Sholom Shuchat
| Rabbi Sholom Shuchat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
November 12, 1984 Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Occupation | Rabbi, Dayan, Toen, Mediator |
| Spouse(s) | Chaya Shuchat |
| Website |
www |
Rabbi Sholom Shuchat (Hebrew: שלום דובער שוחאט; born 1984 in Brooklyn, NY) is an American Rabbi in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and a Posek for Chabad Lubavitch Rabbis worldwide.
In May 2012 he was appointed as a Dayan in the Beth Din of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, a position he currently holds. As of February 26, 2017 he was called to join the Beth Din of the Rabbinical Alliance of America.[1]
In addition to his Rabbinic Judiciary duties, he also lectures in contemporary Halachic issues, specializing in modern technology and innovation as it applies to Jewish Law,[2] as well as an associate editor of The Lubavitcher Rebbe's works.[3]
Education
Shuchat studied in the Yeshiva Gedola Rabbinical College of Greater Miami where he received his BA and MA in Hebrew Letters.
In June 2004, at the age of 19, he received his semicha from Rabbi Dovid Schochet - Chief Rabbi of Toronto and Rabbi Dovid Schmukler - Dean of Kollel Tiferes Menachem in Los Angeles, California.[4]
After pursuing advanced Rabbinic studies, he received Dayanut in 2012[5] from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg - Renowned Posek and Chief Justice of the Rabbinical High Court in Jerusalem, Israel; Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag - Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Chief Justice of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis; Rabbi Yosef Feigelstock - Chief Justice of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rabbi Yoram Ulman - Chief Justice of Sydney, Australia; and Rabbi Yosef Yisroel Eisenberger - Chief Rabbi of New Square.
Public Positions in Halachic Matters
- After a second Measles outbreak in the Orthodox Jewish Community in Brooklyn in 2014 (following an earlier outbreak in 2013[6]), Rabbi Shuchat penned an article staunchly opposing the "Anti-Vaxxers" stating "When someone does an action which can cause death, or even refuses to do an action which can prevent death, he is compared to a murderer".[7] 18 months later the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America joined his call urging parents to vaccinate their children.[8]
- In 2015, when some members of the Crown Heights community called publicly to adopt the Jewish prenuptial agreement,[9] Rabbi Shuchat was one of the rabbis to oppose it, explaining the fallacies with said agreement, and proposing a possible alternative.[10]
- In 2015, when the Orthodox World was introduced to the KosherSwitch innovative electrical light switch as a means to circumvent the prohibition against using electricity on Shabbat, Rabbi Shuchat delivered a class explaining why said invention cannot be used on Shabbat, and was later joined by other renowned Rabbinical figures.[11]
- In 2016, when an Eruv was built around the Crown Heights Jewish community,[12] the local community rabbis attacked the creation of the Eruv prohibiting its creation,[13] and some rabbis even branding those who use the Eruv as not being part of Orthodox Judaism rather being members of Reform Judaism.[14] The only Chabad Rabbi to check the Eruv of Crown Heights and render it permissible was Rabbi Shuchat, who ruled that although it is Kosher, it should not be used until it is modified to satisfy the most stringent opinions.[15]
- In 2017 a new app named "TahorApp" was created with the purpose of enabling women who are Niddah to discreetly send questions to the Rabbis, without the need of meeting the Rabbis in person.[16] A few hours after the launch of the app Rabbi Shuchat released a statement stating that this app "may not be used ... and any Psak (Halachic Ruling) obtained from said app is invalid" until a Rabbi is consulted in person.[17] Later on, four additional Rabbis joined his call for prohibiting said app,[18] and the certifying Rabbi Fishel Jacobs pulled his endorsement from the app.[19]
References
- ↑ "Press Release". Retrieved April 30, 2017.; "The Jewish Voice NY: RAA Observes 1st Yahrzeit of Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Mayan Yisroel: Halacha Series with Rabbi Shuchat (Audio)". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Shlichus K'hilchasa - An encyclopedia of the Rebbe's directives to Shluchim, Long Island 2016". Retrieved May 13, 2017.; "Yein Malchus - The Rebbe's commentaries on Maimonides, Lahak Hanochos, New York 2016". Retrieved January 25, 2017.
- ↑ "Historic Smicha test takes place in Los Angeles, CA". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "3 New Lubavitch Dayanim". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Measles Outbreak Among Members of a Religious Community". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Anti-Vaccine Calls and Halacha". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Statement on Vaccinations from the OU and Rabbinical Council of America". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Will the Halachic Prenup Catch On". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "A Kosher Prenup: Does it Exist?". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "2 Rabbis Prohibit Kosher Switch". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Crown Heights Eruv Is Up!". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Rabbi Osdoba: I Staunchly Oppose Crown Heights Eruv". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Rabbi Heller: Crown Heights Eruv Is Reform Judaism". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Rabbi: Turn It Into a 'Chabad' Eruv". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "TahorApp: Anonymously Send Pictures of your Niddah Questions to a Rav". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Menstruation App Comes Under Fire For ‘Jeopardizing Purity Of Jewish Nation’". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Many Chabad Rabbis Prohibit TahorApp". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Chabad Rabbi Pulls Endorsement from ‘Tahor’ App". Retrieved May 13, 2017.
