What lessons can we learn from the Rebbe regarding this crisis? Our responseWhat can we learn from the teachings of the Mitteler Rebbe to give us chizuk during this time of war? Actions Reactions to the rally Kiddush Hashem: Beauty of the Jews Empowering Torah Portions  

Strength and Direction Actions Empowering Torah Portions  How Does the Story End? 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

Strength and Direction

What should be our general attitude to recent events?

How should we react to this tragedy?

How should we deal with fear?

What should we tell our children?

Should we be traveling to Israel now?

Should we be leaving Israel?

Actions

What actions should we be taking?

What more should we be doing?

Should there be special emphasis on Mivtza Mezuzah?

Are our increased good actions making a difference?

How do we know that our good deeds help? They didn’t seem to help the Jews in WWII?

Should we “boycott” mitzvos to motivate G-d?

Can our words make a difference?

How can we increase in Jewish unity – ahavas and achdus Yisroel?

How can we get all the shluchim to unite in one Kinus?

Should we organize a million-man march?

Should we participate in a pro-Israel rally where there may be potential safety concerns?

Empowering Torah Portions

How does the story of Yishmael and Yitzchak unfold in this week’s Torah portion?

What is its relevance and lessons for us today?

What battles were foreseen to happen with the children of Yishmael in the end of days?

Will our enemies do teshuva as Yishmael did at the end of this week’s parsha?

Empowering Torah Portions 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

Overview

How to find strength and direction in these times?

What can we learn from the flood destroying the “world filled with chamas” (in Parshas Noach) for our times today?

What should Israel be doing now?

What do we learn from Jacob when he prepared to confront Esau?

Why don’t we try to appease our enemies?

Should we celebrate when our enemies are destroyed?

Are these events teaching us that we need to all move to Israel?

How does Chassidus explain evil and how to eradicate it?

How can things be getting worse instead of getting better if we are doing the things the Rebbe asked us to do?

What are the roots and the deeper inside story behind this war?

Where do we find these origins in this week’s Torah portion?

Please elaborate on the prescient verses in this week’s parsha about current events – the Promised Land, the covenant, the birth of Yishmael and Isaac

What was the “deep dark dread” that fell upon Abraham? Was he shown the wars and suffering his children would endure in the future?

Are today's conflicts a continuation of unresolved problems between Yitzchok and Yishmael?

How could someone like Yishmael originate from the tzaddik Avraham?

How is Yishmael still causing problems if Yishmael did teshuva later in his life?

What will the end story look like?

Will the Muslims ultimately be tamed and live in peace with the Jews, just as the Christians did after close to 2000 years of persecuting us?

Should we at some point teach the people in Gaza and everywhere else the Seven Noachide Laws?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

TISHREI

What is the significance of this month?

ROSH HASHANA

How do I personalize Rosh Hashana?

Why is there no special commemoration of Elul 25, when the world was created?

Why do some people have the custom to visit cemeteries Erev Rosh Hashana?

If we can narrow it down, what is the single most important thing we need to do on Rosh Hashana?

What is the book of life and how do we get inscribed (with a “full page ad”) in it?

Why do we dip an apple in honey?

Is it better to make good resolutions that are small but easily achievable, or larger and more difficult ones?

Is it appropriate to resolve to transgress and then refrain from doing so?

Why can’t Rosh Hashana be on a Friday when the first Rosh Hashana was a Friday?

Why don’t we sound the Shofar on Shabbos? How does Shabbos spiritually accomplish the same thing that blowing the shofar accomplishes?

Has anyone yet come up with an acronym for the new year tof shin pey daled?

TEN DAYS OF TESHUVA

What is the significance of these days and how do I personalize them?

YOM KIPPUR

How do I personalize Yom Kippur?

Why does Yom Kippur come after Rosh Hashana?

Why did the Rebbe dance on a chair during Napolean's March?

YOM KIPPUR TO SUKKOS

What is the significance of the four-day transition from Yom Kippur to Sukkos?

Why is Sukkos such a joyous holiday?

Is it related to Yom Kippur?

How do I personalize Simchas Torah?

HOLIDAYS

How does Chassidus explain the spiritual energy of all the high holidays and why they all come together at the beginning of the year?

Is it called the high holidays because our prayers can travel higher than normal during these holidays

Is there a limit how far our prayers can travel through the spiritual worlds? Can our prayers reach the essence of G-d?

SUKKOS

Why is Sukkos not in the Spring after Pesach?

Are those that sleep in a Sukkah doing anything wrong?

Hakhel: If G-d enjoys us gathering together, why do we only do it in a Hakhel year?

Follow-up: How to resolve a disagreement between spouses whether to hang a picture of a secular hero near the picture of the Rebbe?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

Chassidus applied to Chai Elul

What does this day teach us?

What did Chassidus come to accomplish?

How did it address the challenges of the time?

How does Chai Elul help us enter Rosh Hashana?

What were some of the revolutionary ideas introduced by the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe?

What is the difference between the “two luminaries”?

Is inspiration ever initiated by us and by Hashem at the same time?

According to Chassidus should we be shunning the beauty of the natural world?

Was Hemshech Ayin Beis ever concluded? New revelation

Lessons from Netzavim-Vayeilech

What is the primary lesson from this week’s portion?

What does the Parsha mean when it says this is “very near to you in your mouth and heart so you can do it”?

Since we are concluding a Hakhel year, should we make one last stand during Elul and organize Hakhel gatherings?

Is the shofar sounding also a wake-up call for Hashem?

Are there situations where G-d, for whatever reason, answers our prayers only at the last possible moment?

What should I tell my daughter when she argues against tzinius saying that we shouldn't be hiding the beautiful body Hashem created?

How to resolve a disagreement between spouses whether to hang a picture of a historic secular activist near the picture of the Rebbe?

Follow-up: Missing a day of putting on Tefillin

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

Chassidus applied to Elul

What should we be doing during this special month?

What was Moshe doing during Elul?

What indestructible power do we have in this month?

Does “the king in the field” mean a literal field?

Is there something we can do via prayer and meditation during this month to guarantee that Hashem will answer our prayers positively in a revealed manner?

During this month can we benefit and draw down extra measures of Divine kindness by repeatedly saying the verse of the 13 attributes of compassion, or do we need to understand its inner meaning?

Why not refrain from sounding the Shofar all of Elul to prevent the negative forces from mounting an “attack” against us?

Every year around this time, I fail to keep my resolve not to indulge in inappropriate behavior. What shall I do?

Lessons from Ki Teitzei

What is the general lesson from this week’s portion?

How do we successfully face the battles and challenges in life, and not become overwhelmed by them?

What is the deeper meaning of the mitzvah of returning a lost object?

Is Hashem obligated to return to us the Beis HaMikdash to fulfill the mitzvah of returning a lost object?

What is the significance of the mitvzah of sending away the mother bird before taking her fledglings or eggs?

Is divorce a mitzvah?

Why are the laws of marriage derived from the laws of divorce?

What is the deeper meaning of eradicating Amalek?

What is Asheiroh?

How do I know if I have self-esteem, and what can I do to build it up?

How to address same gender attraction?

How should I deal with a relative or friend who thinks he might be gay and refuses to talk to anyone about it?

What should I do about my own confusion around my sexual identity?

Why are Rabbis not dealing with this issue?

Why be frum if the secular may be on a higher level?