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13 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Redemption for Dishwasher Error?

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a halachic question: I have a meat Teflon saucepan that by mistake I washed in a dairy dishwasher. Shall I toss it or keep it? Thank you. Suzy Dear Suzy There is no need to discard your saucepan. I would recommend kashering it by filling it near to the top with water then heating it…

04 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Shabbat Candles when my Wife is Away

Dear Rabbi Simon, My wife is temporarily living in Florida. Do I have to light Shabbos candles in New York if my wife lights in Florida? Ira Dear Ira Thank you for your practical question. The simple answer is yes, you should light in NY even though your wife is also lighting Shabbos candles where she is (in Florida). However,…

14 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Cutting Nails During the “Nine Days”

Dear Rabbi Simon, My wife recently asked me if we are allowed to cut our nails during the Nine Days of Av leading to the Fast of Tisha B’Av. I consulted the book Laws of Daily Living: The Three Weeks, Tisha B’Av and Other Fasts by Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen. On p. 37, it says: “All authorities agree that nail…

09 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Photo Taken on Shabbat

Dear Rabbi Simon, A small Shabbat question Shabbat: If a picture was taken by a Jew on Shabbat, is it verboten to enjoy it and share it with other Jews on a week day? Toby Dear Toby, Strictly speaking in most cases this would be allowed, as the photographer may be presumed to have acted out of ignorance of or…

13 May 0Comments 1Like

Shavuot Prayers (Timing)

Dear Rabbi Simon, As Shavuot approaches I have been looking into the issues around early Maariv [ie, before nightfall—close to 10:00pm in London] on the two nights of the festival. It seems to me that there is less of an issue to daven early on the second night, albeit some authorities take a stringent view. For the first night there is…

23 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Slow Cooker on Pesach (Pt 3)

Dear Rabbi Simon I think I asked you about my slow cooker a while ago. I am hoping to use the slow cooker over the chag – it says “don’t use a timer” (but doesn’t say why – so I hope to try using a timer before Pesach to see what happens! If it doesn’t explode, it should be safe!). My question…

17 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Clocks changing to BST on Yom Tov

Dear Rabbi Simon As if Pesach weren’t stressful enough…Britain is also changing the clocks to “spring forward” an hour to BST during First Seder Night! Trying to find the best halakhic response: Change the clocks before Shabbos? Can I change the time on an electric alarm clock on Yomtov? What about a manual clock? The easiest way would be to…

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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