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30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Response to Ramban’s Question on Rashi

Dear Rabbi Simon, In the week’s Parashah (Chayei Sarah), Rashi on Gen. 24:8 (based on Kiddushin 61b) says that if the woman doesn’t want to come back with Eliezer he is absolved from the oath and can take a wife for Isaac from the daughters of Aner, Eshkol or Mamre.  Ramban says this can’t be the case as they were…

30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Tefillin Questions

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a couple of questions regarding my tefillin. I have lost the black box that goes above my hand tefillin. Is that a problem? Also, how often should one have his tefillin checked? Many thanks, Jeff Dear Jeff, Black box covering: best to replace this. Ask the Sofer down the road from Torah Treasures if he can…

30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

What’s in a Name?

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can you shed some light on the two names Jacob and Israel, and why the Torah seems to switch frequently between them? For example 42:29 “They came to Jacob Their father …… 42:36 “Their Father Jacob said to them…… 42:37 “Then Reuben told his Father ……. 43:3  “But Judah told him…… 43: 6 “Then Israel said …….…

30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Organ Donation

This text-message exchange relates to  ‘Max and Keira’s Law‘, intended to generate more organs for donation, in accordance with which the law in the UK is changing in Spring 2020 to “presumed consent”. Dear Rabbi Simon, It seems there is a controversy in organ donation. [A prominent rabbi has issued a ruling that halakhah requires one to “opt-out”.] Here is…

30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Berries & Bugs

Dear Rabbi Simon, Is it okay to eat blueberries and stawberries etc in England? If there is a bug problem with them, how do I check them? Helen Hi Helen TY for your question via our website. Blueberries and strawberries are quite different from one another insofar as infestation is concerned. Blueberries are often free of insects. Buy good quality…

30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Borei Isvei Besamim

Dear Rabbi Simon, On what does one say “bore mini asavim”? Many thanks, Rose Dear Rose, Do you mean borei isvei besamim? Some flowers, mint, new-mown hay, herbs, etc. Maybe cannabis, but is it aromatic? (I don’t think it is.) However, for Havdalah we always say the generic minei besamim. Best wishes Rabbi Rashi Simon

30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Blessing on Survival

Dear Rabbi Simon, What is the bracha you can give to a Holocaust survivor? Haim Dear Haim Difficult to say as a general rule, as every case is different, including also the individual’s relationship with Judaism and religion as a whole. But I would think something along the lines of: Your life is a testimony to the resilience of the…

30 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Sex within Marriage

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a halachic question regarding marriage and, in particular, sex. I simply want to know whether a wife is obliged to have relations with her husband, in the same way that a man is obliged to? We learn [in this week’s parasha—ed.] that a man must provide his wife with things like clothes, a home, sustenance…

29 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Women in Song

Dear Rabbi Simon I am aware of the prohibition of a woman (or adolescent girl?) singing in the presence of men. [Ed. note: Although technically the prohibition relates to the man who is listening/enjoying the woman’s singing voice, she may be regarded as facilitating the transgression.] My question is, does this prohibition apply also to a woman singing in the…

29 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Organ Donation

Dear Rabbi Simon Members of Kesher have been registering to opt out of organ donation should one chas ve-shalom die with good working organs, as it is contrary to Jewish practice. However, should your organ go directly to saving a life won’t that have bigger benefit for you in the World to Come as I remember a passage in tractate…

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

Tue, 05/5 Whole day
Lag BaOmer
Mon, 05/11 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Mon, 05/18 8:00 PM
Talmud with Rashi via Zoom
Thu, 05/21 Whole day
Erev Shavuot
Fri, 05/22 Whole day
First Day Shavuot