8:00pm: Joy & Jewish Pride, Sadness vs. Clinical Depression

This week’s edition of MyLife: Chassidus Applied with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Episode 58, will air tonight, Sunday, here on CrownHeights.info, beginning at 8:00pm. This week Rabbi Jacobson will address the topics in a Pre-Purim Special on Joy and Jewish Pride, Sadness vs. Clinical Depression; Arrogance vs. Chassidishe Confidence.

Purim touches on many fundamental themes in our lives. The first being joy. We have the mitzvah to be happy in life, especially in the month of Adar and on Purim. But how is this practical when we are faced with challenges and pain that do the opposite of bringing joy into our lives? Is it realistic to always be b’simchah, filled with real joy? Seems like an impossible standard. Furthermore, when we are in a state of despondency, how can we differentiate between sadness and depression? How to make practical what Tanya says in chapter 26 and on?

Another Purim theme that will be addressed in episode 58 is Jewish pride, Goan Yaakov. Pride is a crucial ingredient to our survival, such as Mordechai refusing to bow to Haman. However sometimes it may come off as being arrogant or condescending. How do we assure that our abundant confidence does not become sheer conceit? How do we distinguish between healthy and unhealthy audacity?

Other topics to be addressed are identifying and eradicating Amalek in our lives. How to use Chassidus to mediate conflicts? And more.

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 www.meaningfullife.com/mylifelive.

The topics in this Sunday’s hour-long broadcast will include:

  • Chassidus Applied to Purim
  • Jewish pride vs. arrogance
  • Conflict management and mediation according to Chassidus
  • Can you be joyous when you are sad?
  • Sadness vs. clinical depression
  • Molestation follow-up

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, 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. 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 MP3’s for listening on the go.

Questions may be submitted anonymously at www.meaningfullife.com/mylifelive.