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Moses' Worst Crisis: How We Inspire the People Who Inspire Us

Sigmund Freud’s Advice to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1903

52 min

Class Summary:

It was the worst crisis in Moses' life. Incited by the 'mixed multitude', the Israelites complain about the food: 'If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost; the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna.

It was an appalling show of ingratitude, but not the first time the Israelites had behaved this way. Three similar episodes occurred previously and are recorded in the book of Exodus. Yet Moses' reaction this time is dramatically different: “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me! If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now - if I have found favor in Your eyes - and do not let me face my own ruin.”

What triggered this despair? And how did G-d respond and comfort him? And if Moses felt that the burden of leadership was unbearable, what gave him the strength to continue? One possible answer to these questions provides a simple but moving lesson in the importance for a student or disciple to give feedback and express appreciation to his mentor, even when the student thinks that his successes are completely insignificant in the shadow of his teacher’s greatness. A fascinating encounter between the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneerson, and Dr. Sigmund Freud in 1903.

Please leave your comment below!

  • SAL

    Shirley Anne Lindberg -2 years ago

    Prophecy, not "prophesizing."

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  • טק

    טל קפלן -6 years ago

    מסרתי אתמול את השיעור במקום השליחות שלי בבית כנסת בראשון לציון, מסרתי אותו בנוי וערוך ממש כמו שמסר אותו הרב ג'יקובסון, וזה היה אחד השיעורים הטובים והמענינים!
    ישר כח עצום לרב גיקובסון

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  • YB

    yeshoshua ben-eliyahu -10 years ago

    thank you
    It was a beautiful lecture.  Thank you.

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  • M

    Meir -11 years ago

    Question regarding the Meat Supply
    Why did the Jews ask for meat

    - if they had cattle, and plenty of it, as when many requested of Moses before they entered the Land of Israel to remain on the East bank of the Jordan River with plenty of good grazing area - for the sake of their many cattle?

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    • M

      Meir -11 years ago

      Re: Question regarding the Meat Supply
      Found the answer - in Rashi (Bamidbar 11:22)!

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  • A

    avi -11 years ago

    THANKS!!!
    thank you so much for all your shiurim!
    the Rebbe laments a few times why is it that people come to me only with their problems but yet when things work out they don't come to tell me...
    please if you can make the; being played on mobile phones to have the ability to review and forward...
    as well if you can make it detect that it is mobile and  have a text only of shiurim links such as in learntorah dot com would be relly useful for the multitudes trying to listen on their mobile devices
    thank you

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  • TS

    To Shlomo -11 years ago

    Chassidus teaches us ...
    that "down" is also Hashem,as well as "up."Freud was an expert in a highly speculative,inexacting  field of endeavor.The Torah and Mt.Sinai are filled with such colorful relatives of ours,just like my cousin Sigmund.

    -David HaLevy Benveniste

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  • E

    ee -11 years ago

    The Talmud says: "The elders of that generation said: The countenance of Moses was like that of the sun; the countenance of Joshua was like that of the moon." 

    "When the sun shines, you don't see stars. When the sun dives, when the sunsets, when the sun fades away into oblivion: suddenly, all the stars emerge and cast their glow during the Kingdom of Night, but when the sun shines, Who sees the stars?" (Rabbi YY in another class).

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  • E

    e² -11 years ago

    Was Moyshe insulted by their carnivorous tendencies en route to EY?

    Are the designated 70 Yisraelim a conduit blueprint to the nations?

    Is the desire for wilderness meat indicative of egotism? Does the craving for a hunt reflect galus? How difficult is it for Yisrael to sever attachments with the seed of Esau?

    I gather Hashem is very hungry for a Red Heifer, at this point.

    Respectfully

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  • J

    Jane -12 years ago

    Boring
    I'm so sorry to be so frank, but I just have to say that the haimish atmosphere that Chabad employs--their strong suit that entices Jews of all types to want to join in--is compromised by the movement's insistence on relaying anecdotal stories from its own past. Stories about its former Rebbes who vanquished their evil antagonists against all odds--are no longer relevant to today's generation. I lost my attention a fraction of the way through, and my age is well beyond that which the movement deems makarev-worthy. Imagine how twenty-somethings must feel?

