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This is the eighth and final class in the series of a text-based class on the Chassidic discourse, Basi Legani 5724 (1964), which was said by the Lubavitcher Rebbe 60 years ago at the Farbrengen of Motzei Shabbos Beshalach, 11 Shevat, 5724, January 25, 1964. 

Rabbi YY Jacobson presented this class on Sunday 11 Shvat, 5784, January 21, 2024, in Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY.

This is the seventh of a series of a text-based class on the Chassidic discourse, Basi Legani 5724 (1964), which was said by the Lubavitcher Rebbe 60 years ago at the Farbrengen of Motzei Shabbos Beshalach, 11 Shevat, 5724, January 25, 1964. Rabbi YY Jacobson presented this class on Thursday, 8 Shvat, 5784, January 18, 2024, in Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY.

This class explores the practical relevance of “Atzilus” in our lives, expressed in the life of Yosef. His brothers, who came from Beriah, could not fathom his lifestyle: How can you be enmeshed in running a superpower, yet remain anchored in Divinity? Yosef explained to them: “Do you think I am lower than Elokim?” they were from Beriah, Yosef was from Atzilus. And in the world of Atzilus, even the finite and defined thought is an expression of infinite consciousness. 

With this the Alter Rebbe explains how Hashem contains all thoughts of every human being, without this constitution “alien thoughts.” And how the Baal Shem Tov managed to answer people about their individual issues while his soul ascended to heaven. Tzaddikim who mirror their Creator can remain present with every thought and emotion, with every person where he or she is, while not “leaving” the “space” of infinite oneness.

The Baal Shem Tov set an example for each of us. How can I listen to the conversations within myself, respond to the various parts inside of me throwing out questions, with the empathy of my core Divine self, now allowing any thought to tear me away from my intimacy with the Divine?

This is the sixth of a series of a text-based class on the Chassidic discourse, Basi Legani 5724 (1964), which was said by the Lubavitcher Rebbe 60 years ago at the Farbrengen of Motzei Shabbos Beshalach, 11 Shevat, 5724, January 25, 1964. Rabbi YY Jacobson gave this class on Wednesday, 7 Shvat, 5784, January 17, 2024, in Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY.

This class explores the true meaning of “the infinite light permeating the lowest places.” This does not mean that the light is present everywhere, but rather that it constitutes the truth of every reality, and yet it remains pure infinity. The paradox is explained via a profound discussion on the nature of “the vessels of Atzilus,” where finiteness and definition are first introduced into the Divine infinite reality.

The Alter Rebbe uses the metaphor of transmitting information via the fingers to explain how the very finite reality, from another prism is pure infinity. We go on to explain how darkness and evil can come from Hashem, because all darkness and negativity begins in the process of measuring the “frequencies” of light.

The class explores the emotional ramifications of this explanation, where we can be fully present in our pain and struggle, we can face adversity with full presence, yet remain anchored in the pure infinite core of all reality. Logic will not do the trick; because it forces truth and infinity into intellectual constructs.  

Hashem may be the best therapist; but what if your therapist is responsible for the pain? Then the equation changes profoundly. How do we deal with this quandary?

The distinction between meditation or other methods that help you experience transcendence, to touch consciousness, disengaged from thoughts, vs. the deeper path of fusion and integration, where the finite thought can also express pure infinite consciousness.

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This class was presented on Tuesday, Parshas Bo, 6 Shvat, 5784, January 16, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

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Waych the full class here

This is the fifth of a series of a text-based class on the Chassidic discourse, Basi Legani 5724 (1964), which was said by the Lubavitcher Rebbe 60 years ago at the Farbrengen of Motzei Shabbos Beshalach, 11 Shevat, 5724, January 25, 1964. Rabbi YY Jacobson gave this class on Monday, 5 Shvat, 5784, January 15, 2024, in Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY.

This class explores how a human being given the gift of free choice can degrade himself or herself even lower than “klipa,” which is part of the cosmic program and never deviates from the Divine plan and code, where a human being can deviate from the code, since he reflects his Creator who is free and is the author of the code of life. We discussed at length how Pharaoh lost his free choice, and how it is only awareness of who you really are that gives you that freedom.

The class explains how even in the abyss one can find and discover the presence of the infinite love of G-d, similar to Yonah who when swallowed by the whale declares: “From the belly of hell, I have cried out to you.” We explore the meaning of hair in Kabbalah and why married women cover their hair.

This is the fourth of a series of a text-based class on the Chassidic discourse, Basi Legani 5724 (1964), which was said by the Lubavitcher Rebbe 60 years ago at the Farbrengen of Motzei Shabbos Beshalach, 11 Shevat, 5724, January 25, 1964. Rabbi YY Jacobson gave this class on Thursday, 1 Shvat, 5784, January 11, 2024, in Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY.

The class explains the process of creation every moment, something from nothing, and how we can perceive the Divine life-force animating and engineering every creature. We discuss how turtles lay their eggs, and how empty space constitutes most of the atom.

We explore the deeper meaning of the words of the Talmud how G-d sustains the horns of the wild ox to the eggs of lice, and how even in the world of “kinim,” where we “plagiarize” the Divine words and misconstrue them as belonging to our ego, the infinite light is fully present, hence there is always home for inner healing and redemption.

The class explains the laws about how nicknames are written in a Get, based on a Maharik, and how it reflects the distortions we can experience in our world.