kiddush

No Wine for Seder

Dear Rabbi Simon My friends and I were having an interesting conversation, but we couldn’t come to any conclusive answers. What would happen if one was unable to acquire wine on Pesach? How would they make kiddush? Would they be forced to make kiddush on matzah – and thus change the order of the seder? Or, would they make kiddush…

May I recite Havdalah on Grapes?

Dear Rabbi Simon I was looking at the sugar content of the grape juice I used to say Havdalah and was wondering if there is a healthier alternative.  I am reluctant to use wine as I drive after Shabbat.  If I can say Havdalah on grape juice, why can’t I say it on grapes? Similar question for Kiddush and Seder…

Small Succah, Many Guests

Dear Rabbi Simon, Our succa only seats 3-4 people but we’ve enthusiastically invited a couple of people ‘too many’ for one of the meals. On a practical level, what can we do without having to disinvite the ‘extras’, which would not be very nice? If I’m not mistaken, the succa obligation is really only for the men.  Would it be OK…

Questions & Answers
this week

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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