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11 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Does Alexa Observe Shabbat?

Dear Rabbi Simon I am teaching a Year 7 class about the festival of Shabbat. A question was asked relating to the use of Alexa. Can Alexa be used during this period to play music? Thank you Colin Dear Colin Thank you for your interesting and practical question. The consensus view is that use of voice-activated electronic devices like Alexa should…

21 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Home Alone on Chanukah

Dear Rabbi Simon If I remember correctly, 1) you should wait until people are around to light Chanukah candles, and 2) if you light alone, you don’t say the berachos (blessings)? Is this correct? Thank you! Dan *** Dear Dan Thank you for your questions, the answers of which require some clarification, as follows: If your lights are visible to passers-by in the…

30 Nov 0Comments 0Likes

Pop Top Shabbat (Opening Cans on Shabbat)

Dear Rabbi Simon What is your view of opening metal beverage cans (beer, soft drinks) on Shabbat? Sara Dear Sara I don’t do it, and we use only bottles of beer at Kesher, not cans, for this reason. However, there are posekim who allow this. Indeed, one can see beverage cans at some fine Shabbos tables. For those who are…

04 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

Laundry on Chol Hamoed

Dear Rabbi Simon Can I wash clothes needed for yom tov on chol hamoed? Thank you Lauren Hi Lauren, Thank you for your question. The simple answer is “no, you may not,” although there are limited circumstances in which this may be allowed. These include: No other clean clothes available. (Although even if this is the case, it is preferable…

28 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

Close Shave?

Contextual note: The questioner is a 17-year old boy, writing on the last day of hol ha-mo’ed Sukkot (Hoshanah Rabbah) Hi Rabbi Simon With regard to shaving, I find it really uncomfortable to sleep with a few days to a week’s stubble and was wondering whether it would be permitted today as I regularly shave erev shabbat and yomtov. Thank…

22 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

Medical Scan in the Days of Awe

Hi Rabbi Simon If you don’t mind I was hoping to ask you a question. Each year my wife Hannah has an important annual medical scan and this year it falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I was curious whether there is a reason to avoid having such medical investigations during this time period? I ask as during other…

24 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Amusement Park on Shabbat

Dear Rabbi Simon Can one go to an amusement park on shabbat if they already paid for the ticket and are walking back and forth to the park? Thanks Sara Dear Sara, As a matter of principle, it is difficult to approve of attending an amusement park on Shabbat, as doing so is not in the keeping of the spirit…

04 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Questions for the Nine Days

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a question about the first 9 days of the month of Av, leading to the fast of Tisha B’Av. Is one allowed to clip his nails during this time? Kind regards Avi Dear Avi Yes, you may. To explain: In general, there are grounds to be stringent during the week in which Tisha B’Av falls,…

27 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Shaving in the 3 Weeks

Background Note: According to Ashkenazi practice, one generally does not shave (or get a haircut, or trim) during the “3 Weeks”, that is, from the Fast of 17 Tammuz until after the Fast of 9 Av. However, in some cases allowance may be made for extenuating circumstances. Dear Rabbi Simon I have a few important meetings at my (long-awaited) new…

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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