    Whenever a Chabad Rabbi would launch into tales of Chassidus, for some reason my mind shut off. It's simply not relatable--to me and probably to thousands of others. Those who might find this interesting are probably going to be kicking the bucket soon, is how I see it.

    Anyway, the tragedy which engendered this piece is a standalone crime, the solution of which lies more in the notion that those who witnessed some of the events preceding it, were encouraged NOT to tell the police, but rather, to keep their observations within the community--to the Shomrim or to their local Rabbonim--creating serious lag times that exacerbated the search and rendered the inevitable.

    The New York Hasidic community needs to get over their fear of (their tax-supported) governmental organizations, end their isolationism, and face the facts that their are monsters in their midst--just like in every community--and report them immediately to the authorities. The perpetrator has perpetrated in the past--but everyone seems to have turned a deaf ear. Including a Chabad, whose Rabbi referred to him as having something wrong "with his head".

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    • M

      Michale -12 years ago

      Re: Boring
      I have to response you very quickly because almost Shabbat time. I have to do this for tikun (Correction) of your soil. It is bad if we will lose any Jewish soil. I made teshuva but I need to study a lot that I missed for all of these years when I was "secular". Yes, we all have Jewish soils and sooner or later we all will come back. The article is very alive for our time because a history repeats in one form or other again and again. You can see events in EU, boycott of Israel, Israel lives in the War zone all 60+ years. What happens in NY it is the tragedy, and for some reason Hashem selects Jewish person to commit this crime. But it is not his soil made it, it bad forces inside of him - sitra archa. Maybe sometime we will know why this happens, as other tragedies in our lives. Please try to find the answers in the truly holy source - Torah.

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  • HT

    Hershel Tzuker -12 years ago

    Dealing with Evil
    The horrible tragedy of the murdered child is inconsolable.

    The story of the Rebbes Success gives us the stegnth to move forward even when the horor has shocked all of us.Thank you

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  • SM

    Sue M -12 years ago

    Stalin vs Schneersohn
    For sure, we won. We're still here against all odds. May G-d bless us and bring peace to Israel. B"H

    Thank you for your very inspiring article. It gave me goose-bumps!

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  • M

    Michale -12 years ago

    Some remarks
    First of all, Thank to Rabbi Jacobson for good article. Second, I would like to suggest because this article, as some others, were originally published not today (you can see comments dated on June 29, 2009), and Rabbi has added some small new paragraph in the beginning, it will be better if the article will mention this fact. Otherwise, people will not understand: the last events were described but dates are old. It looks as "Yahoo news" with dates "played around".

    Third, Chabad representatives in Russia and other socialist counties are very trustful people. I saw several photos in some Web sites showing how Jewish children in Russia celebrate Jewish Holidays. By looking on these photos I can tell you that not all children are Jewish. You cannot “discriminate” in Russia, and tell children “bring me your birth certificate; I want to see that your parents are Jewish”. I think Chabad accepts everyone who comes. And I don’t know if this is good for Jewish education and Jewish children to be together with non-Jewish children.

    We have similar situation in Israel when everyone from around the World is been accepted to an Ulpan to study Hebrew. Why do they, non-Jews, want to study Hebrew? Everyone comes to Israel with their one purpose; someone wants to stay here forever. Do we need to allow this phenomenon? Also some volunteer non-Jewish organizations are located here in Israel. They bring here more non-Jewish people here. A lot of Olim are Russian, or other religion origins. We can see similar effects of “Internationalization” in other countries too.

    And in this situation Chabad movement in US “can’t promote” Aliyah to Israel because it is prohibited by US government: separation religion from the State. Where is Chabad’s vision similar the vision of The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn? I would like to ask Rabbi to help me to find the answer for these global problems.

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  • CS

    Chana Sharfstein -12 years ago

    The Rebbe Rayatz
    My father, Harav Yacov Yisroel Zuber, was sent to Georgia, Gruzia, to Kafkas, the Caucasian mountain community, at that time, in 1920, to serve as a Shliach of the Frierdike Rebbe He faithfully served that community of isolated, primitive poor Jews for five years. At the age of twenty-five, newly wed, he mastered their Gruzin language and inspired, strengthened and built that community. Under the most difficult circumstances he fulfilled the request of The Rebbe. may all the heroes of years gone by never be forgotten for without their dedication the revitalization of Russian jewry would never have been fulfilled. Tragically, my father masterfully served as a shliach later in Stockholm, Sweden, and then when called to serve in the United States, in Boston, he lost his life at the hands of unknown assailants. Ironically he survived Stalin's reign of terror, the war years in Sweden, only to meet his untimely end, at age fifty-six, in the Land of the Free, in the civilized city of Boston.

