MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 118, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
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3328 years have passed since the giving of Torah at Sinai. We live in a very different world today. How do we explain the relevance of Sinai to contemporary life in the 21st century? The Rebbe encouraged everyone, man, women and children, even newborns to come and listen to the reading of the Aseres Hadibros (Ten Commandments) on the first day of Shavuot. How do I encourage my unaffiliated Jewish neighbor to bring her children to shul this Shavuot? What should I say when she asks me why she should do this when she doesn’t usually go to synagogue?
How can one find truth in a world of lies?
How does one balance the use of a G-d given talent and the need to make a living, when there isn’t time for both?
“I’m a music teacher and struggle to find opportunities to use my music in fulfilling ways. I must be concerned with making a living, so my gift of music must be used as a means to financially support myself. What really inspires me though is being able to uplift people with my music. How can I find ways to find purpose and inspiration with my music if I must use it to support my family?”
Perhaps, one of the most misunderstood, avoided and uncomfortable mitzvos is the commandment to rebuke a friend. Yet Hochiach Tochiach Es Amisecha is as much a mitzvah as keeping Shabbos. But what does this mitzvah mean? How do we know when and how to rebuke? Some people opt out of rebuking at all for fear of intruding on someone else’s life, while others take the liberty to preach and do more harm than good. How does Torah expect one to rebuke a friend and maintain a fluid relationship? Where is the balance of helpful and self-righteous? The Gemara (Bava Kama 80a) tells of a sage who walked out of a home because the family didn’t comply with community standards of the time. Is this the extent to which people should go to today?
These are among the relevant issues Rabbi Jacobson will address in this week’s 118th episode of MyLife: Chassidus Applied. Other topics that will be discussed include: How invested one should be in parnasa, some tzinius matters and more.
Rabbi Jacobson will also review the following essays submitted in this year’s MyLife: Chassidus Applied essay contest: “’Flow’–: The Chassidic Approach to Harnessing” by Ian Taylor, “Growing Confidence and a Sense of Security” by Levi Yitzchak Goldman, and “Deciphering the Code” by Yaakov Wagner. These and other essays can be read online at meaningfullife.com/essays-2016.
And finally, the Chassidus question of the week: Last week you elaborated on the Alter Rebbe’s discourse explaining why physically impaired kohanim may eat from the offerings, but cannot enter and serve in the Temple? How do we apply this to our lives today?
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 Bamidbar and Shavuos
· What is the relevance of Sinai in the 21st century?
· How can one find truth in a world of lies?
· Conflict between supporting myself and using my talents purposefully
· Does Chassidus not want us to be invested in making a living?
· Tznius issues: Temptation – Is walking with my eyes closed the solution?
· When, if ever, is it my place to rebuke a friend?
· Chassidus Question: How do we apply to our lives today the lessons learned from the discourse (discussed last week) explaining why impaired kohanim ay eat from the offerings, but cannot enter and serve in the Temple?
· MyLife Essays: ’Flow’–: The Chassidic Approach to Harnessing, Growing Confidence and a Sense of Security, Deciphering the Code
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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