Accepting All Lower Standards?

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 145, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

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Asara B’Teves, the day the walls of Jerusalem were besieged by the Babylonians, took place 2,602 years ago! What practical and contemporary lessons does it offer us today? Is there a connection between Asarah B’Teves and Hei Teves?

“Does the acceptance of everyone lend itself to developing a lax attitude to Yiddishkeit? It seems to me that some have the fundamentals in place, but don’t have the same level of yiras shamayim and staunch commitment to action that other Jews have. We’re taught that Hashem loves us unconditionally and our neshama can never be tainted by the things we do; this many times can justify the lack of commitment in our youth. It’s true that the work Chassidus demands is internal, authentic and self-motivated and therefore when done properly is invaluable, but at the end of the day, Jews who may be performing mitzvos because of external factors like community pressure, fear of Gehenom and the like have a basic Kabalas Ol that perhaps the Chassidic are missing.”

Chassidus teaches that even materialistic people, who have a natural inclination to physical pleasures, can develop a proper love for Hashem by meditating on the lowliness of the world. But, if we’re so conditioned to love gashmius, how can we possibly feel disgust to the very thing we love so much?  Bottom line: Can a materialistic person ever change and become more soulful? Please share some practical advice in this area.

Rabbi Jacobson will address these and other relevant issues in this week’s 145th episode of MyLife: Chassidus Applied. Additionally, he will continue the discussion about the greatest challenges our community faces, marriage-related questions and more.

Rabbi Jacobson will also review the following essays submitted in this year’s MyLife: Chassidus Applied essay contest: “Happy, Unconditionally” by Chezky Raskin, “Listen to Her Voice” by Rishe Groner, and “Change for Good” by Levi Yitzchok Kantor. These and other essays can be read online at meaningfullife.com/essays.

And finally, the Chassidus question of the week: Can you please elaborate on the oft-discussed concepts in Chassidus – Akudim, Nikudim and Birudim? How can they be applied to our lives today?

This hour-long dose of insights is meant to inform, inspire and empower us by applying the teachings of Chassidus to help us face practical and emotional challenges and difficulties in our personal lives and relationships. To have your question addressed, please submit it at meaningfullife.com/mylife.

The topics in this Sunday’s hour-long broadcast will include:

·         Chassidus Applied to Asara B’Teves

o   What personal significance does this 2,602-year-old event have for our lives today?

o   Is there a connection between Asarah B’Teves and Hei Teves?

·         The greatest challenges facing our community today: Part IV

·         Can the Chassidic approach of loving every Jew unconditionally create a laxity of standards?

·         How can a materialistic person change and become more G-dly?

·         G-d fearing: The sole criteria for a spouse?

·         How can a closed person open up more easily?

·         The recent UN Resolution: follow-up

·         How many souls do tzaddikim have? Follow-up

·         Chassidus Question: Please shed some light on the concepts of Akudim, Nikudim, Brudim.

·         MyLife Essays: Listen to Her Voice; Change for Good; Happy, Unconditionally

In what has now become a staple in so many people’s lives, MyLife: Chassidus Applied addresses questions that many people are afraid to ask and others are afraid to answer. When asked about the sensitive topics he has been addressing, Rabbi Simon Jacobson commented, “I understand that the stakes are high and great care has to be taken when speaking openly, but the silence and lack of clarity on matters plaguing the community can no longer go unaddressed. The stakes of not providing answers are even higher.”

The on-going series has provoked a significant reaction from the community, with thousands of people viewing each live broadcast and hundreds of questions pouring in week after week. At the root of every question and personal challenge tackled by the series is the overarching question: Does Judaism have the answers to my personal dilemmas?

In inimitable “Jacobson-fashion”, the broadcast answers people’s questions in simple, clear language while being heavily sourced. Each episode is jam-packed with eye-opening advice from the Rebbeim, gleaned from uncovering surprising gems in their letters, sichos and maamorim that address our personal issues with disarming relevance. Simultaneously, Rabbi Jacobson is able to crystallize a concept quickly, succinctly, and poignantly for any level of listener.

All episodes are immediately available for viewing in the MLC’s archive and can be downloaded as MP3s for listening on the go.

Questions may be submitted anonymously at meaningfullife.com/mylife

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