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  • M

    menachem -12 years ago

    spelling fix
    Marx, not Mark. You don't need to publish this.

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  • SC

    Sam c -12 years ago

    Freud
    Well then, back to square one, Freuds best accomplishments only posed the identifications of the maladies and neuro-emotional epedemics that lay embedded in the human physche, lacking of course any solution and antidote to overcome and abolish our greatest inner demons.

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  • SC

    Sam c -12 years ago

    Freud
    This site points fingers in that direction

    http://www.jhberke.com/arti...

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    • A

      Anonymous -12 years ago

      Re: Freud
      I read that paper and I have high regard for its author. But I found all of the speculations proposed therein completely unsubstantiated.

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  • SC

    Sam C -12 years ago

    Freud
    Regardless if the source and origin of this rumor has been substantiated or not: The Rashab actually helped Freud develope theories he has later transcribed and printed in a essay titled Mourning and Melancholy in 1917.

    Talmud in Nedarim relates that the Torah was Given to Moshe the second time solely for him and his descendants, and he shared it with Bnei Yisroel.

    I am certain that Moshe Rabbeinu had you Rabbi Jacobson in mind as a teacher in the future to teach and impart inspiration and touch many lives.

    May you have ample continued success and bask in the light of Moshe Rabbeinus Shadow.

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    • A

      Anonymous -12 years ago

      Re: Freud
      Thank you Sam. I am wondering how do you know that the idea of the 1917 essay were inspired in any part by the Rebbe Rashab?

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  • L

    levi -13 years ago

    Sound Quality
    Previous lectures were great, lesson number four is difficult to listen.

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  • N

    nechama -13 years ago

    toda raba mi kol halev
    from cape town sa

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  • AM

    australian mother -13 years ago

    feedback
    thank you for the class.i really enjoy your classes. i think you are the best speaker in lubavitch. I first attended some of your shiurim in 770 at the end of 2000 when i was visiting NY, and im so happy to be able to hear them all the way in australia.
    i want to let you know that since last week when you spoke about not paying attention to foreign thoughts in davening, i have been much more focused and concentrating on my davening - what i started doing since the class is that whenever im thinking about something else and notice, i immediately refocus back on the words and stop myself from thinking more about whatever it was that came to mind.
    ps. i notice you have been quite successful in inspiring listeners to give feedback, there are much more comments than usual! good shabbos

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  • Y

    Yehoshua -13 years ago

    Thanks for reminding us that we can make adifference
    Rabbi Jacobson,
    I wanted to thank you for your timely and inspirational lesson. I am a first time viewer and I really enjoyed the lecture. The professionalism displayed was extremely high quality. From the clearly formatted curriculum to the sources appearing on the screen, it was self evident that everything was done to ensure that the presentation would be as palatable as possible.

    Your passion for teaching Torah stands out and is empowering. I will try to spread the word about this wonderful site to both my observant friends and the 'not yet' observant ones.

    A very big Thank You to David Schottenstein for supporting this wonderful enterprise and allowing hundreds of ordinary Jews like me to be inspired and empowered.

    I would also like to express my gratitude & appreciation to the wonderful producers:
    Yanki Teitelbaum and Choni Morosow; project manager: Leah Loxsen; the curriculum creator: Rabbi Avi Shlomo

    May G-d send both Mr. Schottenstein, Rabbi Jacobson & the entire staff much continued blessing & success.
    Sincerely,
    Yehoshua

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  • Y

    Yakov -13 years ago

    Impact on my life
    Rabbi Jacobson yes you impacted my life in a very positive way :-).

    I had your shiur besides the shiurim on tanya on chassidus.com

    Thank you

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  • NB

    Narie Bickof -14 years ago

    Schneerson / Stalin
    An outstanding article! Yasher Koach! Msy sll yidden go from strength to strength!

