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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

Fasting During Pregnancy

(Note the addendum for when 9 Av is on Shabbat and the Fast is delayed until Sunday) Dear Rabbi Simon, Is Fiona obligated to fast on Tisha’ B’Av as she will be at about 32 1/2 wks pregnant at that time?  Her obstetrician indicated that she should not fast & especially should consume fluids.  She is puzzled as she has…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

When do we Eat?

Dear Rabbi Simon, If Plag haMincha is the earliest we can light candles, daven Maariv and bring in Shabbat, which is about 7.30pm currently, may those of us with young children start Shabbat dinner before then and light candles/daven during a break in the meal? Many thanks, Shabbetai Hi Shabbetai This is a perennial challenge. Some families have dinner for…

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…

11 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Improvised Mechitza: Shabbos Issues

Dear Rabbi Simon, We are making a minyan in a marquee for Jonathan’s bar mitzvah. The caterer (who I believe has experience but is not a halachic authority) has suggested that we can use potted plants to comprise the mechitza [partition to separate the men’s and women’s seating]. Is this acceptable and can we allow the caterer to instruct his…

11 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Apples & Honey

Dear Rabbi Simon, The tradition of dipping an apple in honey on Rosh HaShanah is very well known. But I am not sure if I need to say a separate blessing on the apple, for example when it is eaten after the challah at dinner on Rosh HaShanah night. What about a blessing on the honey? Thanks for your advice.…

11 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Migrane on Yom Kippur

Dear Rabbi Simon, I’d be grateful for advice please. Michelle is very susceptible to migranes and will be looking after the children on YK. If she gets a migrane while looking after the children is there any way she can take syndol obviously with the minimum amount of liquid required to take them?   Syndol is the thing that really…

11 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Small Succah, Many Guests

Dear Rabbi Simon, Our succa only seats 3-4 people but we’ve enthusiastically invited a couple of people ‘too many’ for one of the meals. On a practical level, what can we do without having to disinvite the ‘extras’, which would not be very nice? If I’m not mistaken, the succa obligation is really only for the men.  Would it be OK…

08 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Shehechiyanu on the 2nd night of Hanukkah?

Dear Rabbi Simon Please advise re the following scenario: 1st night – you don’t light personally but are present at a lighting and so hear the blessing of shehechiyanu 2nd night – you light personally. Do you say shehechiyanu on the second night? Matityahu Dear Matt: If you have in mind to fulfil your mitzvah (of shehechiyanu) and the one who recites the blessing…

19 May 0Comments 0Likes

If the Fast of Esther is Onerous

Dear Rabbi Simon, Hope everyone is well. Hadassah has been having some difficulties with fasting over the past few ta’aniyot, even on 10 Tevet (though the Fast ended at 4:40pm). She does not feel well while fasting, and has to spend most of the day in bed. Looking ahead to Adar II, is it possible to be lenient l’chatchila [in the first instance]…

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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