MyLife: Chassidus Applied

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:What should our focus be at this time of year as we transition from Cheshvan to Kislev?  Kinus HaShluchim What lessons can each of us learn from the international gathering of Shluchim? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? How did Isaac and Rebecca – tzaddikim of the highest order – give birth to Esau? Did Esau have any redeeming qualities? Why does the Torah tell us that Esau was covered in hair?  What is the significance of Jacob being born grasping Esau's heel, to the point that he is named after that fact; imagine someone being called by the name "heel"! Why are we told about the three wells that Isaac dug? Why was it so important for Jacob to be blessed by Isaac, to the extent that they needed to deceive him to receive those blessings? Are all blessings fulfilled? What role do they play? How should we react to the election results? What was the Rebbe's attitude to politicians who were hostile to Jews and Israel? Rosh Chodesh Kislev What is the story of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, how the Rebbe recovered miraculously from a heart attack? How do we apply this to our lives? What story from the Zohar's introduction did the Rebbe refer to regarding his recovery? How can we apply this story to post-Gimmel Tammuz?  Toldos Chayei Sarah (follow-up): Eliezer  Elections 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:What should our focus be at this time of year? How do we find inspiration when we don't feel uplifted from above? What can we learn from the "lonely" month of Cheshvan? What can I do about my intense loneliness? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? Why is the chapter describing Sarah's passing called "the life of Sarah"?   What caused Sarah's death? Why would anyone cause Sarah grief by telling her that her son Isaac was to be sacrificed at the Akeidah? If G-d promised Abraham the entire Land of Israel, why did he have to purchase the cave of Machpelah for 400 silver shekels? What were our patriarch Isaac's main contributions? What was it about Eliezer's prayer that merited an immediate response? What can we learn from that?  Who was Eliezer? Was he Og, King of Bashan? Was Abraham the pioneer of discovering the Unified Field Theory? How did Abraham perform the mitzvah of remembering the Egyptian exodus? What's the oldest age someone can get a bris? Is the promise “I will bless those who bless you” meant to be understood literally? I was shocked to hear you actually publicly share your annual income. Can you explain your thinking? When people hear how much you earn, will that not deter them from donating to your cause? How do we develop a healthy relationship with money? What will we do once money becomes unnecessary? How can I overcome my resistance to fundraising? Chayei Sarah Abraham Are we living in the Biblical Sodom?   Do we have a healthy attitude toward money? 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:What should our focus be at this time of year?   What should we do when we don't feel inspired? What great things are accomplished through self-generated effort? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? Can we view Sarah's laughter when she heard that she would bear a child in a positive way? Are the problems caused today by Arabs/Muslims a continuation of Hagar and Ishmael being sent away from Abraham's home? How could Abraham, a merkavah to G-d's will, challenge G-d for wanting to destroy Sodom? Was it inappropriate of Abraham to pray for Sodom? What does it mean when G-d says "I will descend now and see" if Sodom has sinned – isn't G-d omnipresent and omniscient? Why did the residents of Sodom mistreat travelers?  Why doesn't G-d destroy other wicked cities? Why did Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt? How do we explain the strange story of the Akeidah? Why didn't Isaac resist? Can you present a short biography of the Rebbe Rashab? How do we explain the Tzemech Tzedek's response that Abraham earned G-d's revelation due to his circumcision – didn't G-d reveal Himself to Abraham earlier as well? Vayeira  Chof Cheshvan Can we say that Europe is suffering its fate due to its mistreatment of Jews, as G-d told Abraham, "Those that bless you shall be blessed"?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:Zayin Cheshvan What happened on this day and what lessons do we learn from it? What should our focus be during this time of the year? What are ways we can express in today's day and age a similar level of Ahavas Yisroel as was manifest on Zayin Cheshvan? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? Why does the story of Abraham begin with Lech Lecha? What was the bris bein ha’besarim? Why is this type of covenant not practiced today? What is the significance of the letter Hei added to Abraham and Sarah’s names? Is there a connection between Abraham and Sarah not having a child until after Abraham was circumcised? Why don’t we find G-d discussing with Abraham the coming of Moshiach or the World to Come? Why did Noah get drunk and uncover himself? Why was it considered inappropriate behavior? Why did Cham disgrace his father? What was the sin of building the Tower of Babel? Why is “making a name for yourself” such a terrible thing? Why doesn’t G-d intervene when other transgressions are done as he did by the Tower of Babel?  Is there anything positive about the creation of different languages by different nations? What lessons does the Tower of Babel offer us regarding building AI today? What is the purpose of other religions? And if they ‘serve’ with sincerity, is there any truth to them? Should we use airlines that employ jihadist pilots and terrorist flight attendants who wear Hamas flags and other anti-Israel symbols? Lech Lecha Noach Miracle of Flight 1073 What is the Torah view on the US military planning to execute a former Army major?  Would the Rebbe discourage us from using AI to help write Torah thoughts or watch AI-generated videos? 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:What should our focus be as Tishrei concludes and Cheshvan begins?What does v’Yaakov holech l’darko mean?Why do we use a verse about Yaakov’s return to Israel to describe our leaving the holiday season and entering the mundane year?Why is this month called MarCheshvan?Can we predict what will happen in 5787 based on its number Tav Shin Paz (gold)?What can we learn from events that happened 100 and 200 years ago?NoachWhat do the flood and the ark teach us about today’s world?What is the meaning and significance of the teivah (ark)?How can we say that teivah refers to the words of Torah before the Torah was given?Why is this Parsha read in the month of Cheshvan?What is the connection between the flood and a mikveh?Why did G-d destroy the entire world in the great flood and not just the sinners?Is it possible that G-d will destroy the world because of today’s terrorists and their supporters as He did in the time of the flood?What was the difference between Noach and Abraham?How do we reconcile Noach being a tzaddik just in his generation with the meaning of that title explained in Tanya?Why the distinction between kosher and non-kosher animals entering the ark, when consuming meat was not permitted before the flood?What happened to the fish during the flood?Why did the animals want to leave the ark after the flood, unlike Noah?Why was life expectancy lowered to 120 after the flood?Miracle of Flight 1073Why does G-d not do more great miracles?How do we reconcile this miracle with the many times miracles don’t happen to save people from tragedies, such as on October 7 when 1200 people were killed?