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29 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Sukkah Design

Dear Rabbi Simon, After 15 years of faithful service, the timber of our Succah is now rotting and requires replacing. I am designing a new timber succah and want to clarify a couple of halachic issues. 1) In order to make the sechach more wind resistant , I want the sechach to rest on wooden battens six inches below the top…

29 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Music to my Ears

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a question which has being troubling me since I read an article on the split between Orthodoxy and Liberalism in the Jerusalem Report. The article makes mention that during temple times, musical instruments were permitted on the Shabbat. I have the following questions: Is this correct? If correct, then why cannot we use musical instruments…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Kosher Dog Food??

Dear Rabbi Simon, Interesting question from a new client with his puppy… ‘What rules apply to dog food in a strictly kosher home?’ I have always been of the opinion that as it’s the dog that’s eating the food there shouldn’t be an issue, but I think the client has a point about wet, canned food and the storage of…

25 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Hanukkah on the Road

Ask the Rabbi: Hanukkah on the Road     Dear Rabbi Simon I shall be on holiday in Israel please G-d over part of Chanukah, staying with different friends. Am I included in their candles? Or do I need to light my own each night? Many thanks, Orah Dear Orah, Thank you for your question, and kudos to you for thinking…

25 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

More Music to my Ears on Shabbat

Dear Rabbi Simon, Interesting Ask the Rabbi entry in last week’s KC [click Kesher Connections newsletter to see the Q&A]. Would whistling be OK or is this too close to a musical instrument? Peretz Dear Peretz TY for your Q. Always nice to see that people read the KC. Whistling is allowed on Shabbos, including whistling through the agency of one’s fingers…

24 Jun 0Comments 1Like

Persian Evidence of Purim?

Dear Rabbi Simon, At a certain point in antiquity, there was extensive deliberation over whether Megillat Esther should be included in the Bible.  Detractors of the idea argued that it could unnecessarily antagonise those not favourably disposed towards Jewry.  However, proponents of its inclusion maintained that the events were already widely known throughout the civilised world; the chronicles of the…

24 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Koshering Granite Countertops for Pesach

Dear Rabbi Simon Do you have any information on koshering granite work surfaces in the kitchen for Pesach? Thank you Grant Hi Grant See https://www.thekosherchannel.com/passover-cleaning.html#step and particularly #7, Marble Counters. Granite is the same. Covering them is popular in many circles but not actually required. If the “granite” is actually composite, ie not a single slab of polished rock but actually pieces…

24 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Travelling over Pesach

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can you please remind me and those travelling over Pesach, does one have to clean the home etc if one’s travelling before Yom Tov and not returning until after the Chag? Also, what happens to bedikat chametz? Many thanks, Daniel Dear Daniel, One who will be away for all of Pesach should adopt either of two approaches: a. Arrange…

24 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Cup size, Kitniot

Dear Rabbi Simon, I hope you don’t mind me contacting you, but I have a couple of Pesach related questions that I would be grateful if you could answer for me please. The first is regarding the 4 cups for the seder-I just wanted to know what was the minimum requirement for these? I’m assuming the normal ‘l’chaim’ cups that…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Shabbat Delivery

Dear Rabbi Simon, I placed an online order on Thursday lunchtime, where it said estimated 2-3 days for delivery. The company is usually efficient and the orders normally arrive on Day 2. This was the case on this occasion, with the parcel being left outside my front door on Shabbat afternoon. Is there any issue with me using/benefiting from the…

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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