Prayer/Berachot

Remote Amen

Hi Rabbi Ben Gedalya kindly patched me this morning live to hear the Torah reading at Shacharis. Is it OK to answer amen to the birchot ha-Torah etc over the phone as it is in real time or is this not appropriate due to not being physically present? Thanks Shimon Dear Shimon TY for your interesting question. There are different…

Beracha for Gluten-Free Matza

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a box of kosher for Passover Manischewitz gluten free matzo style squares at home. On the box, it says it is not a replacement for seder matzo. It was one of the post-Pesach bargains I picked up this year. Its listed ingredients are potato flour, potato starch, potato flakes, tapioca starch, palm oil, vinegar, egg…

The Power to Bless

Hello Rabbi Simon I am very excited about completing my conversion process through immersing in the mikveh this week. I type that last sentence with so much hakaras hatov [gratitude] that my appointment is going ahead despite the contagion. I was wondering about what I should have in mind during immersion. I understand that the day of conversion is a very…

Remote Minyan

Dear Rabbi Simon, Can a weekday minyan meet remotely, eg via Zoom or similar technology, if all the participants can see one another?  I suspect the answer is no, but it may be an interesting Q&A subject. Kol tuv, Mendy Dear Mendy You are right on both counts: They do not comprise a minyan, and it is an interesting Q&A…

Zoom Minyan

Dear Rabbi Simon When we connect with one another for prayers in a virtual space (e.g. Zoom, Skype, etc.) and we can each see nine other men, why doesn’t it count as a valid minyan? Kind regards Benjy Dear Benjy, TY for your question. The answer is that in order to constitute a quorum (minyan), the 10 men have to…

Leading Kabbalat Shabbat Prayers

Dear Rabbi Simon, What is your opinion on an under-age boy (ie, not yet bar mitzvah) leading the tefillah for Kabbalat Shabbat? Even though it might not be preferable nor encouraged, is there an issue with that? All the best! Justin Dear Justin, TY for your Q. Inasmuch as the Kabbalat Shabbat service is not part of the essential prayers…

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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