World-renowned author, counselor and lecturer Rabbi Manis Friedman sat down with stand-up comedian Chaim Samuels to discuss some heavy questions that a number of older bochurim struggle with.
The 6 episode web series “No Laughing Matter” was produced by the website 11213.org and includes bits from Samuels on stage.
To book Chaim Samuels for an event please call 860 878-7859.
No Laughing Matter: Episode 1- Dropping It!
Episode 2: Don’t Be Religious, Be Jewish
Episode 3: You Are Way Ahead Of The Game!
Episode 4: No Mitzvah Is Right For You
Episode 5: G-d’s Biggest Favor
Episode 6: Are You Suggesting Vulnerability Is A Weakness?
Powerful
Whats the difference with Pharaoh saying I need you Jews to build me these cities and Hashem (Lehavdil) saying I need you to do these mitzvos for Me…
Wow so well said- on both ends!! Thank you for sharing this with the public so we can all gain from Chaim’s honesty and rabbi Friedman’s wise words. Thank you!
Rabbi Friedman is great for these situations. But we also need to be aware that the quality of learning the yeshivas are offering are creating these kinds of bochurim who lose insperation. the curriculum is not geared to giving Jews what they need. That means teaching jewish history, philosiphy, at least exposing the bochurim to other idealogies in judaism to understand what makes lubavitch so speacial.
Chabad mainstream yeshivahs must bring in guest speakers that have the answers & R wiiling 2 take the tough questions sit & farrbraing with the young buchrim on a Regular basis, Starting from 12 13 yearolds !
Humans were created by our Creator with having free choice. Hashem asks us in His Torah בָֽחַרְתָּ֙ בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים Please choose life. Like a parent hopes that their child will make the right choices in their lives based on their own wisdom and experience. Should their child make choices which they feel are not beneficial for them. .. Their Son or Daughter will ALWAYS be their Son or Daughter and NEVER diminish the Love they have for them. A Yid is a Yid no matter what choices they choose. Hashem like parents want OUR closeness and Love through connecting with Hashem… Read more »
Chaim is a awesome comedian! Great stuff.
I think that much of R’ Friedman’s genius here lies in guess ability to read into the soul of the person he’s talking to. It’s very subtle, but you can tell that he’s always working around to speak in a personal matter which will be accepted by the person he’s talking to–whereas for example, the rest of us in such a conversation will automatically base our responses on the first thing that pops into our heads (like text book answers). This power of R’ Friedmann is especially apparent in the other recently posted videos on his site, where you can… Read more »
As far as this series is concerned (and on which you are commenting), no where (with an emphasis) is there a generalization or whatever, referring to what troubles the chassidic community at large. They are specifically talking about yeshiva bochurim and the troubles THEY go through. And in fact that is stated explicitly several times.
So your objections are very irrelevant in this case…
Thank you Chaim for going public with this and sharing it with so many viewers who have similar thoughts
Thank you Rabbi Manis for being so practical and clarifying these tough topics!!
One thing mentioned which I disagree with
Is that when we’re doing a Mitzvah we’re doing it for Hashem yet at the same time we are doing it for ourselves (for our neshama) it’s a two way accomplishment….am I wrong?
I think I was your counselor when you were 5 Lol! You were a hoot back then as well 🙂 lots of luck on your journey!
If I had to summarize my education throughout my yeshiva life: born into a chassidishe Family with chassidishe values. Become fascinated by stories, midrashim, history, and chabad heritage (nigunim, the Rebbe, etc)… then go to yeshiva and for the most part be bored by the conflicting or lackluster messages I was taught… decided not to go fray mostly because of how this would affect others (exactly the point Rabbi Manis intends to make in these clips – that we do for others, not ourselves)… at 16 I decide to go on my own journey and begin questioning everything from G-d… Read more »
For being there and and sharing with everyone!!!
Hey, where can we see more videos of Chaim doing standup? He is great!
May hashem give you continued koiach
Respect to both of you. Great piece.
Keep those questions coming! Thank you for sharing as it’s something everyone can gain and grow from
I really appreciate the honesty here. If only this would take place earlier in the system. We don’t need to wait until things go wrong for us to do damage control. If teachers and mashpios in high school/yeshiva were inspiring, clear, relate-able, ect. to begin with we would not have as many off the derech teens. These teens are willing to take information if its given to them in a way they can receive. When they are not reached at their level, they give up and leave. Many teens are not angry but simply don’t have enough positive connections to… Read more »
Every single parent and mashpia must ask themselves truthfully and sincerely: what Yiddishkeit are we teaching to our children? What relationship do they have to Hashem? Do they even care? I strongly indentify with Chaim and his perspectives on life. And BH we have someone like Manis who is leading the charge in challenging the status quo, and in reprogramming the brains of a generation lost to secular influence at worst, and a mediocre Chabad education in which frumkeit is primary and Eibershter something later, if at all.
Chaim, you are so authentic and genuine, you are so deep, you crave truth and you will find it. I have no doubts that you are on your way to being one of the greatest leader of the Jewish people!!! And Kol Hakavod to Rabbi Manis Friedman for doing a such great job answering some very serious questions in the most meaningful and authentic way possible.
hey its bob from parksville
Go Chaim!!!!
Most frum bachurim aren’t dealing with this guys situation. And guys who are, may have a very different expiriance then the answeres the rabbi gives (i.e guy or girl who had a very difficult divorce with the community) this is an issue I have with a lot of Rabbi Friedman’s content, assumptions, generalization, on the spot theories, I’m not a hater I just disagree with Rabbi Friedman (and I agree he is a smart person).