Halacha

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can my wife call my parents by their first names? That’s how their other daughters-in-law refer to them, but none of these are halakhically meticulous. Please advise if this is permitted. Thanks Moshe Hi Moshe Thank you for your practical and sensitive question. There is indeed an obligation to honour one’s in-laws, as a (rabbinic) derivative of…

Dear Rabbi Simon, We recently bought a patio lemon tree.  It is a not a full-size tree and will not be planted in the ground. How many years do I have to wait before I can use the lemons?  Is the halacha different because it is in a plant pot rather than a tree which is planted in the ground?…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was recently reminded of the stunning beauty of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the Mesa Verde and, of course, the Grand Canyon. Are there any halachic concerns or limitations in visiting these landscapes given their significance to our Native compatriots, who consider some of these natural wonders as sacred ground? Manny Hi Manny Thank you for…

Note: Here is a 21st-century question from a pharmacist… Dear Rabbi Simon Is it halachically a problem for me to dispense/deal with prescriptions for ‘transgender’ medication or medication for these operations? I’m seeing more and more prescriptions for this. Thanks Kemi Hi Kemi Thank you for your interesting and contemporary question. This is allowed (even if it is distasteful) for…

Dear Rabbi Simon Miriam has a music exam coming up and the location options are all churches. Is this a problem? I assume that it would be in a side room rather than the sanctuary itself. There are a series of students taking the exam in successive 15-minute intervals. Many thanks, Yocheved Dear Yocheved If other accessible options are not…

Dear Rabbi Simon My father passed away and I have been tasked with disposal or allocation of his belongings. I know we are not supposed to use the shoes of the deceased. But what about the clothes? Can we use them? Separately (but a related question), is it appropriate to have a shabbat guest during the week of shiva? Thanks,…

Dear Rabbi Simon Can you let me know if wristwatches are allowed? Do many Hassidic Jews wear them? Many thanks Shimon Dear Shimon Thank you for your question. Wristwatches are certainly allowed and are widely worn by religious Jews, Hassidic and others. There is an outlying view that they should be avoided by men due to the possible association with women’s adornments…

Dear Rabbi Simon My neighbour’s apple tree overhangs my garden. We have agreed for my gardener to cut down the branches on my side in order to replace the broken fence between the gardens. However, I am concerned about the halakhic permissibility of doing so. Am I right that the Torah forbids destroying fruit-bearing trees. (But my gardener is not Jewish.)…

Dear Rabbi Simon, When a woman is offered a handshake by a man in a professional setting, are there ever circumstances that would override the prohibition with regards to touching ? For example, if the male in question has just suffered something of an embarrassing nature and then proceeds to extend his hand to a female – would she be…

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a few questions regarding tzeniut: At what age is a girl not allowed to sing in front of an uncle, nephew, cousin, or other non-related man? At what age does a girl need to cover her feet and legs? Is a woman allowed to walk around with the front part of her hair exposed a…