Missing The Rebbe I Never Knew

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 170, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

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Why are my parents and educators trying to teach me to miss the Rebbe I never knew?
From a young age, children grow up hearing stories of the Rebbe that show his concern for every Jew. Yet, it may be difficult for someone to feel that the Rebbe loves him/her individually if they never had an experience that shows him that. Is the Rebbe’s love for every Jew an intimate understanding of the person? Does the Rebbe know me personally, like my parents love and understand me as their child? Or is the connection just a general concern for every Jew?
Chassidus discusses many types of yeshus and self-centeredness. Some are glaringly obvious and some are subtle and hard to discern. With so many variations of yeshus, how can we identify yeshus in ourselves? How do we know when our yeshus is appropriate and when it needs to be curbed?
How can one know when it’s a necessary step to move on from a particular position and job and when it may be abandoning the post that was destined for him?
Everyone reacts differently to life’s curveballs. Some people see stress as a means to strengthen their observance of mitzvos and for some, it pushes them in the other direction. “Each time in my life that I have gone through major emotional trauma or stress I lose motivation to be as careful in my mitzva observance as I normally am. Instead of moving closer to Hashem in my time of need, I move myself farther away. Intellectually, I know that moving away is not the appropriate response, but my emotional response takes over. Besides preparing myself spiritually in advance, what can I do to prevent this pattern?”
Rabbi Jacobson will address these relevant issues in this week’s 170th episode of MyLife: Chassidus Applied. Other topics that will be discussed include: the significance of gematrios, and follow up to conversations regarding global warming and waiting idly for marriage.
Rabbi Jacobson will also review the following essays submitted in the last MyLife: Chassidus Applied essay contest: “Taking a Super-Rational Approach to Addiction” by Rochel Schwartz; “Growing through Reflective Criticism” by Simcha Levinson; and “The Service of Joy” by Count Machluf Elkaim. These and other essays can be read online at meaningfullife.com/essays.
And finally, the Chassidus question of the week: All time bound events in Judaism – like Shabbos, holidays and different prayers – reflect the Divine favor (eis rotzon) and spiritual unions (yichudim) above. Since the spiritual realms transcend the limits of physical time and space, how does this manifest in different time zones, with Shabbos, for example, beginning at different times in the world? When is G-d “resting” – when Shabbos is in Israel (while we may be working in other parts of the world) or when Shabbos is on another time zone? If the spiritual experience transcends time, then what makes Shabbos begin and end at a particular hour?
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 Shiva Asar B’Tammuz and the Three Weeks

· Lessons from Parshas Pinchas

· There are so many forms of yeshus. How can I identify it in myself?

· Why are my parents and educators trying to teach me to miss the Rebbe I never knew?

· Does the Rebbe love ME?

· Stress causing laxity in Torah and mitzvos

· When is it appropriate to leave one’s post?

· What is the significance of a gematria?

· Waiting for marriage: follow-up

· Global warming/ environment protection: follow-up

· Chassidus Question: Shabbos in different time zones: How does a spiritual time manifest in a physical time frame?

· MyLife Essays: Taking a Super Rational Approach to Addiction, Growing through Reflective Criticism, The Service of Joy

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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