MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 97, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
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As normal teenagers, we all struggle to curb our passions and seem to spend inordinate amounts of energy trying to refocus ourselves away from inappropriate thoughts. In farbrengens, we have shared with each other our struggles with these desires. What does G-d want from a healthy 18-year-old male with raging hormones? Is it possible that we should be getting married now as some other Chassidic groups do? What advice can you give us?
What would the Chassidishe approach be to “Women of the Wall”? I was recently asked my opinion by a Jewish, non-observant woman who shared her resentment, frustration and sincere desire to pray at the Kotel in the way she believes – with kippah, tallis and reading from the Torah. How should I respond?
I am the type of person who needs step by step instructions on how to get things done. I have read many of your articles about purpose in life, but for me, they seem abstract, as I need specific, outlined, “do step 1,2,3…” Can you help?
These are among the topics that will be addressed in this week’s 97th episode of My Life: Chassidus Applied. Additionally, Rabbi Jacobson will continue discussing the Chassidic perspective on hair and overall issues of modesty.
Rabbi Jacobson will also review the following essays submitted in last year’s MyLife: Chassidus Applied contest: “Developing Trust in Hashem” by Michoel Lozenik; “Enhancing Your Home with Sacred Silliness” by Chaim Karp; “Finding Balance: A Contemporary Paradigm” by Avraham Arieh Trugman. These and other essays can be read online at meaningfullife.com/essays.
And finally, the Chassidus question of the week: I was fascinated by your presentation on how Chassidus explains the concept of hair, and its implications in our lives. Frankly, this was the first time I ever heard such a cohesive and dignified approach to this important issue, and helped me appreciate why the Rebbe places so much emphasis on sheitels and the blessings they bring.
However, in reviewing the sources you cited I came upon an apparent contradiction: Likkutei Levi Yitzchak (Chayei Sarah p. 39) writes, that an unmarried woman’s hair leaves room for yenikas hachitzonim (the gleaning of energy by negative forces). While the Rebbe’s 5717 letter you cited (Igros Kodesh vol. 15 p. 415) states that it does not. Can you please reconcile the two?
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.appliedchassidus.com.
The topics in this Sunday’s hour-long broadcast will include:
Chassidus Applied to Chof Dalet Teves and Vaeirah
Healthy Outlets for Teenage Boys
Tznius
Hair contn’d
Women of the Wall; Healthy Outlets for Teenage Boys; Tzniyus; Finding Your Life’s Purpose; Hair
How to find purpose in life
Tzimtzum (follow-up)
Do time and space exist in the higher worlds? (follow-up)
Chassidus Question: Contradiction about unmarried women’s hair
MyLife Essays: Developing Trust in Hashem, Enhancing Your Home with Sacred Silliness, Finding Balance: A Contemporary Paradigm
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 MP3’s for listening on the go.
Questions may be submitted anonymously at chassidusapplied.com.
Live Video:
Chassidus applied! Learning so much! Especially respect how R’ J delicately, modestly & respectfully talks about delicate matters on a public forum. A true role model
Thank you
You are making Bruriah’s (Rabbi Meir’s wife) mistake
Rashi avoda Zara 18b
when R. Meir’s wife taunted him about the familiar Rabbinic adage ‘Women are lightminded’, he replied that one day she would herself testify to its truth. When, subsequently, she was enticed by one of her husband’s disciples, she indeed proved to be too weak to resist. She then committed suicide.
I’m not saying men don’t have an attraction to women- they’re supposed to for a healthy relationship, but to say that controls them all, is wrong. The way we were created, men are stronger physically and rationally, and women are stronger spiritually and emotionally, and that combination creates a beautiful home. When a man is controlled by his desires instead of the other way around, then he has no strength at all, and is weak unnaturally, and it is wrong to portray all men in that light just cuz a few might be nebach un men. The more they are… Read more »
attn. comments 1, 2, 4:
I don’t know if the public media is a good setting for this conversation. lets remember that certain inyonim (even if they may be/may not be true) don’t always need to be said.
I admire how R’ Jacobson threads the needle with subtlety, not criticizing outright, but setting a standard for us all to follow in how to address the state of tznius, with kindness and example.
Extremely meaningful and to help others with chessed to go forward toward the light!!
Baruch HaShem!
We are talking about healthy young men here. Not older men who don’t care for anything more than to just sit in 770 and learn a good maamar.
still looking for a Mashpia, try Mashpiim.org for good choices
That’s so wrong. Depends which men…
It has always puzzled me as a woman, that we refer to ourselves as the weaker and more vulnerable gender. We all know this is not true. Men are literally controlled by Taivas Nashim, while women do not have this problem towards Anashim at all.
It is truly the man who is the weak vulnerable one.