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  • E

    Elazar -14 years ago

    Thanks -
    R. Jacobson, you have a gift for getting to the core of things and expressing it powerfully. Thank you and good shabbos

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  • A

    Anonymous -14 years ago

    So many will be enlightened by reading this essay.It bears out exactly what Mark Twain had to say about the Jewish Race. Judith [email protected]

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  • C

    chaim -14 years ago

    great article!!

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  • A

    alex -14 years ago

    R' Y.Y.Scneerson
    Thematically, this piece follows in the spirit of your last one. The withholding of the ark (ie their mission statement) kept the Israel-
    ites from being victorious.
    What I extrapolated from your last dvar is that there needs to be a purpose that empowers a people or an individual.
    R' Schneerson was empowered by
    his life purpose to revital-
    ize and spread Torah in the Soviet Union. His shared vision and mission inspired
    others.

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    • SM

      Sue M -12 years ago

      Re: R' Y.Y.Scneerson
      I agree totally. And that's the problem, I'm afraid, with American Jews - there's no struggle. We've become too complacent. And therefore, due to inter-marriage and not focussing on our Jewish roots and heritage, we will disappear as a people! Only Israel keeps us focused.

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  • S

    samuel -14 years ago

    Schneerson Vs. Stalin
    Do Jews have to suffer --and suffer they did (physically and morally), thus the question do Jews have to suffer in order to triumph?
    If yes, why?

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  • J

    Judy -14 years ago

    Just forwarded your article to several other people. This July 4th,fireworks will have a deeper meaning.

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  • LR

    Lenore Roberts -14 years ago

    the properly finished article...
    Thank you for this informative and valuable article. It should be read by many, especially today - thus, it deserves to have your editor take another look.

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  • ER

    ELLAINE ROSEN -14 years ago

    My husband and I recently visited Russia and the Ukraine where Judaism is thriving. In Odessa, there were pictures of Bush lighting the Chanukiah!

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  • YC

    Yossi Cunin -14 years ago

    And now: Schneerson Vs. Stalin
    By NEDRA PICKLER

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia told a U.S. court on Friday that judges have no authority to tell the country how to handle sacred Jewish documents held in its state library that were seized by the Nazi and Soviet armies.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • K

    kramer -14 years ago

    thanks
    Beautiful and inspiring words about the Rebbi ztvk'l. B"H for the rebbis vision. My father has the zchus to share the Rebbis birthdate.

    May your fathers neshomah have an aliyah and may he be a mailitz yosher for clal Yisroel.
    RK

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  • D

    dan -14 years ago

    wow
    Rabbi - Magnificent. Dan

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  • RP

    Rand Pellegrino -14 years ago

    Great Article, But
    But communism is not dead, the Jews of America just overwhelming voted for it. It is headed by adolph hussein obama. He has nationalized the banking, insurance and auto industries. And now wants to control the health care system. May you be as effective as your father and grandfather

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  • ZR

    ZVI RONA -14 years ago

    ESSAY
    WAS THAT TEARS OR YEARS?

    THIS IS A VERY INSPIRING ARTICLE. MAY YOU FOLLOW IN YOUR GRANDFATHER'S AND FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS WILL WE ARE RE-UNITED WITH THE PREVIOUS REBBE AND THE REBBE.

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  • Y

    Yitzchok -14 years ago

    Stalin vs. Schneerson
    Beautiful article! Very inspiring!

    When I visit the Ohel in New York, where the last two Lubavitcher Rebbes are buried, I feel more awe, in a way, about Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson.

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  • CB

    Chaim Boyarsky -14 years ago

    We Love
    I watch your classes with a bunch of students, and as you said in your last class always give feedback, event to people who are very successful.

    WE LOVE your classes.

    I would like to sponsor one in the near future IYH>

    Thanks

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  • K

    Kayla -14 years ago

    The video is painful to watch
    To Rabbi Jacobson, Shlita

    I have written about this before. I am a HUGE fan! I'd love to watch these lectures. But I find it painful to watch because it keeps stopping and a circular thing appears across your face and the video stops and starts again.

    It's gotten much better, but I know you can do better than that and make it play normally.

    PLEASE!

