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03 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

Free Will

Dear Rabbi Simon, G-d told Moses that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart. As a result, he did not listen to Moses. Now that there are many wicked people on the earth, does G-d make them like Pharaoh so that they do not choose the path of righteousness? Many thanks, Prittom Dear Prittom Thank you for your question. The answer, according to Maimonides,…

20 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Which Beracha?

Dear Rabbi Simon, If you eat a meal of pasta or cereal, do you say birkat ha-mazon (full grace after meals) afterwards? How do you know if it’s benching (that is, birkat ha-mazon) or beracha me-‘eyn shalosh (the shorter, one-paragraph “condensed” blessing; see Artscroll siddur p. 200)? Baruch Dear Baruch Pasta, ravioli, spaghetti, porridge, many cereals, etc are mezonot before…

07 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

Mincha-Maariv Mash-up

Dear Rabbi Simon, I attended a shiva house and there was a liberal service which may be charitably described as “interesting”. It was more like a sermon where the person leading read out a mash-up of parts of Shema, jumping between Hebrew/English, and then parts of the Amidah which felt so far away from our version with things chopped out…

29 Nov 0Comments 0Likes

Checking Mezuzot

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have heard that mezuzos should be checked twice every 7 years.  I’m certainly happy to do that if it is required.  But just wanted to check – because it seems to me that at least for those that are inside of the house, if they are correctly written then they should pretty much stay that way…

23 Nov 0Comments 0Likes

Oral Law

Dear Rabbi Simon, I was wondering, is it true that the Talmud (which I understand contains the Jewish law) was written down after 0 AD, and that the Jewish law practiced by the Prophet Elisha for example was never written down but he followed the orally preserved Talmud and Jewish law? Thanks Ali *** Dear Ali Thank you for your…

13 Nov 0Comments 0Likes

Electric Shavers

Note: This Q&A derives from the Torah prohibition (Lev. 19:27) for a man to shave his beard (using a blade). However, the Talmud distinguishes between a razor blade and a scissors (the latter is permitted). What about contemporary electric shavers? Read on. Dear Rabbi Simon, Do you have any guidance on which shavers are OK to use, or a list…

08 Nov 0Comments 0Likes

Kosher Haircut

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can you recommend how to get a kosher haircut for a man who is going bald in front of his head and wants to hide it? It seems to me that the type of haircut which is recommended in such cases is associated with the risk of violating the halachot about peyot. Pete Dear Pete, Simplistically, I…

01 Nov 0Comments 0Likes

Attending a Simcha on a Yahrzeit

Dear Rabbi Simon, Am I allowed to attend a simcha on my mother’s yahrzeit?  It’s a Henna of very close family friends. Truthfully, I’m not sure I’m comfortable going anyway – I just wanted to know if it is halakhically allowed. If I were to go, should I refrain from dancing and eating? Many thanks, Hannah Hi Hannah, Strictly speaking…

25 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

War with Hamas & Noachide Laws

Dear Rabbi Simon, Would you please be able to answer a question to a non-Jew about the seven Noahide laws? Firstly, I believe these laws to be true and would bring peace and harmony to the world. I am a believer in non-violence and anti-war. I believe ‘thou shall not kill’. And all killing, if it is done when your…

18 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

Covering Hair after Divorce

Dear Rabbi Simon, I recently got divorced after being married for 4 months. My question is this: Do I still need to cover my hair? If I were to move away from the community I currently live in, where the people do not know I was married, do I still need to cover my hair? May I have my hair…

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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