charity

Ma’aser Question

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a ma’aser question if you don’t mind please. If one makes a donation to a charity on the occasion of a simcha or birthday and to mark this the charity sends out a certificate to the person in whose honour the donation has been made, can this donation still be counted towards ma’aser money, even…

Tzedakah Calculation

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a question regarding giving charity. If I had committed to giving a set amount each month to charity and I decide to give this charity through a service like https://achisomoch.org/, where they take 5% comission for the use of their very good service, surely it is up to me to give an additional 5% as…

Questions & Answers
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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
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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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