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01 May 0Comments 0Likes

Mezuzot

Dear Rabbi Simon Can someone who is not Jewish handle mezuzot as in removing them carefully from the doorposts? We are out of the country and just wondered if it is an issue. Many thanks, Shevi Hi Shevi Thank you for your question. Under the circumstances, if the mezuzot are in their cases, they may be carefully removed and stored by a decorator or similar.…

27 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

“Kosher Handshake”

Dear Rabbi Simon, When a woman is offered a handshake by a man in a professional setting, are there ever circumstances that would override the prohibition with regards to touching ? For example, if the male in question has just suffered something of an embarrassing nature and then proceeds to extend his hand to a female – would she be…

13 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Core Beliefs of Judaism

Dear Rabbi Simon As head of the Jewish affinity group at a major national charity, I will be asked at a forum, “What are the Core Beliefs of Judaism?” I plan to give the answer below.  What do you think? Thanks and regards, Alex [The answer which appears below reflects Rabbi Simon’s editing of Alex’s proposed response.] Dear Alex Nice…

06 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Studying Talmud

Dear Rabbi Simon I don’t know if I am studying the Talmud correctly or doing something wrong. For example, I have read Ch. 2 of tractate Avodah Zarah. It may be my ignorance, but I did not really get anything out of it. Should I be doing something after I have read it? I do not know if the English…

21 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Kashrut Question

Dear Rabbi Simon Can you please tell me what happens if by accident one drinks chicken soup from a milky bowl using a milky spoon or from a milky bowl using a meaty spoon? Many thanks, Sammy Dear Sammy Thank you for your question. This is actually rather complicated, as there are multiple variables to be considered, including the material of the bowl,…

14 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Retribution

Dear Rabbi What punishment can my parents face for neglecting me for decades? What punishment can my cousin face for treating me with extreme cruelty and indecency and thus ruining my life? I would love to see justice and the people responsible for ruining my life pay a price for what they have done to me. Thank you for replying.…

07 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Negative Commandments

Dear Rabbi Simon, I notice in the Bible the terms “I command” and “I forbid” are mentioned numerous times. What is the difference between not doing something you are commanded and doing something you are forbidden. Especially in terms of punishment. Many thanks, Barri Dear Barri The phrases you cite actually do not appear in the Torah in the original…

30 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Relative Value of Mitzvot

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was wondering if you could please recommend a book that addresses the concept of the spiritual “economics” of Mitzvot, that is, how to gain merit in Hashem’s eyes? I listened to a rabbi yesterday and he mentioned Ishmaelites as having the merits of circumcision, tefilah etc. [ie, he was circumcised, and his name is associated with…

10 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Techelet

Dear Rabbi Simon, The third paragraph of the Shema commands us to place a thread of techeilet on each corner of tzitzit (Num. 15:38). So why don’t we find at least one string with a light blue dye on all tzitziot? These days, as far as I can tell, most tzitzit are all white. Why don’t we dye one strand…

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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