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  • P

    Pinchas -14 years ago

    I Loved
    I very much enjoyed it. Loved the idea and its most relevant message. A groyse yshar koach for the continued inspiration and enrichment.

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  • EB

    Eliyahu Benz -14 years ago

    I will splash cold water on my face and remember...!
    Thank you Rabbi Jacobson and thank you David Schottenstein and family for this wonderful talk. As someone in a northeastern Canadian desert, where the community does not organize proper farbrengens, this year even Gimmel Tammuz has been overlooked, your classes keep the neshama alive. May you have lots of hatzlacha and always make your plane ! Amazing Inspiring and great! Shabbat Shalom! I will splash cold water on my face and remember...!

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  • G

    George -14 years ago

    Thank you Mr. Schottenstein
    I want to express my sincere appreciation to David B. Schottenstein for making this most amazing Torah class in the world happen each week, literally inspiring and infusing tens of thousands each week. Each one of the thousands who hears these classes gives them over to at least 10 people. I know many a rabbi who use this for their weekly classes. This may be the most popular class in the world each week and I salute the Rabbi, his team and Mr. Schootenstein for this vision, passion and resolve.

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  • A

    Admin -14 years ago

    To Nechemyah
    Before they did not have the tremendous revelation, geluiom, of matan torah and the mishkan, so he could tolerate it. But now after all the geluim.... all the revelations, and still no movement!

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  • N

    Nechemyah -14 years ago

    Question
    My question is on the shiyur. Listened twice now… What I am not clear about is why in this weeks parshah does Moshe Rabeinu finally hit the roof? In the previous complaints it was also about food? Is the point that he finally just “had enough already?”

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  • A

    Admin -14 years ago

    To Wondering
    Our policy is to post all comments, as long as they are written in a respectful way.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • W

    Wondering -14 years ago

    critique
    Do you ever get negative critique? And if yes, would you post it?

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  • MH

    moshe haizler -14 years ago

    toda raba from rehovot
    thank you for ligthing up the
    the most complicated corners of the parasha every week

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  • DBH

    David Benveniste HaLevy -14 years ago

    Freud was my mother's first cousin...

    Freud was my mother's first cousin...

    I am baali teshuvah Lubavitch for over thirty years and a licensed Social Worker and counselor who worked for two years in a lock down criminal mental hospital .

    Freud and the Rebbe Rashab apparently influenced each other for the good, as Dr. Berk writes in his article. The Rashab must have some influence on Freud, and vise versa. We must also remember the Lubavitcher Rebbe had degrees in physics as well, so why is this meeting such a stretch of the imagination? Truth is truth, and sometimes we need to dig with the help of other yiddin', especially the tops in their field, so what? Freud's dad's family were frumme yiddin'.My mother once told me she was Freud's first cousin, but I don't know from which side, but I don't feel so ashamed after reading this article by Berk.

    BTW, My grandmother's private math tutor was Professor Albert Einstein in 1913, who came Friday nights as a close family friend to the mansion she grew up in , but I don't know if they made kiddush. She said the Professor had a fantastic sense of humor.

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  • YG

    Yochanan Gordon -14 years ago

    V'lo Yasafu
    Why would the explanation on these words be any different than the expression used by Mattan Torah - "Kol Gadol V'lo Yasaf" which we know meant an unceasing voice or proclomation?

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  • YG

    Yochanan Gordon -14 years ago

    Ramban
    It seems that there is a contradiction in the words of the Ramban.
    First he dismisses the necessity for the seventy elders saying, the Jews will still only approach Moshe because he took them out of Egypt.
    In his last explanation he continues, perhaps when the Jews see the elders prophesizing they will not only approach Moshe but congregate around the elders to fulfill their desires.
    What changed in this last scenario that the Jews would all of a sudden congregate around the elders despite the fact that Moshe took them out of Egypt - like the Rambn suggested above?

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  • B

    Ber -14 years ago

    Thanks
    Thank you Rabbi and thank you
    David B. Schottenstein for all of this. Amazing and great!

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  • S

    Sara -14 years ago

    Keeps Me Going
    I really enjoy, and get inspired every time I listen to your lecture.I am in Vienna, and every week we learn with jewish girls in the university, very often I give over your lecture.

