Moving House during the month of Av

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We are buying a house which is in a chain. This means that we’re ready to sell and to buy, but the people who are selling to us are buying their house from a family and they said they would be able to move out only on Monday 16 July, which is during the 9 Days (of mourning) in Av.
Is it permissible to move to a new home during Av?
Zehava

Dear Zehava,
You may certainly move after 9 Av, ie from the 23rd July onward. Before that is not recommended both for reasons of “joy” and as an inauspicious time. (Not that we necessarily believe in that, but just to be on the safe side…Like the Jewish housewife said, “they say that housework won’t kill you, but why take a chance?”) Nevertheless, if your buyers need access to your home before the 23rd, and you therefore need a place to live, you may certainly move home/complete the transaction at any time (hopefully not on the Fast itself). From my experience of the speed and efficiency of these kinds of transactions, you will be doing well to do the deal/move by the 23rd!
Best wishes and kind regards
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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