Halacha

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…

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was wondering if you could please recommend a book that addresses the concept of the spiritual “economics” of Mitzvot, that is, how to gain merit in Hashem’s eyes? I listened to a rabbi yesterday and he mentioned Ishmaelites as having the merits of circumcision, tefilah etc. [ie, he was circumcised, and his name is associated with…

Note: This Q&A derives from the Torah prohibition (Lev. 19:27) for a man to shave his beard (using a blade). However, the Talmud distinguishes between a razor blade and a scissors (the latter is permitted). What about contemporary electric shavers? Read on. Dear Rabbi Simon, Do you have any guidance on which shavers are OK to use, or a list…

Dear Rabbi Simon, Am I allowed to attend a simcha on my mother’s yahrzeit?  It’s a Henna of very close family friends. Truthfully, I’m not sure I’m comfortable going anyway – I just wanted to know if it is halakhically allowed. If I were to go, should I refrain from dancing and eating? Many thanks, Hannah Hi Hannah, Strictly speaking…