Healthy Approach to Intimacy

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 59

The cure comes before the illness. The best way to preempt distorted attitudes toward intimacy and boundaries is to nurture healthy children. In this week’s episode, Rabbi Simon Jacobson will present the Chassidishe definition of wholesome intimacy and how to infuse our children with healthy attitudes to their bodies, hormones and desires. What messages should a child be getting – verbally and non-verbally – to ensure growing into a confident, vibrant adult, with a solid approach to relationships, love and sexuality? How should parents address this, and what role do our schools play?

“I get the feeling that G-d wants us to serve him with effort; the more we go out of comfort zone, the more pleasing it is to G-d. This attitude on life sounds depressing and torturous.

I know hard work is rewarding, but when it’s expected as a constant – I will become burnt out and drained. If I constantly try to rise above my animistic human self, there will be no self left?” Is life as a committed Jew, with utter selfless dedication, meant to be fraught with constant self-affliction? As we reach the peak days of Adar, Rabbi Jacobson will continue to address the topic of joy and how it can be experienced even as face life’s challenges and our call of duty for self-refinement.

Other topics to be addressed in this week’s episode include: If and how to discuss our finances with our children? Is there a way to temper children’s desires for extra toys, clothes, and material needs? Is it ok to explain that money is tight without giving children a complex? Is there a racism problem within the community? Are Jews of color mistreated? What are the steps to reversing negative feelings toward another person? What can we do about the agunah problem – husbands refusing to give a get?

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 Parah and Vayakhel-Pekudei

· Nurturing healthy attitudes toward intimacy

· Racism and prejudice in the community

· Money and children: Should we discuss fiscal responsibility with our kids?

· Joy and happiness (follow-up)

· Tools to counter negative feelings toward another

· What can we do about the agunah problem?

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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