Education by Rabbi YY Jacobson

Chicago Education Lecture: This lecture for Madreigos Midwest of Chicago, helping children with social or academic challenges, was presented on Thursday Parshas Vayigash 3 Teves 5778, December 21, 2017

Torah Or Vayishlach Yaakov #2: This class, on , was presented on Thursday Parshas Vayishlach, 15 Kislev 5777, December 15, 2016. Understanding Eisav's Holiness: Yearning for Infinite Expression. Faced with a Moment of Chaos, It Is Time to Expand Your Horizons. The class explains the perspective of Yitzchak on Eisav and his son Elifaz. Yitzchak was not gullible and naive; he was deep. The class explores the difference between the life of the free bohemian and the man of finite structure, and why so many people today reject the path of marriage and commitment. Which path does Judaism embrace? What was the debate between the Vilna Gaon and the Baal Shem Tov? How the Baal HaTanya wanted to show how Halacha can contain the infinite energy of Eisav. The divine structure is never afraid of Tohu.

Toldos Womens Class: This women's class was presented on Tuesday Parshas Toldos, 25 Cheshvan, 5778, November 14, 2017, at Beis Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Tuesday Woman's Rosh Hashanah Class: This women's class was presented on Tuesday, 21 Elul 5777, September 12, 2017, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. The class explores the debate in the Mishnah about the shape of the shofar and the debate if we take a breath between the Shevarim and the Teruah -- on a deeper emotional, psychological and spiritual level. Delving into the Attachment theory in psychology and in Judaism, the class explains two states of consciousness, Igulim and Yosher, oneness and separation, and how ultimately, it is in the synthesis of both that we can find our wholesomeness and meaning in life.

Hashkafa/Chinuch: During a class with Rabbi YY Jacobson, in Tamuz 5777, July 2017, a man related that when he eight years of age, he asked a question in class about a redundancy in a Pasuk in Parshas Bo. His teacher mocked the question and for the next 8 years this question became the paradigm of a foolish comment. This boy never asked a question again in class.32 years later, this young man related this story. Here is Rabbi YY Jacobson's response.

Balak Women's Class: This women's was presented on Tuesday Parshas Balak, 10 Tamuz, 5777, July 4, 2017, at Ohr Chaim shul in Monsey, NY. It is one of the strangest stories in the Torahwhen the donkey suddenly opens its mouth. But why the need for this strange and funny miracle? What was the point of a donkey seeing an angel, Balaam beating it because he could not see anything in front of him, and then the donkey opening its mouth? Why the need for this strange and humorous miracle? What exactly do we gain from knowing that the wicket Balaam managed to hear a donkey speak? Many commentators have offered various perspectives. Today we will offer one insight (I heard it from Reb Avi Fishoff). The Torah here is using a striking parable to convey a vital and critical message about education, mentoring and parenting. It is a message that can be a game changer today as we encounter so many young men and women giving up on themselves. Last week, a young 21 year old woman from Brooklyn died from overdose. Malky struggled for years with a terrible learning disability and when she was expelled from schools that were clueless, she lost her dignity and ultimately, after many a struggle, fell prey to drugs. She was a brilliant artist, a spunky and fun girl, with a heart of gold, but surrounded by clueless educators she lost faith in herself, though her family was as loving and supportive as anyone can be.

Behaaloscha/Korach/Pinchas: This women's class was presented on Tuesday Parshas Behaaloscha, 12 Sivan 5777, June 6, 2017, at Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY

This class was presented to women on Tuesday Parshas Emor, 13 Iyar 5777, May 9, 2017 at Ohr Chaim shul in Monsey, NY

Pesach/Toldos Shuir in the Five Towns: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson at Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid in Lawrence, NY, with an introduction by its spiritual leader, Rabbi Mordechai Stern. Why Do We Teach Children to Steal on the Night of Our Freedom? Stealing the Afikoman: The Halacha & the Spirituality -- The Night When You Have to Deceive Yourself. What is fascinating and deeply perplexing if not disturbing is the tradition in many homes, that the Afikomanthe larger piece of matzah hidden away till the end of the Passover mealis stolen! One, or a few, of the children, steal the Afikoman and hide it. They refuse to return it till father or mother promises them the world: It used to be a bike, a calculator (remember when kids got excited by calculators?), the new dress, the new book. Nowadays its the new iphone, ipod, ipad, trip to Europe, or even a Lamborghini. Do we really need to encourage our children to steal? Whats the educational benefit here? In Jewish law, it is absolutely forbidden to steal from a friend even as a joke or to teach a lesson, even if one has no intention of keeping the stolen object. How did Passover change this? What is the meaning of this mysterious, disturbing and morally objectionable custom to steal the Afikoman? In truth, the theme of stealing seems to be at the core of the entire Passover narrative. The Torah relates how Moshe deceived Pharaoh, telling him that the Jews were leaving Egypt for three days. But why did Moshe need to act deceptively, and not communicate honestly with Pharaoh? One more story occurred on the night of Passover. And lo and beholdit also involves thievery! It was on Pesach when Jacob dressed up like his brother Esau and stole the blessings that Isaac was planning to give to Esau. And it was on Pesach when Queen Esther declared that she would enter into the chamber of the king without his permission. She would trespass her boundaries. Is this how we celebrate freedom? By stealing, deceiving, and manipulating? In truth, it is the deception of Pharaoh, the deception of Esau, and in many communities the stealing of the Afikoman, which captures the core of the Pesach experience.

Do You Ever Throw a Child Out of the House? How to Deal with Rebellious Children. This class was presented in Adar 5777, March 2017, at Ohr Chain, Monsey, NY, at the conclusion of the daily Gemarah Shuir, Rosh Hashanah 16b, where the Gemarah says that Yishmael was judged based on his present siaution, not based on his future generations. The class was a response to the question, why, then, when it comes to a Ben Sorer Umoreh do we judge him based on his future, not his present?