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 

Three Boys

Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging of how great their fathers are.

The first one says: "Well, my father runs the fastest. He can fire an arrow, and start to run, I tell you, he gets there before the arrow."

The second one says: "Ha! You think that's fast! My father is a hunter. He can shoot his gun and be there before the bullet."

The third one listens to the other two and shakes his head. He then says: "You two know nothing about fast. My father is a civil servant. He stops working at 4:30 and he is home by 3:45!"

The First Commandment

The Biblical account of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt has been one of the most inspiring stories for the oppressed, enslaved and downtrodden throughout history. From the American Revolution, to the slaves of the American South, to Martin Luther King’s Let Freedom Ring, the narrative of the Exodus provided countless people with the courage to hope for a better future, and to act on the dream.

Moses’ first visit to Pharaoh demanding liberty for his people only brought more misery to the Hebrew slaves; the Egyptian monarch increased their torture. The Hebrews now would not listen any longer to the promise of redemption. Now let us pay heed to this seemingly strange verse in Exodus, in the Torah portion of Vaeira:

So G-d spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and&nbsp;He commanded them to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.&nbsp;<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_edn1" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_ednref1')">[1]</a>

G-d is charging Moses with two directives: Command the people of Israel and then command Pharaoh the king. However, the verse is ambiguous: What did G-d command Moses to instruct the people? The message for Pharaoh is clear: Let the children of Israel out of Egypt. But what is it that Moses is supposed to command the people themselves?

The Jerusalem Talmud<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_edn2" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_ednref2')">[2]</a>&nbsp;says something profoundly enigmatic:

G-d instructed Moses to command to the Jewish people the laws of freeing slaves.

The Talmud is referring to a law recorded later in Exodus:<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_edn3" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_ednref3')">[3]</a>&nbsp;If a Jew sells himself as a slave, the owner must let him go after six years. He is forbidden to hold on to the slave for longer. This was the law Moses was to share with the Israelites while they were in Egyptian bondage.

The Basis for the Commentary&nbsp;

The Talmud bases this novel and seemingly unfounded interpretation on a fascinating narrative in the book of Jeremiah:&nbsp;<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_edn4" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_ednref4')">[4]</a>

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:&nbsp;So says the Lord G-d of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers&nbsp;on the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves, saying: "At the end of seven years you shall let go every man his brother Jew who has been sold to you, and when he has served you for six years you shall let him go free from you."

The question is, where do we find a covenant made by G-d with the Jewish people when they left Egypt to free their slaves? In a brilliant interpretation, the Talmud suggests that this is the meaning of the above enigmatic verse,&nbsp;“G-d spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and&nbsp;He commanded them to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.” The commandment to the children of Israel was to set free their slaves.

Yet this seems like a cruel joke. The Children of Israel at this point were crushed and tormented slaves themselves, subjugated by a genocidal despot and a tyrannical regime, enduring horrific torture. Yet, at this point in time, G-d wants Moses to command them about the laws relevant to the aristocrat, the feudal lord, the slave-owner?!<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_edn5" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_ednref5')">[5]</a>

What is more, as the Torah puts it: “G-d&nbsp;commanded them to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh the king of Egypt to let the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.” It seems like the two instructions—the one to the Israelites and the one to the Egyptian king—are linked. And furthermore: the commandment to the Israelites&nbsp;preceded&nbsp;the commandment to Pharaoh. But what does the commandment to the Jewish people that they free their slaves one day in the future have to do with the mission to Pharaoh to set the Hebrews free from bondage?

Who Is Free?

The answer to this question is profoundly simple and moving, and is vital to the understanding of liberty in Judaism.

Before Pharaoh can liberate the Jewish slaves, they must be ready to become free. You can take a man out of slavery, but it may prove more challenging to take slavery out of a man. Externally, you may be free; internally you may still be enslaved.

What is the first and foremost symptom of being free? That you learn to confer freedom on others.

The dictator, the control freak, or the abusive spouse or parent, does not know how to give others freedom. He or she&nbsp;feels compelled to force others into the mold that he/she has created for them. Uncomfortable in his own skin, he is afraid that someone will overshadow him, expose his weaknesses, usurp his position or make him feel extra in this world. Outwardly he attempts to appear powerful, but inwardly his power is a symptom of inner misery, insecurity, and confinement.

When I am in active trauma, my relationships and emotions are guided and shaped by the trauma -- the need to survive in a scary and unsafe world. How can I give up control? How can I celebrate otherness? How can I even connect with someone in a genuine and authentic way when I needed to put my heart on lockdown in order to survive?

