MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 71, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
As Gimmel Tammuz approaches, the past 21 years have given rise to a new generation of adults who have never seen the Rebbe and are challenged to understand what the Rebbe means to them. As time passes, how can we avoid a gap developing between the generation who can vividly recall precious moments with the Rebbe with the next generation? How can we successfully bridge the two generations and instill the same passion, mesiras nefesh, and connection in an era faced with new challenges? This of course brings on the big question: what is a Rebbe? And why do we need him?
“My husband and I are shluchim and we try to inspire our children (some married and some not yet married) to understand and follow the Rebbe’s guidance. Just today my daughter, a mother of little ones commented: “Mom, we did not know the Rebbe. It’s a new generation. How can I relate to the Rebbe who lived over 20 years ago? Of course this made me very sad and I chose not to answer. How can we inspire our children to be mekushar to a Rebbe that they do not know?”
Other topics that will be addressed in episode 71 include a deeper look at the concept of ‘guarding our speech’ and lashon hara.
“Does the sefer Shmiras haLashon have a place in Chassidus? The Rebbe quotes the Mishna Berura countless times in the Likutei Sichos footnotes and yet Shmiras Haloshon by the Chofetz Chaim is not a part of the chabad school curriculum. How will we teach our children about the importance and the many details surrounding this topic, which cannot fully be addressed with other seforim?”
“The reason why I’m writing is because I have a big problem that’s called a loose tongue. Since I’ was a little child I always used to hurt friends, siblings, and teachers. I knew the reason why I hurt others is because I have lots of pain and jealousy from inside. I keep on hurting other people by speaking what I feel or think. I often talk before I think which leads me to other problems as well, like repeating people’s private information. I’m ready to do anything in order for me to become a better person. I constantly tried working on this bad habit, but I still need lots of tools to overcome this challenge.”
In this episode, Rabbi Jacobson will also provide dating advice, including looking for a prospect outside of one’s community, a baal teshuva’s foray into the shidduch scene and dating younger men.
In addition, Rabbi Jacobson will review more essays submitted in the MyLife: Chassidus Applied contest: “The Power of Speech” by Shomie Naparstek, “Dirah B’Tachtonim as a Model for Transformation” by Yitzchak Einstein, “Estimation, Impression, and the Meaning of Life” by Yehuda Ringler. These essays and others can be read online at http://meaningfullife.org/mylife/contest/.
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 Gimmel Tammuz
· Lashon hara – slanderous talk (continued)
· Dating advice
o Dating outside of the community
o Age differences when it coming to considering a shidduch
o Dating advice for Baalei Teshuva
· Repairing the yeshiva system (continued)
· MyLife Essays: first impressions, the power of speech, personal transformation
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.
Live Video:
So insightful and motivating! Listening to this really gives you a productive way to look at Gimmel Tammuz. Instead of just moaning and complaining or philosophizing, we have to feel responsible to do something. Thank you so much for uplifting and inspiring so many of us.