MyLife: Chassidus Applied

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Yud Beis Tammuz – 99 years: What does this day teach us? What happened on this day and what lessons does it offer us today? Why does the celebration of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s liberation extend for two days – 12-13 Tammuz? Why is this month named after a Babylonian idol? What is the spiritual energy of this month? Is there a connection between the events of this day in 5754 and back in the time of Joshua when the sun was stopped? Is there something special about today, June 21, being the longest day of the year? Why didn’t Joshua simply pray that the enemy be defeated? What is the mission of Chassidim who are not on shlichus? Is the Rebbe perfect? Follow-up What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? Can we heal people today by using a similar treatment to gazing at a serpent of brass mounted on a pole, as Moses was commanded? Why was Moses striking the rock such a great sin? Why was he not given the opportunity to do teshuva? Why were others not given the opportunity to do teshuva just as the sons of Korach were? What was the sin of Baal Pe’or? What lessons does this despicable sin offer us today? Why is a Parsha named after the evil Balak? What parts of Balaam’s blessings were about Moshiach? What can we learn from Balaam’s closing plot against the Jews? How should we react to the President's latest deal with Iran? Can we parallel the back-and-forth attitude of Iran to what Pharaoh and the Egyptians did regarding freeing the Jews? Tammuz Gimmel Tammuz Chukas-Balak Iran How is today's unrest in the Middle East a continuation of the unresolved conflict between Ishmael and Isaac? And what can we do to achieve permanent peace? Is it a good idea to allow my son to travel with a group to visit the concentration camps in Poland and Ukraine?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Chof Dalet Teves What is the significance of a Tzaddik’s histalkus? How does it impact us? What connection does it have to current events? What lessons do we learn from the Alter Rebbe’s hilula? What were the circumstances that led to the Alter Rebbe’s passing? How was it related to him fleeing Napoleon’s advance? Is there a connection between the Alter Rebbe returning to retrieve a pair of slippers so they not fall into the hands of Napoleon and Jacob returning to retrieve the small vessels? Why was the Alter Rebbe on a spiritual trial for teaching Chassidus? Was the opposition to the Alter Rebbe based on fear resulting from the Shabbatean movement? Why was the Alter Rebbe attracted to the teachings of Chassidus, which drove him to found Chabad Chassidus? Do we know why the Alter Rebbe family surname changed from Pozner to Baruchovitch? Who authored the maamorim in Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah that begin with the words “LeTosfes Biur”? How can I support the printing of Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah in English? What is the story behind the maamar of the Alter Rebbe called "Der Frumer Vaeirah”? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? What is the connection between the revelation of Havaya to Moshe to help him free the Jews from Egypt and the splurging of the treasures to help us win our current battles? What do the four expressions of redemption refer to? What is the deeper meaning of Aaron's staff turning into a snake and swallowing the staffs of the Egyptian sorcerers? Why did G-d send ten plagues and not just one massive plague to break Pharoah? Do we know the original names given to Moshe by his parents? How did Moshe find out that he was Jewish? What lessons can we learn from Moshe’s childhood in Pharoah’s palace? How do they reflect on the bigger scheme of future events? Did the Rebbe make any public statements about Iran during the 1979 Islamic revolution that we can learn from today? Vaeirah Shemos What are we to make of the uprisings in Iran?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: What does the cold winter teach us? Asarah B’Teves What is the significance of this day and what lessons does it teach us, especially facing our current challenges? Why does this fast day supersede Shabbos? Does this fast day commemorate other sad events that happened during these days? Why was translating the Torah into Greek considered a tragedy? And what about the passing of Ezra the Scribe? May I vent and express my anger and frustration? After all the pain and anguish, I want to also voice my pride in the powerful response of the Jewish people Where does the expression “didan notzach” originate? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? Why did Yaakov initially consider revealing when Moshiach would come? And then why was he prevented from doing so? If we include Menashe and Ephraim as tribes, why are their twelve tribes and not fourteen? What's the difference between Reuven and Shimon in our personal avodah? What exactly does hiskashrus to the Rebbe mean? Can it be imposed and done mechanically? Does it leave room for individuality? How does hiskashrus enhance life? Aftermath of the horrific Sydney massacre Hei Teves Vayechi Hiskashrus

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: How can we possibly address the horrific terror attack on Jews celebrating Chanukah in Sydney leaving 16 of our people dead? Ad mosai?! What does G-d want of us? How could this happen on Chanukah, which is about conquering darkness with light? And demonstrating this in the streets with a public menorah as the Rebbe instructed? How can we ever explain the tragic murder of any innocent person, let alone a shliach, when we are told that shluchei mitzvah einan nizokin? Where was the protection from above, especially considering that Chanukah draws down from the highest levels of G-dliness, eight above seven? Is it safe to light public menorahs? What do we do about this – physically and spiritually? How can we not feel deep despair and want to give up on Judaism? How do we celebrate Chanukah and learn its lessons in face of this tragedy? What are the primary lessons of Chanukah? Why do we mark the holiday by lighting flames rather than commemorating the victory in the battle against our enemies? What does the light actually represent? What was the war about between the Greeks and the Jews? Did it also include a civil war between the Jewish Hellenists and the rest of the community? Why do we light the candles in the evening, at the door facing outside, and why eight candles – differently than the menorah lighting in the Holy Temple? Why are we not allowed to benefit from the light of the Chanukah candles? Why did the Rebbe institute the lighting of public menorahs? What is the basis of Hillel and Shammai’s different opinions about the order of lighting the Chanukah candles? How will we light the candles after Moshiach comes? How to navigate when you're at rock bottom with barely any support?\Can we apply the story of hearing the child’s cry to Hashem and His people? Does Miketz hint to the end of golus? Chanukah Dealing with harsh difficulties Miketz