8:00pm: Has the Role of a Rebbe Changed?

This week’s edition of MyLife: Chassidus Applied with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Episode 121, will air tonight, Sunday, here on CrownHeights.info, beginning at 8:00pm. This week Rabbi Jacobson will address the topics: Is It Possible that What Was Relevant 25 Years Ago is Not Relevant Now? Has the Role of a Rebbe Changed? What is the Significance of Writing a “Pan”? What Meaning Can We Find in Gimmel Tammuz?

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This special Chof Ches Sivan and Gimmel Tammuz edition of MyLife: Chassidus Applied, will be dedicated to discussing matters directly related to the Rebbe. How is the role of a Rebbe fundamentally different to other religious leaders? Where does the term Nasi Hador originate? Has the role of the Rebbe changed?

“I was always taught that Torah takes into account the evolution of time and people’s nature changing, hence different generations had different challenges and circumstances. It seems then that the relevance of something depends on the respective time. Is it possible that what was relevant and imperative 25 years ago is no longer relevant? How do we know that the significance of something hasn’t changed over time?”

Other topics that will be discussed include:

  •  The significance of Chof Ches Sivan: 75 years later
  •  Why do we celebrate the Rebbe’s birthday if the Rebbe isn’t getting physically older?
  •  Is “Yaakov Avinu Lo Mes” literal?
  • What does Torah say about a second spouse after Techiyas Hamaysim?

Rabbi Jacobson will also review the following essays submitted in last year’s MyLife: Chassidus Applied essay contest: “Positive Thinking through Powerful Faith” by Daniel Feld, “Seeing the Other Side” by Sarah Barash, and “Meaning in Mind” by Shterny Fogelman. These and other essays can be read online at meaningfullife.com/essays.

And finally, the Chassidus question of the week: Everything that happens to the Rebbeim is obviously divinely ordained and connected to the revelation of Chassidus (in addition to everything being driven by hashgacha protis). With that in mind, can you explain Gimmel Tammuz in that context? Being such a negative and inexplicable day, what meaning can we find in it?

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 atmeaningfullife.com/mylife.

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

  • Chassidus Applied to Korach and Gimmel Tammuz
  • 75th anniversary of Chof Ches Sivan
  • Is it possible that the relevance of what was said 25 years ago has changed?
  • What is the significance of writing a pan?
  • Where does the expression Nasi Hador originate?
  • What does Torah say about a second spouse after Techiyas Hamaysim?
  • Follow up
    – Eruv
    – Rabbonim
  • Chassidus Question: What meaning can we find in Gimmel Tammuz? Please explain this day in context of the fact that everything that happens to the Rebbeim is obviously divinely ordained and connected to the revelation of Chassidus.
  • MyLife Essays: Positive Thinking Through Powerful Faith; Seeing the Other Side; Meaning in Mind

In what has now become a staple in so many people’s lives, 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 and great care has to be taken when speaking openly, 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 week after week. 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 MP3s for listening on the go.

Questions may be submitted anonymously at meaningfullife.com/mylife.