I am simply not capable of truly celebrating another person's life and individuality, because I am desperate each moment for emotional oxygen; all I can think of is how to remain protected in a world that is dangerous.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Who is powerful? He who empowers. Who is free? He who can free others. Who is a leader? He who creates other leaders.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power,” Abraham Lincoln said.&nbsp;Ask yourself, do you know how to celebrate&nbsp;the soaring success of your loved ones and constituents? Do you encourage them to spread their wings and maximize their potentials? Can you allow others to shine?

Pharaoh may set you free physically. But former slaves can become present tyrants. People who were abused sometimes become abusers themselves. It is what they know about life; it is the paradigm they were raised with. They grew up in abuse and slavery, so they continue the cycle with others. The first Mitzvah the Jews had to hear from Moses before even he can go to Pharaoh to let them go free was: One day you will be free. Remember that freedom is a gift; use it to free others.

As it turns out, this is a remarkable Talmudic insight. The first commandment ever given to the Jewish people was: Don’t internalize what the Egyptians have done to you. Find the spark of freedom, the inner Divine core, that no trauma can tarnish or paralyze; that part has remained free and will cherish conferring it upon others.

On a personal note, this week I attended the shivah of Avrumi Schapiro, Reb Avraham Yehoshua Heschel (son of the Noraler Rebbe from Benei Berak), 61, who passed away suddenly last Friday night in his home in Boro Park. Talking to his wife, Shoshi, and their beautiful children, I could viscerally feel the image of the person whom I knew for many years. Someone who felt empowered by empowering others; a person who came to life by bringing life, joy, and fulfillment to others. He mastered the secret of freedom and celebration – letting go and enjoying the laughter of others.

__________&nbsp;

<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_ednref1" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_edn1')">[1]</a> Exodus 6:13.&nbsp; 
<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_ednref2" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_edn2')">[2]</a> Rosh Hashanah Chapter 3:5. See the commentary of the Karban Heidah ibid. See at length Torah Shleimah Parshas Vaeira for all the commentary on this Talmudic statement. 
<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_ednref3" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_edn3')">[3]</a> Exodus 21:2 
<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_ednref4" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_edn4')">[4]</a> 34:12-14 
<a href="javascript: void(0);" id="_ednref5" onclick="ty.scrollTo('_edn5')">[5]</a> See Meshech Chachmah (By Rabbi Meir Simcha Hakohen, the Rabbi of Devink and author of Or Samach) to Parshas Vaeira for his novel explanation, that there were Egyptian Jews at the times who owned Jewish slaves. Moses instructed them to set their slaves free. Cf. Torah Shleimah ibid for additional explanations.

What was the firat mitzvah the Jewish people evert received as a people?

The Jerusalem Talmud&nbsp;says something profoundly enigmatic: Still in Egypt, G-d instructed Moses to command to the Jewish people the laws of freeing slaves.

The Talmud is referring to a law recorded later in Exodus:&nbsp;If a Jew sells himself as a slave, the owner must let him go after six years. He is forbidden to hold on to the slave for longer. This was the law Moses was to share with the Israelites while they were in Egyptian bondage.

Yet this seems like a cruel joke. The Children of Israel at this point were crushed and tormented slaves themselves, subjugated by a genocidal despot and a tyrannical regime, enduring horrific torture. Yet, at this point in time, G-d wants Moses to command them about the laws relevant to the aristocrat, the feudal lord, the slave-owner?!

“Let My People Go!” But Can They Let Themselves Go?

Essay Parshas Vaeira

The First Commandment: Find the Courage to Heal

This class was&nbsp;presented on Thursday, Parshas Behar, 20&nbsp;Iyar, 5783, May 11, 2023, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

The Darkness Is Not You; You Volunteered to Take It On

Chassidus: Derech Mitzvosecha - Kohen Baal Mum #4

The Secret of Your Pain: Why Some Souls Choose a Journey of Pain & Abuse

This class was&nbsp;presented on Tuesday&nbsp;Parshas Vayetzei, 5 Kislev, 5783, November 29, 2022, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

The Midrash relates that when Jacob discovered the switch between the two sisters, he told Leah, &ldquo;You are a liar, the daughter of a liar,&rdquo; his way of saying that the apple did not fall far from the tree. &ldquo;Why did you deceive me?&rdquo;

Leah responded to Jacob&rsquo;s accusation: Every craftsman creates students. Even a barber inspires students who learn from him the skill of cutting hair. My father and I, too, had a mentor who taught us how to deceive. Some time ago, Leah said, there was an old man, who wanted to bless his oldest son but was deceived by his younger son..

