Holiday Plans: Tefillah in a Chapel

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Dear Rabbi Simon
We are planning to rent a large house with a few families this summer. There is a chapel in the house. Are we permitted to Daven in the chapel?  From what I understand, there are no crosses (Christian icons) in it.
Thanks,
Holly

Dear Holly,
Since the house (stately home/mansion) you are renting is available to the public as a commercial enterprise it would seem that the chapel has been deconsecrated as a place of Christian worship and is now accessible (to the guest/tenant) for any use, sacramental or secular. For this reason, if you would like to do so, there is no halakhic objection to using it for tefillah.
Enjoy your holiday.
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon

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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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