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09 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

Post Holocaust Tranquility and Ki Tavo Curses

Note: We always read the portion of Ki Tavo on the penultimate Shabbat of the year, so that we do not enter Rosh HaShanah with the harrowing curses ringing in our ears. We present here an interesting Q&A relating to those curses. Dear Rabbi Simon, Please see Dt. 28:65 (towards the end of last week’s Parasha): “And among those nations…

26 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Interest rate blues?

Dear Rabbi Simon, Currently, Muslim bank accounts are the highest interest paying accounts in the UK market by far, what is your view of opening one of these accounts? Thanks and regards, Miriam Dear Miriam An interest-ing question indeed, as they have a similar injunction regarding interest as we do (see this week’s Parasha, Deut. 23:20-21). This is one of…

19 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Remote Minyan

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can a weekday minyan meet remotely, eg via Zoom or similar technology, if all the participants can see one another?  I suspect the answer is no, but it may be an interesting Q&A subject. Kol tuv, Mendy Dear Mendy You are right on both counts: They do not comprise a minyan, and it is an interesting Q&A…

05 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Zoom Minyan

Dear Rabbi Simon When we connect with one another for prayers in a virtual space (e.g. Zoom, Skype, etc.) and we can each see nine other men, why doesn’t it count as a valid minyan? Kind regards Benjy Dear Benjy, TY for your question. The answer is that in order to constitute a quorum (minyan), the 10 men have to…

10 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Yahrzeit Observance

Dear Rabbi, What is the significance of the anniversary of the death (known as yahrzeit, literally “year’s time”) of a parent? David Dear David TY for your Q, which touches on both philosophy and practice (albeit not strictly speaking in the realm of halakhah, Jewish Law). Philosophically, the concept of yahrzeit reflects our belief in the immortality of the soul,…

10 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Yahrzeit Observance #2

Dear R Simon, Following on from last week’s Q&A on the significance of yahrzeit, is there a non-kabbalistically inclined take on this? For example, I recall hearing that kaddish only became associated with mourning in the medieval period. Also the idea that some say kaddish with their own psychological benefit in mind, as opposed to an elevation for the neshamah…

02 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Time for Tallit and Tefillin

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was surprised to read in the KC recently that you recommend waiting until 45 minutes before sunrise for Tallit & Tefillin, not just because this is much later (ie stricter) than other published times for the NW London communities, but also because you yourself use the more commonly accepted 72 minute limit when you begin fasts…

02 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Leading Kabbalat Shabbat Prayers

Dear Rabbi Simon, What is your opinion on an under-age boy (ie, not yet bar mitzvah) leading the tefillah for Kabbalat Shabbat? Even though it might not be preferable nor encouraged, is there an issue with that? All the best! Justin Dear Justin, TY for your Q. Inasmuch as the Kabbalat Shabbat service is not part of the essential prayers…

02 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Bat Mitzvah girls reading from the Torah

Dear Rabbi Simon, What is your take on this whole new feminism drive sweeping across Modern-Orthodox Judaism? It has become popular in my community for Bat Mitzvahs (there’s been a few I know of recently) for the girl to Lein from the Torah at Shabbat Mincha, with the condition of less than 10 men present. They claim that halakhically this…

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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