8:00pm: Torah Education for Women Today

This week’s edition of MyLife: Chassidus Applied with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Episode 53, will air tonight, Sunday, here on CrownHeights.info, beginning at 8:00pm. This week Rabbi Jacobson will address the topics: Torah Education for Women Today; The Holy Spirit of Madness; Livelihood vs. Home Life Balance; Beard Picking and Trimming (part 2); How Did a Good G-d Create Evil?

According to the Rebbe, what are a woman’s obligations today regarding Torah study? How do they differ from a man’s obligations?  What changed over past generations? Are we surrendering to the “feminist” movement, or are we pioneering true “feminism”?

How do we apply to our lives today Yud Shvat and the theme of shtus d’kedusha in chapter five of Basi L’Gani (corresponding to this year’s study cycle)? Rabbi Jacobson will elaborate further on the topic of madness, and how the absurdity of life and our foolish sub-rational embrace of social behavior (shtus d’leumas zeh) can be transformed into the fiery passion of supra-rational madness.

This week’s episode will also continue the discussion about beards, why should we grow full beards, the distinction between a nervous habit of picking one’s beard vs. a purposeful decision to “maintain” one’s facial hair.  Should we decline a good job opportunity if it compromises our home life? Are jobs that require overnight travel appropriate? Is it possible to work with only our hands –and not our hearts and mind – and be successful? How could a good G-d create evil in this world?

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 atwww.meaningfullife.com/mylifelive.

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

  • MyLife: Essay Contest updates
  • Yud Shvat applied: the holy spirit of madness
  • The Beard: picking and trimming (continued)
  • Guidelines on women’s Torah study
  • Livelihood compromising home life
  • Is it possible to work with only hand – not head and heart?
  • Anatomy of evil: Theodicy according to Chassidus

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.

One Comment

  • YMSP

    Congrats to CH.info for using the correct term.

    Another site used “feminism,” which has precious little to do with women’s rights. This was the message sent to them:

    There are a lot of sites (other sites – BH not CH.info) that incorrectly use the term “feminism” to denote women’s rights. Nobody in the secular world would define “feminism” in such a way. It would be becoming of them to use the words “women’s rights” if that’s what they mean and not use the word, feminist.

    If they don’t know the difference (which is both stark and profound) they have an obligation to speak with professors on the issue, find out what the term actually means before using it and see if that’s what they want to use. “Women’s rights” is more clear and not at all controversial. It’s also the proper term for the point that they’re seeking to convey.

    Congrats to Ch.info for using a clear and non-controversial term. Hope that others learn from you.