Purchasing property in the 9 Days

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Dear Rabbi Simon,
We may have found a property to purchase. The property has tenants in who vacate on Friday 20 July and my lawyers are aiming to complete the purchase on this day. This is of course Erev Tisha B’Av. Would your advice be to complete on this day or to delay, and if so would completing on Monday 23 July be the best bet?
Many thanks,
Sammy

Dear Sammy,
“Losing” a house (being gazumped) is definitely a davar ha-aved (a “lost opportunity” for which one is permitted to engage in commercial activity during the “9 Days”) and therefore strictly speaking you may make such a purchase on 8 Av. However, it is not a propitious time and I would therefore advise that if you feel confident that the transaction can be accomplished on Monday [11 Av] (ie, the day after the Fast, which is postponed this year in any case), go for it.
Behatzlahah!
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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