Jewish Life

HomeJewish Life
24 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

New Sefer Torah

Dear Rabbi Simon, Our Shul is Modern Orthodox. We are looking at acquiring a new Sefer Torah. My limited understanding is that we have a choice between Ari or Beit Yosef. Which would you recommend for our kehillah? What essentially is the difference? Thanks! Jonathan Dear Jonathan, Go for the Beit Yosef (see Bereshit 41:55). This is the “font” prescribed…

23 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Kosher Invitation?

Hi Rabbi Simon I hope you can advise me. If there are families who invite you to eat and they say they keep kosher at home fully, BUT you know for a fact that they eat out vegetarian/fish etc. are we allowed to eat by them? I’ve been reading about it and read that you should never ask someone about…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Crystal or Occult?

Dear Rabbi Simon I recently bought a couple of necklaces from a lady who does crystal healing. I bought them because they were pretty, and thought of the “healing” properties as just a bit of an added bonus and a nice idea! It occurred to me afterwards to wonder whether it’s OK to wear these from a Jewish perspective? Thanks…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Puppy Love

Dear Rabbi Simon We have recently acquired a (female) dog as a family pet. Our vet has advised us to have her neutered, as is common practice with many household pets (particularly dogs). Is there any objection to this in Jewish law? Caleb Dear Caleb TY for your Q. The simple answer is yes, there is an objection. The Torah…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Sacred Texts, but Surplus to Requirements

Dear Rabbi Simon We have a box of Chumashim (mostly Bereishis) that were cast-offs from one of the Jewish schools (we were able to have them for Elkanah’s bar mitzvah). They were given to us to use/dispose. With a few exceptions they are in pretty bad shape though still usable technically. We’re not sure what to do with them – should they…

22 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Tzedakah Questions

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have some ma’aser queries that I would be grateful if you could help me with. I made a complaint to two separate companies, due to a defect in their products, which made them unusable. (Although the amounts involved are modest, I want to be exacting in the mitzvah, as well as to establish the halakhic principles…

11 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Ownership and Uprooting of a Fruit-bearing Tree

Note: This week’s Parasha (Shofetim) includes the prohibition of cutting down a fruit-bearing tree (Deut. 20:19). The following Q&A from this past winter relates to this subject. Dear Rabbi Simon, Our sycamore tree blew down in a recent storm causing significant damage to our neighbour’s patio.  If our pear tree were to fall down in another storm it would probably…

11 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Close Shave Part II

Hi Rabbi Simon Following on from last week’s “close shave” question. I have heard many different opinions on “some razors” are kosher because they scissors cut while others are not kosher. Is there a clear answer/hechsher that exists on which razor to use from a halachic perspective? Many thanks Grant Dear Grant I sort of expected this question, and you…

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
Events / Calendar

Upcoming Events

Mon, 06/22 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom