MyLife: Chassidus Applied

Rabbi Simon Jacobson
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MyLife: Chassidus Applied Podcast by Simon Jacobson addresses the personal and emotional needs of our community by answering the most pressing questions of our lives -- from the perspective of Chassidic thought. The podcast demonstrates how the Torah provides us with a comprehensive blueprint of the human psyche as a microcosm of the cosmos, and offers us all the guidance we need to live the healthiest possible life and build nurturing homes and families, bringing up the healthiest possible children, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Get unlimited free downloads of MP3 recordings o

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 581: Why Do We Increase in Joy During the Month of Adar?

    Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:  Adar  Why do we increase in joy during this month? What unique opportunity does this month offer us? Can you begin your program about Adar with a piece of humor? Is this entire month filled with joy? What is the difference between the good mazal of Shevat and that of Adar? Is this a month when Iran will be held accountable just as it was with Persia of old? How do we reconcile the fact that ancient Persia allowed us to rebuild the second Temple and Rome destroyed it, with the tables being turned today with Iran being our enemy and the Western empires being our allies? Should we be praying for the innocent people of Iran? Which events during the 1991 Persian Gulf War did the Rebbe cite as signs that the world is ready for Moshiach — and that all we need to do is open our eyes? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? How do we create a sanctuary for G-d today?  What is the significance of the holy ark?Can we compare G-d to energy?  If physical existence is really Divine energy, what are we actually accomplishing when we perform mitzvos with material objects and make blessings on actual foods? What is the difference between chapters 11 and 12 at the end of the Rambam? What positive lesson do we learn about breaking down walls to spread Chassidus? What are we to make of the uprisings in Iran? Terumah Understanding G-d Siyum HaRambam What do we learn from the President announcing a "National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving" on May 17th, which is Rosh Chodesh Sivan?    Ramming into 770 – Follow-up

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 9

    Ep. 580: How Did Chof Beis Shevat Impact the Rebbe, and What Do We Learn From That?

    Episode 580 When: Sunday, February 8, 8:00PM ETFor recording visit the archive page or your favorite podcast carrier.Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Chof Beis Shevat  How did this day impact the Rebbe and what do we learn from that? What is the significance of this day for each one of us? Can you share a short biography and some stories about the Rebbetzin?  What practical actions should we be doing in honor of this day? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? Why weren’t all Torah laws given at the same time? Why do rational laws (mishpatim) have to be built upon the foundation of Sinai, Anochi Hashem Elokecho? Why was the Torah given on Mt. Sinai and not on Mt. Moriah, the Temple Mount? Since the Patriarchs studied and kept the entire Torah, what was unique about Matan Torah? What is the significance of naaseh v’nishma? And what is the logic of committing to something before hearing what you are committing to? Is there a connection between the ten commandments (aseres hadibros) and the ten utterances (asorah maamoros) with which the world was created? Why was Yisro’s acknowledgment necessary before the giving of the Torah? Why did Yisro have seven names? Why did the altar have a ramp and not steps? Can we “compel” G-d to learn Torah? How can we explain the paradox that Hashem is both infinitely inaccessible and infinitely accessible?  What's the difference between Shechina and Atzmus? Why did the Rebbe institute the daily learning of Rambam? What is the history behind it? How can I stop my husband from watching the Super Bowl? Should we root for any team?

    1h 12m

  3. FEB 4

    Ep. 579: 15th of Shevat: What Are Some Lessons We Learn From Trees?

    Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:  15th of Shevat  Why do we celebrate the New Year for Trees? Why don’t we celebrate it on the third day of creation, when trees and vegetation were created?  How do trees celebrate their new year? What is the basis of Shammai and Hillel’s different opinions of when we celebrate the new year for trees? Can it serve as an analogy for stages in the revelation of Moshiach? Was this day celebrated in Biblical times? What is a 15th of Shevat Seder and how do we conduct one? What are some lessons we learn from trees? Is there a source that Shevat is the acronym of sheyihi besuros tovos? Why is Shevat considered a month of good news when sad events took place in it, such as the passing of the Frierdiker Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka? What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? How do the three major events in the book Shemos – Exodus, Matan Torah, building the mishkan – reflect three key stages in our personal, collective and cosmic journey? Why is Matan Torah in Parshas Yisro?How would you describe G-d? Is G-d aware of His own existence? Why did the giving of the Torah begin with the Ten Commandments? How did Matan Torah change the world? Why were they not allowed to approach Mt. Sinai, but today anyone can climb that mountain? Why are the Jewish people called a “kingdom of priests”? Is Mitzrayim compared to the meitzar ha’goron, the narrow neck?   Why was there a need for the parting of the sea, when their path to Israel did not require going through the Red Sea? Was the parting of the sea an actual event or a metaphor? What is the significance of the people singing the song of the sea after it was parted? What is the power of song? Shevat Yisro Beshalach What lessons do we learn from the car ramming into 770 on the night of Yud Shevat?    How do I know if I am doing the right thing in launching a new training program based on Chassidus?

