“I was a thirteen year-old Bar Mitzvah boy when Gimmel Tammuz happened, leaving me utterly confused, if not worse. On one hand, I was brought up to passionately believe that the Rebbe would live on and his vision would be fulfilled. Some even insisted that we ignore the obvious events of Gimmel Tammuz as a delusion and hold on to the faith that the Rebbe will reappear any moment. On the other hand, all that we believed did not materialize. How was a young impressionable child meant to process these extremes? And the adults – including the mashpi’im and rabbonim – didn’t help much. Their confusion and arguments only exacerbated the turmoil. The idea of Moshiach became a murky and even uncomfortable discussion. Everyone had another opinion. Essentially, so much of what was beautiful about my Chabad upbringing now haunts me. What can I do to heal from this experience?”
“What is the view of Chassidus on expressing emotions? Should they be repressed, as we focus on simply doing what is right and what Hashem wants rather than on our feelings? Is it ok to express emotions that aren’t positive, or is it better to ignore them? Is breaking one’s silence a Torah approach, or is it preferable to suffer quietly? Is it healthier to release yourself by freeing your emotions, or to keep them bottled up where they can become an obsession? Some suggest writing as a tool for growth, an outlet for your stream of consciousness, expressing everything you feel or think, without holding back. Is this contrary to Chassidus?”
Other topics to be addressed in this week’s episode include: Continuing the discussion about working on a challenging marriage; the power of a chassidishe farbrengen; should women aspire to take very public leadership roles?
In addition, Rabbi Jacobson will review the following essays submitted in the MyLife: Chassidus Applied contest: “The Power of Thought” by Nechama Laber, “The Global Economic Crisis” by Pinchas Mamon, and “Behavioral Addiction According to Chassidus” by Avraham Lichter.
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 Behar-Bechukosai
· Confused by Gimmel Tammuz
· What is the Chassidic approach to expressing emotions?
· How a Chassidishe Farbrengen can change your life (follow-up)
· Working on your marriage (follow-up)
· Women in public roles (follow-up)
· MyLife Essays: Behavioral Addiction, Economic Crisis, Power of Thought
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.
Thank you! Wow, brings such life to my week!