Festivals & Jewish Calendar

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,…

14 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Shabbat Question, Property Sector

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Dear Rabbi Simon I wondered if there is any issue with a tenant moving in to a rental property on a Shabbos? The contracts were signed, and payments made 2 months in advance, but the tenant can only move in on a Saturday. The keys would be left with the porter. Many thanks, Terrance Dear Terrance, Thank you for your…

31 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Children’s Activities in the 9 Days

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Dear Rabbi Simon I am trying to organise some activities for the kids during their holidays. Would I be correct to assume not to book either sewing/dressmaking camp or canooing /windsufing/sailing during the 9 days? Kind regards Miriam Dear Miriam, Even children should avoid water sports during 9 Days. There are grounds to allow sewing lessons if the garment is…

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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