Can Violators Do Teshuva

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 57

Can a molester recover or is he condemned for life? Can he do teshuva, and if yes, how? Is there a difference between a repeat offender and a one-time incident? Can we distinguish abuse from “adolescent experimentation”? What responsibility is carried by a perpetrator’s family and how should they be treated? This week in MyLife, Rabbi Simon Jacobson will continue the discussion of these sensitive yet critical issues. Should our communities, Rabbis and schools be compelled to address the topic?

Also in this episode, we will take a deeper look at chutzpah. Is chutzpah a necessary ingredient to our success? How do we distinguish between inappropriate chutzpah and the confidence necessary for a Jew to take on the hostile world? Isn’t that the driving force of shluchim, who place themselves on the front line? How do we achieve Jewish pride without coming off as arrogant and offending others?

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 www.meaningfullife.com/mylifelive.
The topics in this Sunday’s hour-long broadcast will include:

· Chassidus Applied to Tetzaveh and Zochor
· Healing from molestation and dealing with violators part III
o Can abusers do teshuva and heal, or are they condemned for life?
o Should we distinguish between one-time and repeat offenders?
o How about “adolescent experimentation”?
o What responsibility is carried by a perpetrator’s family and how should they be treated?
o How does Chassidus help someone heal from abuse?
· Is Chutzpah an outgrowth of Chassidishe confidence? (follow-up)
· How do we distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate chutzpah?
· Conflict management and mediation

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, 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. 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 MP3’s for listening on the go.

Questions may be submitted anonymously at www.meaningfullife.com/mylifelive.

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