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07 May 0Comments 0Likes

Chess Camp in Church Hall

Dear Rabbi Simon. I have a question regarding a club in church. I’d like to sign Seth up for chess camp, but it looks like it’s inside the church hall. When I asked the organizer about it, here’s what he said: “The Camp is inside the church hall. The church is closed when we hire the premises and the only attending…

07 May 0Comments 0Likes

Mezuzot on the Move?

Dear Rabbi Simon. We are selling our house when we make Aliyah. Our buyers are religious and went as far so as to request a Heter Iska be included in the Contract. My question is what is my obligation re: leaving Mezuzot given that the purchasers are Jewish (and in fact frum)? Thanks Dave Dear Dave, Strictly speaking you must…

05 May 0Comments 0Likes

Gluing a Mezuzah

Dear Rabbi Simon. My new landlord doesn’t allow for any nails to be fastened to the wall or the door post. Is it permissible to attach a mezuzah by glue (if I can find a mezuzah like that)? Steve Dear Steve, Yes. Some mezuzah cases are sold with an adhesive strip on the surface which attaches to the doorpost. You…

05 May 0Comments 1Like

Evening Shema

Dear Rabbi Simon. Do I fulfil my obligation for evening Shema in any way if I say it before nightfall i.e in the early summer Maarivs? I find that in the summer once I’ve davened early Maariv with a minyan– I don’t remember to say Shema again before bed. Thanks Shimon Dear Shimon According to the preponderance of opinions, one…

05 May 0Comments 0Likes

NHS Clinic in a Church

Dear Rabbi Simon I recently found out I am no longer registered with the NHS in my neighbourhood. There is a clinic opposite my work which is very convenient as then I don’t have to miss work. However, the clinic is in the basement of a church and in order to enter it one has to go into the church…

30 Apr 0Comments 2Likes

Moth Deterrent

Dear Rabbi Simon I bought moth stickers, or whatever they are called, not exactly moth balls, but the effect is that they kill moths and their larvae. Having already bought them, I am now wondering if that is halakhically permissible since you are killing an insect? If so, must one remove these devices on Shabbat? The reason I bought them is that…

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…

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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