MyLife: Chassidus Applied

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: What is Chai Elul's Personal Message to Us? Who revealed to us that this day is the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe? Why was it kept secret for many years? What is the meaning of the statement that Chai Elul infuses chayus into the entire month of Elul? What is the source that the last twelve days of this month correspond to the twelve months of the year? And what is the connection with Chai Elul? Why did the Baal Shem Tov sign his name “Yisroel from Okup” when he was born in Tlust? What is the story about the Baal Shem Tov’s previous reincarnation? What is the significance of the Alter Rebbe being a neshama chadasha? Why does such a neshama need 24 months of gestation? Who was Achiya HaShiloni, the teacher of the Baal Shem Tov, and what is their connection? What do we know about the thirty-six hidden tzaddikim? What were the two last things the Baal Shem Tov heard from his father, and how did that shape him and the philosophy of Chassidus? Why was the Baal Shem Tov not arrested for spreading Chassidus like the Alter Rebbe? What is the connection with the establishment of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim? Do we know why the cornerstone of 770's expansion was laid on the 17th of Elul? Why do they say that if you don't believe Baal Shem Tov stories you are an apikores and if you do believe them, you are a fool? Did the Baal Shem Tov banish demons from this earth?Why did the Frierdiker Rebbe get married on a Friday, as was customary then, but today we don't usually have weddings on a Friday? Does the “king in the field” mean that Elul impacts us even if we don’t improve our behavior? And does this power exist all year round? How do we reconcile the explanation of ani l’dodi v’dodi li with the Frierdiker Rebbe’s interpretation that it refers to businesspeople and scholars? How do we justify tragedies in this month of compassion? Why are our prayers not being answered? 13 Elul Elul Thank you

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:What should our focus be during these early days of Elul? 05:03 • How does Av give birth to Elul? 01:04 • What is unique about the “king in the field” in Elul when we have access to G-d all year round? 08:59 • Is Elul initiated from below (Ani L’Dodi) or from above (the king in the field)? 15:29 • What are the thirteen attributes of divine compassion (Yud Gimmel Midos HaRachamim)? 20:43 • How are they related to the Yud Gimmel Tikkunei Dikna (thirteen strands of the beard)? 24:11 • What more can I do to ensure that these attributes of compassion manifest in my life? 30:27 • Is there a connection between Elul and the similar sounding word hilulah? 38:12 • What’s the best way to bless someone for a happy new year? 40:06 • Is it enough just to bless each other for a good year, or do we need to do some action as well? 42:40 • Why don’t we refrain from sounding the shofar thirty days before Rosh Hashana as we do with eating matzah before Pesach? 44:25 • What maamar would you suggest we study in Elul that discusses the spiritual energy of the month of Elul? 47:30How do I deal with a guilty past? • How to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy remorse? 49:42 • Can the mystical concept of sheviras ha’keilim help us in this process? 54:20Ki Teitzei • What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? 58:55 • Why do we “go out” (ki teitzei) to wage war, and we do so “above our enemies” (al oi’vecho)? 58:55 • How does that dramatically change the way we face life challenges? 01:00:50 Who is leading our footsteps when we travel on vacation? 01:02:38Camp (follow-up) • Does Gan Israel suggest a level lower than Israel? 01:05:30

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: What should be our focus during these days? Why do we begin blessing each other with wishes for a good year on the 15th of Av? Why is it written that there were no holidays like the 15th of Av in the past tense? What is the relevance of this day? What is the significance of this day coming 40 days before Rosh Hashana? Why did the Rebbe’s father have to endure such excessive suffering? Can it be explained by the idea that, to grow to an unprecedented higher level, one needs to nullify previous levels entirely? What was unique about Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s teaching style? How would you describe what it adds to Chabad Chassidus in general? Are his writings Chassidishe Chassidus or Rebbe’she Chassidus? Can you give us an example of some of his teachings? How can we honor the Rebbe’s father? Who is in charge of publishing Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s teachings? What is the connection of Reb Levi Yitzchak to the month of Av? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? What is the meaning of the blessings and curses in the Torah? What is the proper way to bless someone? Is there a source that on a birthday one has a special power to bless others? How do we create a vessel for blessings? What can we do to remove blockages from receiving blessings? How do we transform a curse into a blessing? If curses are really hidden blessings, why do we need revealed blessings? Why does the Midrash connect the blessings and curses to the physical topography of the mountains associated with them? What can we learn from the Torah’s way of recognizing a true and false prophet to help us identify charlatans and scammers today? Chof Av Re'eh

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: 5 Av: Yahrzeit of the Arizal What is the relevance of this day? How was the Arizal unique? What is a short biography of the Arizal and his teachings? What does it teach us? What did the Arizal say in his eulogy of the Ramak? How should we honor this day? What should be our focus during these days leading into Tisha B'Av? What is the meaning of this month’s name? Do people born this month have a unique personality type? Why was the Temple destroyed? How could baseless hatred, which is not punishable in the Torah by death, be enough reason for the destruction of the Temple and death of so many? Is it appropriate to eat meat during these days? Why do some people insist on eating meat? What is the meaning and significance of the last verse in the Shabbos Chazon Haftorah: Tzion ba’mishpat ti’podeh v’shoveho b’tzedakah? Does it mean that redemption will literally come through charity? Why are we not told the names of the perpetrators in the Kamtza Bar Kamtza story – the host, the silent rabbis? Does Tanya chapter 32 mean that all Jews are actually equal, or only potentially so? What lessons did the Rebbe teach us from soccer? Why was Moshiach born on this day? Doesn’t the human Moshiach have an actual birthday? Is there a connection between Eicha (which we read on this day) and the question ayeko (which is comprised of the same letters) that G-d asked Adam? Are there any lessons to be learned from the fact that smoke from Canadian wildfires has filled the air of Northern USA on the weekend before Tisha B’Av? Menachem Av/Nine Days What can we learn from the World Cup, especially during these days? Tisha B'Av