All Classes

This class was presented on Friday, 17 Teves, 5785, January 17, 2025, Parshas Shemos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This is the second class in a series on the discourse Basi Legani by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, presented at the Farbrengen of 10 Shevat 5725 (1965). This class explores the meaning of the words in the Zohar, “The infinite light extends downward to no limit and upward to no end,” as teaching us three distinct ideas about the Divine light creating the universe: 1. The expression of the Divine is infinite like its source. The infinite oneness is manifested and expressed in the lowest places of existence. 3. The infinite light is manifested even in the most profound darkness and concealment.

We discuss the secret of Tzimtzum and the metaphor of the Black Hole. We also explain the difference between the Rambam and Aristotle and why surrendering control is the key to all growth. The class discusses the purpose of creation as articulated by the Alter Rebbe, and why we must not be afraid of the darkness and concealment in our lives.

This class was presented on Thursday, 16 Teves, 5785, January 16, 2025, Parshas Shemos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This is the first class in a series on the discourse Basi Legani by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, presented at the Farbrengen of 10 Shevat 5725 (1965). This class explores the purpose of creation, how we revolutionize the world, what it takes to win the war against falsehood and darkness, and how the King splurges the most profound secrets and treasures to win the battle. 

We tell the story of the Rebbe explaining the game of chess to world chess champion Sam Reshevsky and how the Alter Rebbe assuaged the ire of Reb Pinchas of Koritz for spreading Chassidus. Why did the Vilna Gaon oppose Chassidus? What was the reason for the Baal Shem Tov revealing Chassidus?

This class was presented on Tuesday, 14 Teves, 5785, January 14, 2025, Parshas Shemos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Rabbi YY Jacobson presents the keynote lecture at the event for the Mashadi Community of Great Neck, NY, at Shaare Shalom Synagogue on Tuesday, 14 Teves, 5785, Jan 14th, 2025.

This class was presented on Monday, 13 Teves, 5785, January 13, 2025, Parshas Shemos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. It is the fourth in a series on the Alter Rebbe's discourse "Rani V'simchi" (Torah or Miketz/Chanukah), exploring how our breathing and its rhythm effects a cosmic process.

This class, the third in a series on Rani V'simchi (Torah Or Miketz/Chanukah), was presented on Thursday, 9 Teves, 5785, January 9, 2025, Parshas Vayechi, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

How does the breath work? As we breathe, we tune into the cosmic breath of the Divine. We exhale and surrender, then we inhale and refill ourselves with the life-force and energy. 

This class was presented on Tuesday, 7 Teves, 5785, January 7, 2025, Parshas Vayechi, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

We all carry pain in our hearts. Sometimes it's an old wound that won't let go, sometimes a betrayal that's hard to forget, and sometimes a deep feeling of loneliness that no one understands. This class reveals the deep secret of Yosef—the person who went through the greatest darkness and turned it into light. How did a boy who lost his mother at the age of 8, was thrown into a pit full of snakes by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused of a false conspiracy, and spent 12 years in prison – how did he manage not only to survive but to love with so much joyful presence, happiness, and serenity? How did he remain sensitive and open rather than become cynical and stone-like?

If you are dealing with:

• Deep mental pain

• Traumas from the past

• Emotional crises

• Loneliness and disconnection

• An injury that is hard to forget

• A feeling of helplessness

This class will show you how to get out of the darkness and into the light, reconnect with the joy of life, and discover the divine power that lies within us.

This class, the second in a series on Torah Or Miketz/Chanukah Rani V'simchi, was presented on Monday, 6 Teves, 5785, January 6, 2025, Parshas Vayechi, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

We explored the words of the Zohar that around 1840 there will be an explosion of wisdom in the world. The synergy between science and Jewish mysticism, and how all is leading to oneness. 

This class, on the Maamar Rani V'simchi in Torah Or Miketz/Chanukah was presented on Thursday, 2 Teves, Zos Chanukah, 5785, January 2, 2025, Parshas Vayigash, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This discourse explains the three names we are given in Tanach—daughters, sisters, and spouses of G-d. It explores the essential fabric of reality as a state of infinite oneness and wholeness because even the creation and the Providence in all of existence do not alter the state of oneness and perfection of everything as is. To live authentically is to hold space for the duality of reality, as the ultimate perfection and as a broken world we need to repair and heal.

Creation is defined as a word, the Divine word. This captures the nature of reality as Divine energy, which can be “plagiarized” as our own, detaching it from the Divine source. Like the wave that takes credit for itself, but when it crashes, it loses all, unless it understands that it is all part of the ocean.

But each word first exists as a thought, as an emotion, as an idea, as part of the subconscious. The same is true with the world: even while it is a word, it can still be experienced as a thought, as an emotion, as awareness, and as part of the infinite wholeness of Hashem.

How do we reconcile traditional physics with quantum physics? It is all based on the prism through which we perceive reality, from the “word” to the divine infinite source. 

The class explores the ancient argument among philosophers if G-d is capable of doing illogical things; is He defined by logic at all, or not? How modern physics demonstrates the truths articulated in Kabbalah and Chassidus. 

We discuss how Divine oneness is ultimately about experience, but the education of it allows us to go to experience, just like Google Maps can’t get you to Miami, but it can show you the way and encourage you when you get stuck in traffic.

Day #8: Chanukah 5785 -- a Video a Day