On a simple level, Leah was teaching Jacob the rule of &ldquo;what goes around comes around.&rdquo; He deceived his father, causing the blessing reserved for the older son to go instead to the younger son. What he did to his father and brother, was now done to him.

Scathing indeed, but deeply disturbing. Let&rsquo;s assume for a moment Jacob was wrong in taking the blessings&mdash;how does that exonerate Leah and Laban in deceiving him? Can I deceive you in a business deal, because you deceived your brother in a deal seven years earlier?

Yet, a deeper reflection reveals a profounder reading of this narrative. The deeper dimension has been revealed by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), founder of Chabad, known as the Alter Rebbe, in a discourse of 1811, during the last year of his life; his colleague, Rabbi Yisroel Hopstein, known as the Kozhnitzer Maggid (1737-1814), in his work Avodas Yisroel; and by the third Rebbe of Ger, known as the Sefas Emes (1847-1905). It was all brought together in an address by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, on Shabbos Parshas Toldos 5741, and Shabbos Vayishlach 5747 (1987).

The Avodas Yisroel and the Sefas Emes discuss the meaning of the actual Midrash. The Alter Rebbe and the Rebbe explore the inner soul of these ideas. Coupled together we have an outstanding tapestry woven together, with profound lessons for our lives today.

The class explores why Yaakov wept when he met Rachel? Why Leah wept when people said she would marry Eisav? Why was Yaakov given a name for holding on to his brother&rsquo;s heel? And why do we define Eisav as wicked when he was already struggling in his mother&rsquo;s womb, completely beyond his choice? We discover how Judaism views the struggles and traumas we need to contend with.

Whatever I Don’t Deal With, Will Resurface Later in My Life for Repair

Women's Vayetzei Class

Can You Make Space for My Struggle? Why Yaakov Had to Marry Leah

On Wednesday evening, January 19, 2022 (17 Shevat, 5782), the world-renowned expert on trauma, Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, author of &quot;The Body Keeps the Score,&quot; had a zoom conversation with Rabbi YY Jacobson, on healing trauma in the Jewish community. It included an intimate&nbsp;and raw Q&amp;A session with Fresh Start Alumni.

The program was moderated by Tova Korn, Co-Founder of Fresh Start, and Yochanan Polter, founder of Fresh Start.

Fresh Start Retreat is an intensive 7-day retreat designed for men and women who want to understand, process, and heal from unresolved trauma, neglect, and abuse. To learn more about Fresh Start Retreat Center please visit&nbsp;https://www.thefsrc.com

Where Psychiatrists Get It Wrong; How Do You Know Your Therapist Is Good? Does Judaism Believe in Somatic Work? How Do We Help People with Trauma? Understanding Children's Rebellion

Rabbi YY Interviews Author of The Body Keeps the Score

Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk & Rabbi YY Jacobson: Healing Trauma in the Jewish Community

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?

Faith in Times of Anxiety - Address to Chabad of Montclair

Been Down so Long, How Do I Get Up From Here?

Lecture for Mental Health Initiative Chabad NJ

Faith in Times of Anxiety

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

Meir Kay in Conversation with Rabbi YY Jacobson on &quot;The Great Day Podcast with Meir Kay.&quot;&nbsp;

What does a great day look like? family history; memorizing the Rebbe&#39;s hours-long talks; juggling the stress of life; allowing yourself to connect with a reality that&nbsp;transcends words; facing your emotional pain; understanding your power; dealing with failure and regrets; the power of authentic prayer.

Memorizing Hours of Rebbe's Talks; Facing Your Pain; Dealing with Failure

Rabbi YY with Meir Kay

Meir Kay in Conversation with Rabbi YY Jacobson: Judaism & Trauma; the Emotional Struggle of Celebrities

This weekly women&#39;s class&nbsp;was presented on Tuesday, Parshas Vayigash, 7 Tevet, 5781, December 22, 2020, live from Rabbi Jacobson&#39;s home in Monsey, NY.

The text-based class on Midrash Rabah and Sefas Emes Parshas Vayigash explores two enigmatic Midrashim on the portion, about Yehudah surrendering to Yosef, and Yosef&#39;s &quot;rebuking&quot; his brothers. How do we deal with our wounds inside and our challenges outside? Does the world hate us or love us? Is G-d my best friend or just my heavenly boss? How my own mind and actions can cause what is really love to be seen as hate, what is really light to be seen as darkness. We are given a blueprint of how to face every trauma and challenge and see it as an opportunity for infinite love and growth.

Can You Contain My Pain?

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