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02 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

School Project on Judaism

Note: This question was submitted by three students at an exclusive public school. Future influencers? Who can say? Dear Rabbi Simon We are doing a project on Judaism for school. We were wondering about your opinion surrounding the following questions: How internally diverse is Judaism (eg. race, sexuality, gender)? How much does Judaism evolve and change in the modern day?…

23 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Kosher Kitchen Upgrade

Dear Rabbi Simon We need to replace our cooker (oven and stove top), and I was wondering what the best options are from a kashrut perspective. I know a self-cleaning oven is useful for Pesach, but is a catalytic liner acceptable (as opposed to pyrolytic)? I understand that with pyrolytic, the grease builds up on the coating, and gets burned…

16 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Praying or Paying

Dear Rabbi Simon Do we regard it as theft if I run into a shop and I don’t pay for parking meter? I guess the risk of a large fine could also carry its own punishment, but if I ‘get away with it’ and I don’t get a fine then do we regard this halachically or even morally as a…

09 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Glass Challah board

Dear Rabbi Simon Does a glass challah board require tevillah [immersion in a mikveh, as is generally required for metal and glass utensils]? Thank you Chana Hi Chana Yes it does, but I would advise without a berachah. In many cases, such an item comes from Israel and may well be Jewish-made (in which case tevillah is not required). But…

02 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Ma’aser Question

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a ma’aser question if you don’t mind please. If one makes a donation to a charity on the occasion of a simcha or birthday and to mark this the charity sends out a certificate to the person in whose honour the donation has been made, can this donation still be counted towards ma’aser money, even…

26 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Hebrew Slaves

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can you please explain why in Ancient Israel Hebrew slaves were freed in the 7th year (Exodus 21: 2, Deuteronomy 15:12-18) but Gentile slaves were not freed (Leviticus 25: 44-46)? Many thanks, Salvador Dear Salvador As is well-known, slavery was de regueur in the ancient world, and servitude was generally for life. Indeed, it was passed down…

19 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

New Cooker Advice (follow-up)

Dear Rabbi Simon, In a recent Ask the Rabbi, you said that you recommend a pyrolytic oven for Pesach purposes.  Any other halachic questions to bear in mind when buying an oven? Thank you Owen Dear Owen Thank you for your question. The properties of a pyrolytic oven are certainly useful for Pesach (or other) kashering needs, and the catalytic…

12 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

The blessing of “ha-Gomel”

Note: The Mishnah states that one who “descends to the sea” or survives another life-threatening situation, should recite a special blessing of thanksgiving (see Artscroll siddur p. 444), known as ha-Gomel. This blessing is generally recited at the time of the public reading of the Torah. Dear Rabbi Simon, I had a medical emergency a few hours ago. Thank G-d…

05 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

New Cooker Advice

Dear Rabbi Simon, We need to replace our cooker (oven and stove top), and I was wondering what the best options are from a kashrut perspective. I know a self-cleaning oven is useful for Pesach, but is a catalytic liner acceptable (as oppose to pyrolytic). I understand that with pyrolytic, the grease builds up on the coating, and gets burns…

22 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Biblical Elders of Israel

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was wondering, besides Abraham & Moses, what are the names of others that would be considered “elders”? Many thanks, Danny Dear Danny, Thank you for your question. I am not certain of the context of your question, but if you refer to the Elders of Israel mentioned in Ex. 4:29, it would seem that we do not know…

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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