    So thank you so much! the inspiration keeps me going the whole week!

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  • A

    Anchelle -14 years ago

    Uplifting
    This week’s Internet shiur was particularly uplifting and complete. Just inspiring those who inspire.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • J

    Joe -14 years ago

    Torah's inspiration.
    The notion that one of the greatest Jewish leaders could experience such despair and depression that ultimately could make him pray for his own demise is something that is quite extraordinary. Ordinary for some - extraordinary for someone of the caliber of Moshe.
    Yet this is precisely the reason why we as a people have attached ourselves over the centuries to the torah. We identify with the trials and tribulations that have affected some of the greatest people in our history, to see their vulnerability and the way they expose themselves in the face of a test shows us that despite their greatness, they never cease to be human.

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  • Z

    ZS -14 years ago

    Awesome
    Thank you so much for your weekly classes online.
    I download it to my phone and listen to your class in the car while driving my kids to school.
    I never miss a class!
    You have truly taught me so much!
    Although I study regularly sichos etc. I truly enjoy the way you deliver it and I am inspired every week by your message!

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  • M

    mw -14 years ago

    thanh you
    i just feel corect to let know the feedback from your classes , in one word : amazing , keep up this magnificant shiurim !

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  • YG

    Yochanan Gordon -14 years ago

    Yasher Koach
    Rabbi Jacobson,
    In line with the crux of this class I wanted to thank you for being a constant source of moral and emotional strength to so many from various disparate backgrounds - serving as a unifier of the Jewish people. The RBSHO should bless you with the strength to continue in this manner ad eiah v'esrim ubias hamoshiach kodem.

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  • G

    Gershon -14 years ago

    Feedback from students
    Very powerful lesson from Chumash and those 2 stories u mentioned. I called your Aunt Ceril Lispker last night to thank her.

    A little feedback. Its interesting. Rabbi David Wichnin A”H mentioned on a tape, that when a teacher sees a student paying attention and their eyes are not wandering, this increases the Hashpa to the Talmid, This sounds like what you mentioned yesterday. The teacher (Moshe Rabenu) wanted feedback. Some might even use the word validation.

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  • C

    Chayah -14 years ago

    Thanks
    Your web classes are absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for being such a source of inspiration and hope.

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  • A

    [email protected] -14 years ago

    a groisse yasher koiach from Brazil
    If people agree or not with all that was said it looks like it doesn't matter (so much), as long as they stop and start thinking more about what is life's ikar and tofel... Just to make us think, rethink, think through or whatever - this is the key to the "inspiring spark" which makes us move forwards!

    Regards from your listeners in Brazil (some of whom are using it extensively in their droshos, etc...).

    I'll really like to know if you had the time to read through http://www.jhberke.com/Freu... and what do you think about it.

    hatslocho rabo umuflogo im the Brazilian retreat (unfortunately I will not be able to be there)!

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  • DB

    Daniel Burstein -14 years ago

    feedback
    Rabbi Jacobson;
    You are a source of inspiration to me and my wife, from the moment I heard you years ago till today. Every Shabbat, we read your commentaries about the Parasha and try to hear your lectures in this setting.
    Thank you, G-d bless you.
    Daniel Burstein

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  • G

    Gary -14 years ago

    A request
    This was an amazing class. I think this type of Torah can inspire hundreds of thousands and I want to suggest and request from all of you listening and watching to send links of this week's shuir to all of your friends and contacts. Let them "taste" this Torah, let them be inspired and uplifted. This shuir needs to get much more promotion and exposure. And each one of us can do our part.

    Thank you Mr. Schottenstein for your helping making this extraordinary event happen.

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  • M

    Mendel -14 years ago

    Amazing
    The classs was phenomenal! Amazingly well presented and articlulated. Isn't it amazing that the Rebbe seeing the impact of thousands of shluchim in every corner of the world and the thousands he personally touched every week could still state -"lihelvel vlarik" because Moshiach hasn't yet come! What was the meaning of that?

    PS I hope that YOU get the feedback to know what a HUGE impact you are having!!!