    1h 8m

  4. JAN 26

    Ep. 578: What Is the Torah View on Alternative Forms of Healing, Like Breathwork, Plant Medicine, Somatic Therapy and Others?

    Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Yud Shevat/Basi L’Gani  What is the main theme of Basi L’Gani and this year’s 16th chapter? What is the mission of our generation? What is the role of Gan Eden today? Why can’t the Divine be revealed in the presence of sins? What treasures are being splurged to win today’s wars? If the treasures are being splurged, why are some of us struggling financially? How do we benefit from learning about higher spiritual worlds and levels of G-dliness that we might be unable to access in our physical world?   Does the power to conceal require deeper energy than the power to reveal? How would you define a Rebbe in one word? How do you translate “bittul”? Is tzedakah an act of bittul?  Should we add tzedakah in honor of Yud Shevat? What is the Torah view on alternative forms of healing, such as breathwork, plant medicine, somatic therapy and others?

    1h 7m

  5. JAN 23

    Ep. 577: What Is the Practical and Personal Significance of Yud Shevat?

    Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Rosh Chodesh Shevat • What is the significance of this month and what should be the main focus of our avodah in this time? 02:36 • What do we learn from the mazal of Shevat – bucket (d’li)? 02:36 • What does the word Shevat mean? 07:20Bo • What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? 10:42 • Why does this parsha combine both the end of the exile and the beginning of the redemption? 11:04 • Why does it mean that during the plague of darkness, there was “light among the Jews”? 14:30 • Why did that light not dispel the surrounding darkness? 17:39 • Why did Pharaoh survive the plague of the firstborn? 21:22 • Why did the exodus begin with the mitzvah of HaChodesh Hazeh Lochem, establishing a lunar based calendar, and why was this the first commandment in Torah? 23:03 • What was the significance of offering the Pascal Lamb and what was the process? 27:16How can we benefit today from the fact that the Jews left Egypt with great wealth? 30:44Vaeirah • What is the story behind the maamar of the Alter Rebbe called "Der Frumer Vaeirah”? Follow-up 35:18Yud Shevat/Basi L’Gani • What is the significance of this day in practical and personal terms? 44:28 57:24 • How does Basi L’Gani describe the purpose of our lives (in the first 10 chapters), and the treasures we are given to fulfill this purpose (in the last 10 chapters)? 44:28 57:24 • What is a summary and chiddush of this year’s chapter 16 of Basi L’Gani? 44:28 57:24 • Why are all sevenths beloved, when the number eight represents a higher, transcendent level? 01:00:33

    1h 2m

  6. JAN 12

    Ep. 576: What Are We to Make of the Uprisings in Iran?

    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?

    1h 5m

  7. JAN 7

    Ep. 575:What Can Be Done About “Discrimination” Against Ba’alei Teshuva or Others Seen as Outsiders?

    Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Chof Teves  What is the significance of the Rambam’s yahrzeit?  What makes a leader different than a scholar?What does the Egyptian exile teach us about dealing with difficulties? What did the Rebbe say about this day? What did he have in common with the Alter Rebbe? What personal lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? Why do we recount the suffering in Egypt?What does the story of Moshe’s birth teach us?  What is the significance of him being born before the enslavement began and that he himself was not a slave? Why did Hashem appear to Moshe in a burning bush? Why did Moshe challenge G-d by saying “Why are You doing evil to these people?” After the Egyptian exile and redemption why was there a need for other exiles? How can we understand the tzimtzum in simple and practical terms? What does “Yaakov Avinu lo mes” mean? Is there a plan to print more Chassidus in English? Shemos Vayechi Are there any relevant lessons to be learned from the United States toppling the Venezuelan president? Hei Teves What can be done about "discrimination" against Ba'alei Teshuva or others seen as outsiders? If I feel that my teacher is not being fair, how can I challenge him without being disrespectful?

    1h 4m

  8. 12/29/2025

    Ep. 574: What Does the Cold Winter Teach Us?

    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

    1h 5m
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About

MyLife: Chassidus Applied Podcast by Simon Jacobson addresses the personal and emotional needs of our community by answering the most pressing questions of our lives -- from the perspective of Chassidic thought. The podcast demonstrates how the Torah provides us with a comprehensive blueprint of the human psyche as a microcosm of the cosmos, and offers us all the guidance we need to live the healthiest possible life and build nurturing homes and families, bringing up the healthiest possible children, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Get unlimited free downloads of MP3 recordings o

Information

  • Creator
    Rabbi Simon Jacobson
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    379
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rabbi Simon Jacobson
  • Show Website
    MyLife: Chassidus Applied

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