Emunah Series by Rabbi YY Jacobson

Women's Vaeira Class/The Emunah Series : This women's class was presented on Tuesday Parshas Vaeira, 24Teves, 5780, January 21, 2020, at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

The Emunah Series/Women's Class Ki Seitzei: This women's class was presented on Tuesday Parshas Ki Seitzi, 10 Elul, 5779, September 10, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY There is a strange Mishnah concerning a mitzvah in the portion of Ki Seitzei. Someone who says, Your mercy extends upon a nest of birds, is to be silenced Someone who says Modim Modim twice, Thank You G-d, Thank You G-d, is to be silenced. What is the juxtaposition between the two casesthe person who speaks of G-ds compassion to the birds, and the person who says Modim twice. Why does the Mishnah pair them together in a single sentence and dictates us to silence them both equally? The class presents a fabulous interpretation by Rabbi Yosef Chayim (1835-1909), the Ben Ish Chai, chief Rabbi of Baghdad. There is another enigmatic Mishnah in Ethics of the Fathers: Rebbi would say: Which is the right path for a person to choose for himself? Whatever is beautiful for the one who does it, and is also perceived as beautiful by other people. Both the question and answer are deeply problematic. How can the Mishnahthe primary body of the Jewish oral transition and lawwonder what is the right path for a person? For this, we were given the Torah! What is more, the Mishnah emphasizes that the person ought to choose the right path. Is this the Jewish approach? Since when did the Mishnah become so liberal as to allow each person to choose his or her path in life?! Even more strange is the author of this questionnone other than Rabbi Judah the Prince, who was the spiritual leader of the Jewish people during his day, and the editor of the Mishnahthe main body of Jewish law and tradition. His answer seems no less startling. Rebbi suggests to each person to choose a path that he considers beautiful, and that others consider beautiful. Really? What if what I think is beautiful contradicts the Torah? And what if what the street considered glorious undermines the moral system of Judaism? These questions were raised by the Lubavitcher Rebbe during his fabrengen on Shabbos Parshas Tazria-Metzora 5748 (May, 1988). I still remember the intensity of the Rebbes powerful questions on this Mishnahseemingly out of sync with what we often think of Judaism. And then the Rebbe presented one of the most beautiful and inspiring explanations. In my minds eye I can still see and hear the Rebbe share these moving insights, which reframed my perspective on Judaism.

The Emunah Series: This lecture was delivered at the National Jewish Retreat of JLI, in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. on Thursday, August 15, 2019 (14 Av, 5779).

Gemarah Pesachim #76: This class was presented on Thursday Parshas Eikev, 21Av, 5779, August 22, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

Chassidus: Maamar Reb Hillel Eisa B'Psikta #19: This class was presented on Thursday Parshas Eikev, 21Av, 5779, August 22, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

Gemarah Pesachim #75: This class was presented on Wednesday Parshas Eikev, 20Av, 5779, August 21, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

Chassidus: Maamar Reb Hillel Eisa B'Psikta #18: This class was presented on Wednesday Parshas Eikev, 20Av, 5779, August 21, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

Women's Eikev Class: This women's class was presented onTuesday Parshas Eikev, 19Av, 5779, August 20, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY. The Jewish people are standing at the Eastern side of the Jordan river. They are poised to enter the Promised Land. Their faithful leader, Moshe, speaks to them. These are his words: "Hear, O Israel! Today, you are crossing the Jordan to come in to possess nations greater and stronger than you, great cities, fortified up to the heavens. A colossal and towering nation, the children of the giants, whom you know and of whom you have heard said, "Who can stand against the children of the giants?!" This is mind-staggering. Moshe is repeating, almost verbatim, the words the Ten Spies uttered 39 years earlier which caused an unparalleled catastrophe, and derailed Jewish history from its course. Is this for real? After everything they have been through, Moses repeatsas we said, almost verbatimthe terrifying and destructively-impactful words of the spies which sowed terror and dread in all of their brethren hearts! It is here that we discover the truth of Torah. Judaismdoes not deny reality; it does not sell us the Brooklyn Bridge. It acknowledged the real fears internal and external hardships, but it also says: Hashem is with you; you can confront every fear.Life is difficult, but if you can accept that, then life can be a lot of fun! CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a powerful tool, but sometimes it can fail you. It is then that you need another, very different tool -- articulated in this story of Eikev. The lecture is based on an address by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shabbos Parshas Eikev, 23 Av, 5731, August 14, 1971.

Gemarah Pesachim #74: This class was presented onTuesday Parshas Eikev, 19Av, 5779, August 20, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

Chassidus: Maamar Reb Hillel Eisa B'Psikta #17: This class was presented onTuesday Parshas Eikev, 19Av, 5779, August 20, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY