Refuah Prayers

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Dear Rabbi Simon,
In my Shemoneh Esrei, I add names in for ill people in the Refa’einu prayer. I am unsure as to what really qualifies for inclusion and when you should remove their name from your prayers. So typical examples are – a person who has an ongoing illness that is not life threatening but they could do with a refuah eg Alzheimer’s/ arthritis, etc  What about a family member sick in bed with a common cold- and then similar to my above question, a person who is stable but still recovering from serious surgery?
Thanks
Danny

Dear Danny,
WRT one’s private prayers, even a family member, friend, or for that matter one’s self, who has the flu, cold, or a headache, may reasonably be mentioned in one’s personal prayer for healing. This demonstrates one’s concern for that person, and equally, an awareness that healing comes from Hashem. Similarly, it prompts one to concentrate better on his prayers—or at least that one blessing of the Amidah. So I would say that in all of those examples it would be appropriate to mention the patient’s name. But if time is short, etc, you should not feel delinquent for failing to do so.
I hope this is helpful.
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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