Prayer/Berachot

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…

30 Dec 0Comments 0Likes

The Power to Bless

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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…

22 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

From the Beginning? Interrupting Amida/Shema

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Dear Rabbi Simon If you’re in the middle of the Amida (or Shema) and suddenly feel ill and need to stop or use the facilities, what do you do upon restarting – go back to the beginning or pick up from where you left off? Many thanks Got to Go Dear GG TY for your Q. This is actually a…

19 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Remote Minyan

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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…

05 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Zoom Minyan

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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…

10 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

“Here comes the Sun”— when to daven Shacharit?

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Hi Rabbi Can you recommend a good website with a Luach (calendar) for the latest times for Shema/Amidah throughout the year? Many thanks Paul Hi Paul TY for your practical question. I have an app on my phone (free, but with some advertising) called Simple Luach. Works everywhere in the world (pretty much). IMO the times are halakhically accurate, except…

02 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Leading Kabbalat Shabbat Prayers

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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…

25 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Shacharit: Running Late and Catching Up

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Dear Rabbi Simon, A quick question for you- based on my experience this morning in shul. If one arrives late and has to choose between davening on his own from start to finish, or joining the tzibur at Borchu (I had my tephillin on and completed all morning blessings as they reached Borchu) and then benefiting from davening Shema/Amidah together with…

11 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

Should a Convert say the 2nd of the 15 Morning Blessings?

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Dear Rabbi Simon What’s the halakhah re a ger tzedek [convert to Judaism] saying the brocha of shelo asani goy (“who has not made me a gentile”, Artscroll siddur p. 18)? Can/should s/he recite this blessing? I note that most authorities don’t seem to like the idea (as strictly speaking it is untrue). On the other hand the B’er Heteiv…

11 May 0Comments 0Likes

Davening Catch Up

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Dear Rabbi Simon, If the minyan davens too fast for me and I have to prioritise my Pesukei D’zimra in order to time it that I say Shema and Amidah with the minyan, when is best to catch up the parts of P’sukei D’zimra? Can I do this during repetition of Amidah? Thanks Ratz K’Tzvi Hi Zvi Good question. The…

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

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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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