Tefillin: Knot or Not?

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Dear Rabbi Simon
May I please have your opinion on the single daled vs double daled in the shel Rosh? In my research this appears to be an element on which opinions are near 50/50. Thank you.
Regards,
Alex

Dear Alex
It is certainly true that there are divergent minhagim in this. The preferred option is the single dalet, as the so-called “double dalet” is based on Kabbalistic sources which seem to diverge from (or expand upon?) the classic halakhah. I am not saying that the double-dalet is not legitimate for those who have such a minhag, however in the first instance I would recommend the classic “single-dalet” model.
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon

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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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