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19 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Tachanun

Dear Rabbi Simon Quick question. I noticed no-one put their head down yesterday during tachanun when we davened it the front room at Kesher and I wondered why? Is one considered as being in the presence of a Sefer Torah,  if he is on shul premises? Many thanks, Tanchum Dear Tanchum The Kiddush room at Kesher is not considered the…

05 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Gabbai’s Dilemma

Dear Rabbi Simon My dilemma of the day at Shacharit: Dan and Stan both had yahrzeit on Monday. With a kohen present, there was only one “Yisrael” Aliyah up for grabs between the two of them—each of whom was quite keen to have it. I was unsure how to manage the call ups, and how to balance halakhah vs minhag…

25 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Shoes of Deceased

Dear Rabbi Simon My beloved aunt recently passed away. She loved to shop and buy herself beautiful clothes and accessories and the family gifted me a pair of her shoes! My understanding is that according to Jewish practice, I cannot wear them. What can I do with them? From my research, I see the custom/restriction (superstition?) can be interpreted in…

18 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Toothless?

Dear Rabbi Simon In present day Judaism can I request a kofer payment for an actual violation of Ex. 21:24-25 & Lev. 24:19-21 by a care provider that resulted in complete teeth loss? Thanks, Sheina Hi Sheina, I am sorry to hear about a case of “complete teeth loss.” A tooth is very easy to take for granted unless and…

05 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Church Music?

Dear Rabbi Simon Miriam has a music exam coming up and the location options are all churches. Is this a problem? I assume that it would be in a side room rather than the sanctuary itself. There are a series of students taking the exam in successive 15-minute intervals. Many thanks, Yocheved Dear Yocheved If other accessible options are not…

29 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Pardes

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a question about the idea of Pardes (literally “orchard”) as an acronym for the different interpretations, or layers of meaning, to the Torah: Peshat, remez, derash and sod. What is the source for this concept? I had thought it was Rabbeinu Bachye (b. Asher,14th c. Catalonia), however, in the introduction, Rabbeinu Bachye talks about the path…

15 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Women & Pre-Dawn Prayer

Note: The questioner lives in a city where sunrise is as late as 08:44am (in early January). Dear Rabbi Simon I have a question. During the winter I daven before the halahic time because I can’t pray after the kids get up, I can’t go to shul (like my husband – as women don’t go in the morning), I’m not…

08 Jan 0Comments 1Like

Culinary Vogue (Kefir)

Dear Rabbi Simon My cousin gave me some kefir grains that he had been using with regular milk. 1. Any issue re kefir grains kashrut? 2. If we now use them with kosher supervised milk will the kefir we produce be chalav Yisrael ? Or is it (the same as with yogurt) forever chalav stam? Many thanks, Malka Dear Malka…

01 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Hairdresser

Dear Rabbi Simon I’m sending my teenage daughter for a haircut (wash, cut and dry). The male hairdressers are cheaper than the female hairdressers. Is it better for her to have lady hairdresser or is it OK for her to have a male hairdresser? Thank you! Harriet Dear Harriet Thank you for your question. It is preferable for your daughter…

17 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Kitchen Crisis! Milky Pan for Chicken

Dear Rabbi Simon By accident I used a milky frying pan to fry chicken – can it be kashered? Thanks Olivia Hi Olivia Yes, your pan can be koshered. Clean it, leave it for 24 hours, then kasher via hag’alah (purging): Place it on the stove top flame. Fill most of the way with hot water from the kettle. As…

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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