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14 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Remember my Soul

Dear Rabbi Simon, Before Shavuot I lit yahrzeit candles for my parents as well as one for my boyfriend who passed away 2 years ago. My parents’ candles lasted exactly 24 hours but my boyfriend’s candle lasted 28 hours. Does this mean anything as the 3 candles were all lit at the same time? I keep thinking my boyfriend wasn’t ready…

07 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Prayer or Prison?

Dear Rabbi Simon, Should the mitzvah of prayer in a minyan be canceled at a time of danger of being in a dangerous place or being persecuted by non-Jewish authorities, for example, going to prison? This means a danger that may come true (and many people, not only Jews, take it seriously), but it may not happen either. Eli Dear…

31 May 0Comments 0Likes

Praying for Recovery from Illness

Dear Rabbi Simon, Could I have your thoughts please on how long one must keep names on davening lists for? I have several names of holim that aren’t recent, and I have no way of knowing if they still need my tefillot. Do you think I should continue to mention them in my prayers? Many thanks in advance. Lisa Dear Lisa, Thank…

24 May 0Comments 0Likes

Christian Torah student: To Teach or not to Teach?

Introductory Note: Jewish Law (halakhah) generally prohibits teaching Torah to one who is not Jewish. (Unless s/he has been formally accepted as a candidate for conversion under the auspices of a qualified Beth Din.) Yet, clarifying the errors/distortions of Christianity, for example, may be permitted, as every person is entitled to learn how to live by the Noachide laws (which…

17 May 0Comments 0Likes

Age Ranges in the Torah

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was wondering what is the significance of the different age ranges that the Torah addresses in the course of the book of Bamidbar (Numbers). Last week, the Levi’im were considered for service from ages 20 to 50. The previous week, the Levi’im were counted but only from ages 30 to 50. This week only the people…

10 May 0Comments 0Likes

Shemita Question

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a shemita question: I accidentally bought a bunch of Israeli basil which is now in my fridge. What should I do with it? Many thanks Rosemary Dear Rosemary, Thank you for your question. Basil is subject to the law of sefichin, which essentially means one should not eat it, as produce of the field (as opposed…

19 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Le’Chaim! (Guarding Your Health)

Dear Rabbi Simon, I am learning in depth about the mitzvah of health and how the great rabbis and leaders (Rambam, Chafetz Chaim and others) focused on guarding their own health and spoke about this to their students and encouraged them to have a healthy lifestyle. Here is my question: From my personal experience, I do not see this mitzvah (of guarding…

22 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Ma’aser Questions

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a couple of ma’aser [charity tithe] questions if you don’t mind helping me with, please. My brother gave me £100 as a birthday present recently. Do I need to deduct ma’aser from this? Also, is one able to give a donation from a salary that one has not been paid yet? As in, may I…

15 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Mix and Match in the Kitchen!

Note: This week’s Parasha (Mishpatim) contains the first of three mentions in the Torah of the prohibition of mixing milk and meat (Ex. 23:19). Dear Rabbi Simon I came into the kitchen after Shabbos and found my youngest eating hot chicken soup with a milk spoon (a stainless steel spoon with enamel handle) in a meaty bowl. Yikes! Please advise…

09 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Events of Mount Sinai (Parashat Yitro)

Dear Rabbi Simon I’m struggling to understand Exodus Chapter 20 and the events at Mount Sinai. I’d appreciate guidance on this subject to help me better understand the text. My issue comes from the shift from the 1st person to the 3rd person being used – I’ve used the Chabad English online torah as reference. I notice that vv. 2-6…

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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