MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 125, with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
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If I’m wasting my time anyways in yeshiva, why not go get a secular education and a job?
What risks do I run by pursuing a secular education for self-interest?
This week’s parsha tells the story of the Jews’ travels in the desert and all the miracles done on their behalf – the manna and ananei hakavod to name a couple. What was the purpose and significance of these miracles? Can miracles in general be merely G-d making things easier for us or is there always a deeper significance? And what lesson does this have for us today?
I’ve been grappling with the concept of bitachon my entire life. Even though I’ve come to realize the power and absolute necessity of bitachon in a Jew’s life, it still evades me. It seems there’s a major gap between understanding bitachon and actually living differently because of it. How do I bridge the gap and allow what I know to tangibly affect my attitude?
Rabbi Jacobson will address these and other relevant topics in this week’s 125th episode of MyLife: Chassidus Applied.
Other topics that will be discussed include: the parameters of soulmates, and follow up to previously discussed topics regarding marriage and making ends meet.
Rabbi Jacobson will also review the following essays submitted in last year’s MyLife: Chassidus Applied essay contest: “A Framework for the Fragmented” by Yosef Bronstein, “The Languages Your Souls Speak” by Eitan Guryon and “Personal Development: A Three Step Program” by Oz Zukerman. These and other essays can be read online at meaningfullife.com/essays.
And finally, the Chassidus question of the week: Reconciling Free Will with Pre-Determinism Part II
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 Matos-Maasei and the Nine Days
· Why does my soulmate have to be Jewish?
· What steps can I take to achieve more bitachon?
· What was the purpose of the miracles in the desert?
· Career Concerns: follow-up
– Secular education
– Marriage and making ends meet
· Chassidus Question: Free will and pre-determinism Part II
· MyLife Essays: A Framework for the Fragmented, The Language Your Souls Speak, Personal Development: A Three Step Program
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.
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Education is the cure for ignorance. Members of an educated society are less likely to believe in myths, woo, and pseudoscience.
#6 actually Tanya chapter 8 says that secular education might be used to enhance avodat hashem and to better understand Torah. Its pretty obvious that certain aspects of Torah as inaccessible without a basic understanding of mathematics, physics and biology. As for the humanities they can illuminate the human experience which is central in avodat Hashem.
If you listened to previous shows you ‘d kjnow that Rabbi Jacobson is following the words of the Alter Rebbe in Tanya end of ch. 8 that the only benefit of secular wisdom is to use it for a trade or other ways to serve Hashem (and not as an end in itself to open one’s mind. On the contrary, according to Tanya that would be considered bittul Torah, and worse — defiling chabad she’benafsho)..
Rabbi Jacobson referred to Tanya Chap 9. I think he meant 19 regarding the Neshomo is a flame
Your assumption about the value of secular education is inherently flawed. You see it as instrumental ie to get a job. But secular education is not (only) about getting a job. It is primarily about opening one’s mind to all the wondrous branches of wisdom; mathematics, science, philosophy, literature….
I have learned more from this series than all my years in yeshiva. And I was considered an excellent student in yeshiva.
Unbelievable perseverance. To keep doing this for 125 weeks straight and still be going strong?! Kol hakovod and G-d bless you Rabbi Jay. May episode 126 announce Moshiach’s arrival.
THANK YOU.
Thank you, Rabbi, this was inspiring.