A Shliach, A Karate Master, A Writer, A Major…

As reported at the time, Rabbi Fishel Jacobs of Kfar Chabad, Israel retired from his prestigious Israel government rabbinical post last year, Elul. His hope was that this would allow him to better serve an”ash, and the public in general, by being able to dedicate more time to writing and appearances.

Many readers may be aware that Rabbi Jacobs authored the acclaimed Family Purity – A Guide to Marital Fulfillment.

Additionally, for over thirteen years he served as a full-time prison chaplain with the Israel Prison Service, I.P.S. He was a staff officer, his rank was Major.

After retiring, Rabbi Jacobs released a powerful book titled: Israel Behind Bars – True Stories of Hope and Redemption. This is the first book ever describing life deep inside the walls of Israel’s maximum security prisons. It focuses on the author’s emotion packed narratives, vividly describing his hands – on working relationship with thousands of hardened inmates. The Israeli government took over two years to authorize the book’s release.

In an interview, Rabbi Jacobs emphasized, “This is a book the world had to see. Nowadays, worldwide – not excluding the U.S. – “Israel bashing” is rampant. We see it daily: Slews of ‘media-reports’ blatantly ‘reporting’ prisoner abuse, sub-human living conditions etc – an ongoing and vigorously funded defamation campaign. It’s great fuel for anti-semitism. But not for much more. Because it’s almost invariably total lies.

Unfortunately, no one in the States answers, largely because, frankly, no one really knows. So, I’m more than happy to try to reveal the true story, defuse some of the vehemence.”

We asked Rabbi Jacobs if his prison chaplaincy was affected strongly by his being a Chabad Rabbi, per se. “For sure,” he answered. “Over half the I.P.S. chaplaincy is made up of Chabad Rabbis! It’s great! I think that we are natural choices for the position. After all, the basis of Chasidus is the fact that every Jew has a G-dly soul. Sometimes it’s covered up, sometimes it’s concealed. But it’s always there, it’s always complete. You just have to help it shine. Just like the shluchim worldwide are the perfect vessel to do that outside of prisons, I saw that the Chabad rabonim are great at doing that inside the prisons. I hope that this idea, helping the “pintele Yid” shine forth, is what the reader gets from these completely true stories.” (See flash-site, and promo videos, at: www.IsraelBehindBars.com.)

We asked Rabbi Jacobs for an update of his activities since retiring. His reply:

“During this last year, Family Purity-A Guide To Marital Fulfillment underwent yet another printing! We continuously hear of study groups sprouting up worldwide using it as their text. We also hear great feedback from counselors and people who run mikvehs telling us how much the book helps them exactly when they need it”

“The graphics in the calendars of the supplementary insert, Times, have been completely upgraded, making them even more user-friendly. Also, by popular public demand they’ve been extended until the year 5774! And, Times is now a free download on our site!”

In conclusion, we asked Rabbi Jacobs what he’ll be investing most of his time doing this coming year.

“Another sefer, on the laws of cooking on Shabbos, according to Chabad custom, is poised for publication. We’ll be continuing our shlichus at Tel Aviv University (www.ChabadTAU.com) as we have for over seventeen years.”

“In an unexpected development, I was honored this year by being awarded an eighth degree karate master instructor promotion, an event which was a tremendous kiddush Hashem and which we’ll report separately at length.”

“Finally, I hope to find time to accept more invitations to spread the halachos in Family Purity, and speaking engagements about my prison chaplaincy.”

Rabbi Jacobs’ books are available locally, of course, and online through www.Amazon.com & www.BarnesandNoble.com.