We go away on holiday on the morning after Tisha B’Av – I would really like to have my haircut before I go away – is there any basis for doing so? Can I do it for example on Friday 20 July [2018=8 Av] for the honour of Shabbat or does that not work? What about this Friday…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Easy as א-ב-ג?

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was listening to a shiur on Eichah on TorahAnytime.  As an aside, the speaker mentioned that the 1st chapter of Eichah is the source for the order of the Alef Bet as we know it.  Other chapters also follow the Alef Bet chronology but with Ayin and Peh interchanged. He quoted Rabbi Shimon Schwab as his…

07 May 0Comments 0Likes

Keeping My Job – A Close Shave?

Dear Rabbi Simon, Last year, I did not shave during the “9 Days” [leading up to the Fast of 9 Av].  My boss commented that it “was not a good look for me”…the implication being that my appearance was not quite in line with the professional demeanour that is expected at my work. Although my job is not directly in jeopardy…

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

Mon, 05/18 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Thu, 05/21 Whole day
Erev Shavuot
Fri, 05/22 Whole day
First Day Shavuot
Sat, 05/23 Whole day
Second Day Shavuot