Jewish Life

HomeJewish Life
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…

29 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Milky Spoon for Chicken Soup

Dear Rabbi Simon I came into the kitchen after Shabbos (having read in the weekly Torah portion for the day about not mixing meat and milk [Ex. 23:19]) and found my youngest eating hot chicken soup in a meaty bowl with a milk spoon (a stainless steel spoon with enamel handle). Yikes! Please advise if either can be salvaged. Kathy…

29 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Washing hands in the morning and at other times

Dear Rabbi Simon I may have a misunderstanding of netilat yadayim /asher yatzar process. Am I right in saying that we only say ‘al netilat yadayim’ together with asher yatzar, in the morning upon 1st going to lavatory? Through the rest of the day, after using the lavatory, one would wash (without saying al netilat yadayim) and then say the…

29 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Kissing the Mezuzah (Coronavirus)

Dear Rabbi Simon My family have asked about the practice of kissing the mezuzah, in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. What are your thoughts on this? Many thanks in advance. Malka Dear Malka TY for your question. The Israeli Chief Rabbi David Lau has ruled/advised that one should refrain from kissing the mezuzah due to the threat of COVID-19. His…

16 Nov 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…

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