MyLife: Chassidus Applied

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?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: What should our focus be during this last week before Rosh Hashana?   25 Elul What is the significance and personal application of this day?  How can we say that the world was created on the 25th of Elul when time itself was a creation and there was no time before creation? What is unique about this year beginning on Shabbos? And it being the longest possible year? Has anyone come up with a good acronym for Tov Shin Pei Zayin? Do you have anything to say about the fact that we have 213 years left until the end of the sixth millennium? Should we be afraid of Judgment Day? What can I do about the heaviness and guilt I feel every Rosh Hashana? Is everything I do for myself and not for G-d a sin? Why should I bother going to shul on Rosh Hashana? Especially considering that my prayers are not being answered? What is the source in Torah that on Rosh Hashana we coronate Hashem as King? If the creation of the universe and G-d's coronation as King is dependent on us, how did that come to be at the outset of creation before there was an “us”? Since “malchus has nothing of its own” do we say that our relationship with G-d is completely dependent on us? What is the difference between the renewal of existence on Rosh Hashana and its renewal every moment? How could G-d consult the angels about creation when the angels themselves were created? Are there any differences between how the 13 attributes of mercy manifest in Elul and how they manifest in the ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? What is the connection between Atem Netzavim HaYom and Rosh Hashana? Why was the shofar sounded in the Beis Ha’Mikdash on Shabbos? Since Shabbos accomplishes the same thing the shofar accomplishes, why do we need to sound the shofar on the second day of Rosh Hashana? What is the sequence of the holidays following Rosh Hashana? What is yechida and how do we access it on Yom Kippur? What is the significance of the joy of Sukkos following the Days of Awe? Why do they have to remain hidden? 5787 Rosh Hashana Yom Kippur and Sukkos 36 Tzaddikim (follow-up) 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: What is Chai Elul's Personal Message to Us? Who revealed to us that this day is the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe? Why was it kept secret for many years? What is the meaning of the statement that Chai Elul infuses chayus into the entire month of Elul? What is the source that the last twelve days of this month correspond to the twelve months of the year? And what is the connection with Chai Elul?  Why did the Baal Shem Tov sign his name “Yisroel from Okup” when he was born in Tlust? What is the story about the Baal Shem Tov’s previous reincarnation? What is the significance of the Alter Rebbe being a neshama chadasha? Why does such a neshama need 24 months of gestation? Who was Achiya HaShiloni, the teacher of the Baal Shem Tov, and what is their connection? What do we know about the thirty-six hidden tzaddikim? What were the two last things the Baal Shem Tov heard from his father, and how did that shape him and the philosophy of Chassidus? Why was the Baal Shem Tov not arrested for spreading Chassidus like the Alter Rebbe? What is the connection with the establishment of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim? Do we know why the cornerstone of 770's expansion was laid on the 17th of Elul? Why do they say that if you don't believe Baal Shem Tov stories you are an apikores and if you do believe them, you are a fool? Did the Baal Shem Tov banish demons from this earth?Why did the Frierdiker Rebbe get married on a Friday, as was customary then, but today we don't usually have weddings on a Friday? Does the “king in the field” mean that Elul impacts us even if we don’t improve our behavior? And does this power exist all year round?  How do we reconcile the explanation of ani l’dodi v’dodi li with the Frierdiker Rebbe’s interpretation that it refers to businesspeople and scholars? How do we justify tragedies in this month of compassion? Why are our prayers not being answered? 13 Elul Elul Thank you