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29 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Cremation and Kaddish

Dear Rabbi Simon, A distant elderly Jewish relative died last month and he chose to be cremated. Is it still appropriate to say Kaddish for him? Many thanks, Martin Dear Martin, The sombre and distasteful subject of cremation is discussed (and decried) in the Torah literature. The practice has become very common in non-Orthodox circles, and strenuous efforts are sometimes exerted…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Creation and other Miracles

Dear Rabbi Simon, I hope you had a good Yom Tov. The Sun stood still for Joshua (ch. 10) prolonging the day. Hundreds of years later, the day was shortened for King Chizkiyahu (2 Kings ch. 20). Have these miracles caused observable astronomical effects? Are there any other miracles in Tenach whose effects can be observed today? In reply to…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Kosher Dog Food??

Dear Rabbi Simon, Interesting question from a new client with his puppy… ‘What rules apply to dog food in a strictly kosher home?’ I have always been of the opinion that as it’s the dog that’s eating the food there shouldn’t be an issue, but I think the client has a point about wet, canned food and the storage of…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Life can be Crewel, but is it allowed?

Dear Rabbi Simon Hope you are well.  Just wanted to ask a question to which I think I know the answer but I wanted to make sure! I want to take up embroidery and I am particularly interested in crewel work which is traditionally made from wool on a cloth of linen or one with some linen content. Given this is sha’atnez…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Sinful Thoughts

Dear Rabbi Someone has asked me a quirky Q: If a person eats dairy chocolate cake with a meat meal deliberately (s/he wants to do the wrong thing)… and later finds out the cake was parve…Has that person committed an aveirah (transgression) for eating milk and meat together? Hilary Dear Hilary TY for your idiosyncratic בב”ח [meat with milk] Q:…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Swine Flu: Something to Sniff at?

Dear Rabbi Simon, I’ve just completed 2 flu immunisation forms at school for my children and noticed as I completed the form that in the NB it states the vaccine contains products derived from pigs! Please see a copy of the form attached! I have not handed them back to school yet. Presumably we have to request the alternative which…

26 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Ma’aser Calculation

Dear Rabbi Simon, As your responses are always so helpful I hope you don’t mind if I ask another question regarding ma’aser. I had always thought that one was obligated to take 10% from one’s salary and that is the contribution of ma’aser to make. e.g. say from the £1000 that entered your bank account each month, it would be…

25 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Tefillin: Knot or Not?

Dear Rabbi Simon May I please have your opinion on the single daled vs double daled in the shel Rosh? In my research this appears to be an element on which opinions are near 50/50. Thank you. Regards, Alex Dear Alex It is certainly true that there are divergent minhagim in this. The preferred option is the single dalet, as…

25 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Vegan or Kosher?

Dear Rabbi Simon I came across a rabbi on the internet (that famously unregulated territory) who claims that vegan restaurants do not require kosher certification. I have no way to judge the rabbi’s qualifications or credibility, but his position seems excessively permissive and certainly very convenient. Am I missing something here? A Kosher Traveller Dear Kosher Traveller Funny, you’re the…

25 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Shacharit: Running Late and Catching Up

Dear Rabbi Simon, A quick question for you- based on my experience this morning in shul. If one arrives late and has to choose between davening on his own from start to finish, or joining the tzibur at Borchu (I had my tephillin on and completed all morning blessings as they reached Borchu) and then benefiting from davening Shema/Amidah together with…

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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