Pesach

Dear Rabbi Simon, I hope you don’t mind – I have a question for Pesach.  Are you able to buy frozen vegetables from a supermarket? Many thanks, Perri Hi Perri Generic (ie, unsupervised) frozen vegetables should be avoided. This is because many factories use starch or citric acid during processing, and some process chametz products on the same lines. So…

Dear Rabbi Simon Our friends are away over Pesach and have offered us their house to stay in during that time. They have said they’ll do a basic cleaning, but not the counters (kitchen won’t be properly Pesach cleaned/kashered). Are we able to stay there over Pesach? They’ll be selling their chametz. Do we need to ensure they sell only their…

Dear Rabbi Simon As Pesach approaches, I find myself overwhelmed and bamboozled every year regarding the Halachot of cleaning. Some public websites are too machmir (stringent) and some don’t provide any practical guidance. For instance, some say you don’t need to clean toys/clothes, others say you must and some say nothing at all! With young kids at home, I find…

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…

Good morning, Rabbi Simon Sorry to trouble you. I can’t remember if we are allowed to use bags of pre-cut vegetables from quality retailers such as Marks & Spencer.  I obviously check them accordingly. I just can’t remember if we are allowed them for Pesach Perry Hi Perry Thank you for your practical question. The pitfall with these lovely pre-cut…

Hi Rabbi Simon Is it a problem to leave chametz in the wheelie bins before Pesach since the bins will only be collected once Pesach has begun? Binyamin Hi Binyamin Since the bins are the property of the Council, once you put chametz there it can be considered out of your possession. However, Barnet Council is also providing a special…

Dear Rabbi Simon, Is sugared cocoa powder, such as Cadbury’s, Kosher for Pesach? Is it like coffee or tea? Many thanks, Peter Dear Peter, Cocoa with sugar requires Pesach supervision. The US sources say that domestically produced plain cocoa powders are OK, but not from Europe! The LBD also does not approve standard cocoa powder for Pesach use. This is…

Hi Rabbi Simon I need to sell my chametz over to you, but I have a few questions just to make sure I am properly doing it. I live in a flat share and I have chametz in cupboards, fridge, freezer and some whisky in a separate cupboard and some bottles in my bedroom. I will be leaving for Pesach…

Dear Rabbi Simon, We’re beginning our Pesach prep and have a few questions; I hope you can help! 1. How does one kasher a gas-fired barbecue? 2. Does one need to kasher an electric or manual coffee bean grinder? 3. We have a new (very hot) Shabbat platta (hot plate, popular in Israel, albeit likely made in China) – which…