Jonathan Muskat
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Jonathan Muskat
The Blogs

Jonathan Muskat

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Jul 19, 2018, 4:55 PM
Relating to the five historical events of Tisha B’Av in 2018
I was sitting with someone the other day who told me that he didn’t “feel” Tisha B’Av.  He would recite kinot at night and then afterwards he would watch a movie or listen to music because the destruction of...
Jul 12, 2018, 9:27 PM
No Barbecuing or Swimming: What’s With All These Nine Days Customs?
Summer is a great time for families to spend time together. We take day trips, family vacations and host family barbecues together, but we all have to beware “The Nine Days.” No swimming, no excessive simcha, no meat and wine during...
Jul 5, 2018, 9:00 PM
Freeing Agunot by Annulling Marriages: Publicize the Rationale for the Ruling!
On June 5th, The Times of Israel reported that a private rabbinical court headed by Rabbi Daniel Sperber annulled the marriage of a woman, Mrs. Tzviya Gorodetsky, who was an agunah for 23 years.  One of the primary arguments...
Jun 26, 2018, 8:28 AM
Message to our Graduates: It’s All About Relationships
The following is a letter that I wrote to our community's graduates: Dear Graduates, As you celebrate your accomplishments and achievements and you venture out into the next stage of your lives, I’d like to share with you some thoughts that...
Jun 20, 2018, 7:03 PM
The OU, the RCA and Political Issues of the Day: Please, Let’s Be Consistent
“The OU should stay out of politics!  They should stick to Kashrut!”  That was the call from many in the Jewish news media and on social media when the Orthodox Union honored Attorney General Jeff Sessions at its annual...
Jun 14, 2018, 9:52 PM
FitBit, Alexa and the future of electricity in Halacha
A few weeks ago, I delivered a shiur in my shul entitled, “Fitbit, Alexa and the Future of Electricity in Halacha.”  We first discussed whether one may wear a FitBit on Shabbat, if automatic displays, alarms and alerts are...
Jun 5, 2018, 12:27 AM
A Tribute to Rav Moish and Sondra Gottesman
The following is the drasha that I delivered this past Shabbat which was a tribute to Rav Moish and Rebbetzin Sondra Gottesman for their decades of inspirational dedication to our Oceanside community: In the middle of the parsha, Moshe Rabbenu...
May 31, 2018, 8:56 AM
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A Torah Perspective on Gun Control
Illustrative photo of a gun. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
What do Jewish texts and rabbinic authorities have to say about gun control? Quite a lot
May 23, 2018, 10:06 PM
A Theological Perspective of the Future in a World of Automation
In September 2013, two Oxford researchers published a study entitled, “The Future of Employment,” in which they surveyed the likelihood of different professions being taken over by computer algorithms within the next 20 years, and they estimated that 47...
May 16, 2018, 12:02 AM
Featured Post
Politics from pulpit: Should I publicly thank President Trump in shul?
US President Donald Trump in a video message shown at the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. (Screen capture: JW Player)
Synagogue rabbis aim above the political fray, but a careful expression of gratitude shouldn't bother anyone, right?
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About Me
Jonathan Muskat is the Rabbi of the Young Israel of Oceanside.