Weekly Women's Class by Rabbi YY Jacobson

This class, a detailed 15-step guide to experience your seder with mindfulness, serenity, and personal relevance, was presented on Tuesday, 10 Nissan, 5785, April 8, 2025, Parshas Tzav, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 3 Nissan, 5785, April 1, 2025, Parshas Vayikra, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 25 Adar, 5785, March 25, 2025, Parshas Pekudei, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Why did Moshe feel compelled to account for every coin he received? Did people think Moses packed away some of the cash to buy real estate in Saudi Arabia or purchase his private jet? Even if it is important to know that Moses gave an accounting to teach us transparency, the Torah could have simply said that Moses gave an accounting of all the gold, silver, and copper contributed to the Sanctuary project.

The theme of the entire second book of the Torah, Shemos, is dedicated to nation-building. In Genesis, we are referred to as “benei Yisroel,” the children of Israel; we are a family, and a fragmented one as such. It is only in Exodus, when we are first called an “Am,” a nation. This is the pervading thread of the entire book of Shemos. While the narratives of Genesis focus on individuals—Adam, Eve, the snake, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Hagar, Ishmael, Isaac, Rebecca, Esau, Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Judah, Joseph etc.—Exodus is a book about a people, a nation. Individuals are mentioned, of course, but all these names are discussed as representatives of a nation or assisting the formation of a nation. Shemos is about the collective, not the individual.

Here comes a profound challenge. Does nation-building, by definition, come at the expense of the individual? Sure, you can’t have a nation without individuals joining together, but perhaps the value of the individual is only insofar as he or she becomes a part of the whole. The value of my “I” is only because it contributes to the “We.”

The class explored the profound need for each of us to be seen, and to be able to truly see others, especially our children and students, see them in their full power and presence.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 18 Adar, 5785, March 18, 2025, Parshas Vayakhel, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This class was presented on Monday, 11 Adar, 5785, March 11, 2025, Parshas Ki Sisa, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 4 Adar, 5785, March 4, 2025, Parshas Tetzaveh, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

The lecture explores the first chapter of the Book of Esther. Why did Vashti trigger such anger in the Persian King? Why does the order of her title keep changing, as well as the musical notes relating to her? We also learn to observe the genius of Queen Esther, who brilliantly played Haman's ego against Achashverosh's paranoia.

The lesson we learn about the courage of Esther and the power to look inward at our deepest triggers and core-wounds, and how when darkness is exposed it loses its power.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 27 Shvat, 5785, February 25, 2025, Parshas Terumah, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 20 Shvat, 5785, February 18, 2025, Parshas Mishpatim, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 13 Shvat, 5785, February 11, 2025, Parshas Yisro, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

This class was presented on Tuesday, 6 Shvat, 5785, February 4, 2025, Parshas Beshalach, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.