What If I Dread Davening?

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 133, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
Special Rosh Hashanah Edition

“With Selichos starting, I begin to have the feeling of dread. It is just the beginning, of a whole season of extensive prayer, how do we make this into a meaningful experience rather than miserable, boring and monotonous? I don’t know the meaning of most of the words and felt no inspiration, and didn’t felt like the service was bringing me closer to G-d/helping me get excited about teshuva.”

“How many times can we say Tehillim and not understand what you are saying? It’s just hard for me to see the necessity for our generation to spend so many hours at a time reciting words which we don’t understand?”

“What is the role of the mother/grandmother in the lives of married, adult children? I think it has changed from the polish grandmother’s times. Could you give us practical tips?”

“Is it healthy to keep some info from your spouse? For example we cut our ties with someone but I still feel I should give them some tzedakah, if my spouse would know that I’m doing this they would throw a fit, it would not help to try to explain this to my spouse. Am I doing the right thing?”

“How does one have a yechidus with the Rebbe today? Do you just pick a day and time to go to the Ohel and then fast, Daven more etc?”

In addition to these topics, Rabbi Jacobson will also review the following essays submitted in this year’s MyLife: Chassidus Applied essay contest: “The Power of Humility” by Mushka Winner, “Practical Spirituality for the Uninspired” by Mordechai Gutnick, and “Purpose-Mindfulness for Consistent Calm” by Levi Pinson. These and other essays can be read online at meaningfullife.com/essays.

And finally, the Chassidus question of the week: Is the nefesh hasichlis responsible for intelligence related to Torah only? Or does it apply to any kind of acquired wisdom? For example, our yeshivas give no secular education, therefore compromising the study of Talmud. We lack knowledge in measuring and math therefore making our learning in the area of Eiruvun, Peah, and Suckah incomplete.We don’t learn astronomy which is related to Rosh Hashnah, and not to mention writing. The yeshivas don’t want secular education for many reasons: bittul torah, building block years, haskallah etc. But I think it’s time to reevaluate this approach and see if this is right. Here I am in my thirties with tiny intellect and huge yetzer hora. I’m a product of one of the most “chassidisha” yeshivas”.

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 Rosh Hashana
I dread davening – prayer fatigue
Relationship between parents and married children
Chelek Elokah follow-up
Traveling for leisure without a minyan: follow-up
Keeping secrets from spouse
Today’s yechidus with the Rebbe
Avoda follow-up
Chassidus Question: the intelligent soul

MyLife Essays: The Power of Humility, Practical Spirituality for the Uninspired, Purpose-Mindfulness for Consistent Calm

VIDEO:

Questions may be submitted anonymously at meaningfullife.com/mylife