This class was&nbsp;presented on Tuesday, Parshas Tetzaveh, 11&nbsp;Adar I, 5784, February 20, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

The class explores the end of the Code of Jewish Law on the availability of constant bliss, the joy of the month of Adar, and the grief of the month of Av. We explore the enigmatic Talmudic story of Reb Akiva&#39;s visit to Rome and why he laughed, the explanation of the Alter Rebbe on bliss and pain, and the exchange between the Rebbe and Eli Wiesel on the question of the Holocaust, and why Jews have not lost their faith, even in the face of such adversity.

We finally explain how pain and joy merge together in the profoundest experience of the soul&#39;s bliss.

&nbsp;

Why Didn’t Jews Lose Their Faith? Reb Akiva, Eli Wiesel, and the Rebbe

Adar/Purim Katan Women's Class/Joy

How to Live in Bliss: If I Can’t Feel the Pain, I Can’t Feel the Joy 

Rabbi YY Jacobson addressing a live Instagram chat on 19 Tammuz, 5781, June 29, 2021. Hosted by Sarah Guigue&nbsp;(&quot;Hasidic Hipster Girl&quot; @hasidic.hipster.girl), joined by Joseph Dahan, (co-founder and director Hatzalah of South Florida @hatzalahsouthflorida),&nbsp;Steve Eisenberg&nbsp;(speaker &amp; educator,&nbsp;local resident of Bal Harbour/Surfside). Arranged by Zalman Herz.

This conversation explored the recent tragedy in Surfside, Florida, the collapse of the&nbsp;Champlain Towers&nbsp;on Thursday, June 24, 2021, and the theological issues connected with the tragedy. Are we allowed to ask questions on G-d? What is the Jewish approach? What are&nbsp;the lessons we can all learn when so many structures are crumbling in our lives?

Can We Question G-d?

Surfside Tower Collapse

When Structures Are Crumbling, What’s the Message?

This zoom lecture to the South African Jewish Community, organized by the Arch and the Base, was presented on Wednesday Parshas Balak, 13 Tamuz 5781, June 23, 2021.

Reb Mendel Futerfas, Viktor Frankl, Edith Eger, and Balaam Teach the Path to Fortitude

Lecture to South Africa Community

The Secret of Jewish Resilience

On Sunday, Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim, 6 Iyar, 5781, April 18, 2021, Rabbi YY Jacobson presented a special class,&nbsp;in the loving memory of his cousin, Yocheved Tova bas Avraham and Nechama Dina Gourarie.

The class tells the story of Reb Mordechai of Chernobyl and a pack of wolves; explains why Aaron had to go back to space where his sons passed away, and how each of us must face our shame and pain, as the Baal Shem Tov about facing Egypt; and the meaning of the name of the portion &quot;Acharei Mos, after the death,&quot; how we must learn to appreciate and accommodate souls like Nadav and Avihu, who are traumatized by the very experience of existence and fragmentation so that they can create fusion.

Let's Create Space for Sensitive Souls Traumatized by Existence

Tribute to a Young Woman Yocheved Gourarie

Hearts with No Hate

Rabbi YY Jacobson presented this lecture, followed by Q and A, to couples struggling with infertility. The zoom event, organized by A-Time, took place on Monday evening, 10 Iyar, 5780, May 4, 2020.

What is the Balance Between Hope and Acceptance?

Lecture & Q and A with Couples Struggling with Infertility

Infertility: Confronting Fear, Pain, Loneliness

This special program for children was&nbsp;presented on Thursday, Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei, 23&nbsp;Adar, 5780, March 19, 2020. Rabbi YY Jacobson shared three stories and responded to questions of children during this coronavirus pandemic.

3 Stories & Words of Inspiration for a Virus Out of Control

Coronavirus: Children's Program #1

Rabbi Jacobson Responds to Children's Questions

This class was presented on Thursday Parshas Vayigash, 5&nbsp;Teves, 5780, January 2, 2020, at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY&nbsp;

When You Can Align Your Own Brokenness With the Story of Creation, You Can Find Healing

Chassidus: Torah Ohr V'hinei Anachnu Mi'almim #6

To Live Is to Confront Trauma

The opening of the thirtieth chapter of Genesis relates a small but disturbing scene. The infertile Rachel tells her husband: &quot;Give me children, and if not, I am dead.&quot; And Jacob became angry with Rachel, and he said, &quot;Am I instead of God, Who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?&quot;

Jacob&rsquo;s response seems painfully insensitive and uncharacteristic of their affectionate bond. He is in love with Rachel. Any experienced and loving husband knows that even in a good day when your wife conveys an emotion about something eating up on her, the last think you do is get angry at her! What she wants from you is an attentive ear and a receptive heart. That itself makes her feel better. Certainly if she is expressing her pain over a real and deep wound. Jacob&rsquo;s response is baffling and disturbing.

Today we will present four approaches&mdash;one from the Midrash, the second from a medieval Jewish philosopher, the third from the Munkatcher Rebbe, and the fourth from the Ramban and the world of Chassidus.

The Midrash opens up its commentary on the portion of Vayeitzei by attributing Psalm 121 to Jacob on his journey to Haran. Psalms 121 begins with a description of a distraught narrator, who wonders &ldquo;from where will my salvation come?&rdquo; Jacob despaired. The Midrash says: Jacob said to himself: &ldquo;What?! I will give up hope from my Creator? I will never give up hope! My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!&rdquo;

But what does this mean? Did Jacob really give up hope? Just because he was destitute and penniless, he fell into such despair? This is the man who would carry on the covenant of Abraham and Isaac&mdash;did he really forget about G-d? Also, his words seem repetitious: &ldquo;What? I will give up hope from my Creator? I will never give up hope!&rdquo; He should have just said: &ldquo;I will never give up hope!&rdquo; Why the question and the answer?

It was the great Chassidic master, the Chidushei Harim (Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter, the first Gerer Rebbe, (1799 - 1866)), who gave a stunning explanation. I would venture to add that knowing the life story of this man makes the explanation far more poignant.

This women&#39;s class was presented on Tuesday, Parshas Vayetzei, 5 Kislev, 5780, December 3, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

How the Cracks In Your Life Can Become the Gate of Heaven

Women's Vayetzei Class

Why Did Yaakov Get Angry at his Beloved Wife Rachel? 4 Perspectives

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I'm Blown Away

Wonderful

&quot;If Everything Is So Beautiful on the Outside, Why Are We So Miserable on the Inside?&quot; A Zoom conference with Rabbi YY Jacobson, on Sunday, 27 Tammuz, 5780, July 19, 2020,

This is part of &quot;Let&#39;s Get Real&quot; series, Sunday Nights Live conferences, with Asher Parnas, and life coach Menachem&nbsp;Bernfeld.

Beautiful on the Outside, Miserable on the Inside

Live Questions & Answers With Rabbi YY

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