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  • E

    Elki -14 years ago

    In the spirit of the shiur, Rabbi Jacobson, you are a master (Rabbi, teacher, thinker...)of shiurim - indeed, a non-pareille.
    Even though I myself often wonder if students realize that teachers of all ages and experience enjoy positive feedback, perhaps I'm guilty of the same chisaron regarding your shiurim."Rabbi Jacobson needs my...?"
    So, consider my words just a snippet of positive feedback.
    As a student of psycholoy and psychoanalysis, I applaud your synthesis of Freud (deemed treif by so many who know nothing about his invention --The Talking Cure, and all that goes with it).
    Clearly you separate the chaff from the grain. To bring the Rebbe Rashab, no less, as a visitor to Freud's famous house in Vienna, brought psychology into a sphere where it is often needed badly and dismissed as "meshugeh and apikorsus." I read the "G-dless Jew" by Peter Gay, and Freud by no means rejected his roots. He did not practice but was obsessed with his grandfather's piety and questioned why G-d chose him, "A G-dless Jew" to discovere a science that Hashem had already invented thousands of years before.
    I also was dumbfounded by the humility and brilliance of the Rebbe Rashab to feel down because he didn't think he accomplished anything and to go to a secular doctor for advice.
    Looking forward, as always, to Monday once again.

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  • L

    Laneri -14 years ago

    Dear Rabbi,

    You always deliver us profound message from above. But this time my personal appreciations that you managed not to dilute it with a drop of tears of your own…

    Be blessed with cold (warm) water for your souls and a lot of Nahas from your followers as well as from your own children.

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  • Y

    Yossi -14 years ago

    masterful
    1. Tonight's was a masterpiece.

    2. In the booklet Bakodesh Pnima, R Sholom Ber Gansburg tells a story of the Rebbe in his room complaining that he never gets anything done and is always behind, and how he responded about the hundreds of Baalei Teshuva, etc.

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  • Y

    Yosef -14 years ago

    why?
    it certainly is tough to get feedback. why?

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  • MNBL

    Marcia Naomi Berger, LCSW -14 years ago

    Freud and the Lubavitcher Rebbe
    As a psychotherapist and baalat tshuvah, I am very happy to have heard this talk that gives credit to Freud, the father of modern psychology, and in a way that integrates psychological concepts into your Jewish teachings. We all do need the kind of feedback from others that validates our contributions and suggests that we are here on earth and for a reason. Thank you, Rabbi Jacobson!

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  • MC

    Mendy C -14 years ago

    Thank you
    Rabbi this class tome was also cold water on a weary soul. Yasher Koach

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  • N

    Neshama -14 years ago

    Feedback: Rabbi Jacobson is greatly appreciated
    I would have thought that the Alter Rebbe, in his Tanya, might have covered such an inyan, of the tension between the heart and the mind? Did not the Alter Rebbe cover such dilemmas? Not to take away from the reason the Rebbe Reshab felt the need to visit Dr Freud, I was under the impression from the Chassidus I have learned, that the Farbrengen was one such way of receiving feedback.

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  • S

    Shlomo -14 years ago

    Controversial Picture
    Is it respectful to place a picture of the Holy Rebbe Rashab right next to a man famous for his unclean and perverted theories?

    We cannot attempt to fathom the secrets of a Rebbe, of a Moses.

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  • I

    Isaac -14 years ago

    Dr. Berk's Analysis
    I read his paper on the meeting with Freud. I do not think his observations are correct. All of the ideas discussed in the Rebbe's discouses henceforth have their sources in discourses of earlier Rebbes in previous years.

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  • N

    Neshama -14 years ago

    jhberke.com
    I noticed one thing that surprised me, in endnote 9, it says something about the Zohar that I'm not sure is correct.

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  • S

    Shmuel -14 years ago

    Dr. Berk On Freud and the Rebbe
    You didn't want to supply the group the additional resource?

    http://www.jhberke.com/Freu...

    Most people I sent it to seemed to have enjoyed and respected it.

    It was referenced in Alan Brill's work on Reb Tzaddok HaCohen " Thinking G-D"..

    All the best looking forward to tonight.
    Shmuel

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Rabbi YY Jacobson

  • June 8, 2009
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  • 16 Sivan 5769
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  • 7491 views

In honor of Rabbi Yisroel and Chana Sirota Dedicated by her son-in-law David B. Schottenstein

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