Miscellaneous

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19 May 0Comments 0Likes

Valuable book, questionable source

This Q&A took the form of a text message exchange YHA: Hi Rabbi Simon. I was just recommended this book [Cheshbon HaNefesh] but wondering if the author (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Levin of Satanov) is questionable. I’ve found that he was an early haskalah founder. It seems he was also very down on Chassidim and kabbalah. Rabbi Rashi Simon: True. The…

11 May 0Comments 0Likes

Impact of Exile

Dear Rabbi Simon, I would like to know about the reforms in Jewish culture during the period of the Babylonian Exile. I have read that it was the time when the Hebrews compiled and revised the text of what became the Tanakh. In particular what brought about the rise to prominence of the Rabbis (or Sages) as determinants of Jewish…

05 May 0Comments 0Likes

Raavad of Posquires

Dear Rabbi Simon I noticed you have some lectures on the Meforshim. My question is about the Raavad of Posquieres. Is he recognized as being as great as (or greater than) the Rambam – at least in terms of Talmud/Halacha? With best wishes Shimon Dear Shimon Raavad of Posquires is best remembered for his terse, sometimes almost exasperated-sounding, hasagot (animadversions)…

25 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

“Kvatter” – what do I need to know?

Hi Rabbi, I have been given the honour with Debbie to be Kvatter at a Bris tomorrow. What am I expected to do? And what does the honour entail? Thank you. Regards David Hi David, Kvatter (Kvatterin in the feminine) is the Yiddish term (probably from the old German meaning “in place of the father”) for the woman and man who…

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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