Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

Chassidus applied to this time of year

What is the lesson from this period following the Tishrei holiday season?

What is the meaning of the custom to announce, “and Yaakov went on his way”?

How can we manifest Divine infinity into our finite lives?

What is the story behind the song to the words “kesiva v’chasima tova”?

What does the month of Cheshvan teach us?

What is the meaning of the name of this month – Mar Cheshvan?

Why is this month related to bitterness (mar) when it follows the festive month of Tishrei?

Why is this month also called bul?

What lessons do we learn from the 7th of Cheshvan?

How do we maintain a connection with G-d even when we feel separate?

What do we learn from this week’s parsha?

What is the central theme of this Torah portion?

How do the promises in this week’s chapter help us in our current battles?

Why does G-d give three descriptions of Abraham’s departure location and is vague about his destination?

What does it mean that Hashem spoke to Abraham? Is that literal or metaphorical?

Why is Abraham’s recognition and declaration of one G-d so significant and consequential?

What is the significance of the bris bein ha’besorim?

Was Abraham the first Jew?

What should our perspective be on this week’s Presidential election?

Can we rest assured that G-d will pick the presidential candidate that will be best for us?

Can we say Tehillim and pray that our chosen candidate wins the election?

How should I deal with my family harshly split over politics?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

Chassidus applied to this time of year

Why are these days between Yom Kippur and Sukkos so powerful?

What is the lesson from these days?

Why is the day after Yom Kippur called “G-d’s Name”?

What is the proper way to greet people during these days?

What is the significance of new year and holiday blessings?

How do our blessings and best wishes help?

Can we bless others with the priestly blessing even if we are not kohanim?

Though I am a simple person, can I bless others?

Is it appropriate to bless people with “may you always have good news to share”?

Post Yom Kippur

If everyone was forgiven on Yom Kippur, why are some people being punished and suffering?

Why do we sound the shofar at the end of Yom Kippur?

What's the difference between a regular shofar and the “great shofar” that will be sounded when Moshiach comes?

Is there a connection between the call of the “great shofar” and Yom Kippur’s impact on all Jews to do teshuva?

Why do we sing Napoleons March at the end of Yom Kippur and not at the beginning?

Why Napoleon’s March when the Alter Rebbe was so opposed to him?

Why is Yom Kippur exclusively a day of repentance when a person should be repenting every day?

To what extent can Yom Kippur help a person who hasn't repented all year?

Why did G-d send Jonah to a non-Jewish city and encourage them to repent?

How can Sukkos help us in this time of war in Israel?

What is the essential message of Sukkos?

How does the Sukkah help us internalize the light of Yom Kippur?

Why is Sukkos a time of great celebration?

What is the difference between Sukkah and the four species?

Are the four species spiritual weapons?

How can we maximize the blessings of the Sukkah considering that it is the only mitzvah that encompasses our entire bodies?

If the sechach represents the clouds of glory that protected us in the wilderness, why didn't it provide protection on October 7th?

Why was pouring water during Simchas Beis HaShoeivah considered such a joyous event?

How did the Rebbe revitalize this celebration? And why in the streets?

War in Israel

What more can we do?

Is it appropriate to invoke in a note to the Rebbe the merit of his mother to have the hostages released?

What is the background behind the Poalei Tzedek group, established in the town of Lubavitch, who would wake up early every morning to say Tehillim and learn Torah together, and should we recreate that today?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:

How should we honor October 7th?

What can we learn from this day's timing in the holiday season?

What does Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Simchas Torah teach us about today’s war in Israel?

Why is Israel and the Jewish people so central to human civilization?

What should be the number one export from Israel?

What is the connection with the yahrzeit of Rabbi Akiva on the 5th of Tishrei?

What lessons can we draw from the 60th yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chana on Vav Tishrei?

How can Yom Kippur help us in this time of war in Israel?

What is the central theme of Yom Kippur?

What is Yechida, how does it manifest on Yom Kippur and how do we apply it to our lives?

What does this day teach us about today’s events?

Should our children serve in the IDF?

What do we learn from Yom Kippur?

Why do we need ten days of teshuva when one can do teshuva in the blink of an eye?

What is an example of the proper way to do teshuva before and on Yom Kippur?

What is the difference between teshuva tataah and teshuva ilaah?

Are we automatically forgiven on Yom Kippur?

Is there a connection between saying amen yehei shmei rabbah and repentance, prayer, and charity?

What exactly is determined on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur?

Wasn’t everything determined at the time of creation?

Why do we wear white garments?

What should our attitude be about Trump visiting the Ohel?

Why can't Rosh Hashana begin on Friday? Follow-up

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
How can Rosh Hashana help us during this time of war in Israel? 

• Is it an open miracle that the Israeli army was able to dismantle the leadership of the Hezbollah terrorists in less than a week? 
• Is the killing of the head of Hezbollah and Israel’s recent victories connected to this time of year? 
• Is there a teaching that if a year begins badly it will end positively? 
• Is the year following Hakhel a time of diminished energy? 
• Is it significant that the secular anniversary of October 7th is on the 5th of Tishrei? 
• Should we be thanking G-d for these recent successes? 
• Should we be celebrating the fall of our enemies? 
• What can we do on Rosh Hashana to ensure the safe release of the hostages, and the final victory over our enemies? 
• Do we have a spiritual “nuclear option,” a special prayer or “tool” that is reserved for very serious times like this? 
• A beautiful story: Does intensifying commitment to Torah and mitzvos and unity help us win our battles? 
• Should we be gathering children during these days to add in prayer, Torah study and tzedaka, as the Rebbe instructed in previous times of challenge? 
• How can we encourage the Israeli leadership to continue to stand strong and not back down and succumb to outside pressures? 
• Should we return land for hostages? 
• How aggressive should Israel be in its war against Hamas in Gaza? 
• Should Charedim join the IDF? 

• How does Rosh Hashana empower us? 
• Does anything new happen on Rosh Hashana? And if yes, why don’t we feel it? 
• Why do we buy new clothes before Rosh Hashana? 
• Why do we dip an apple in honey? 
• Why can't Rosh Hashana begin on Friday as it was on the first Rosh Hashana? 
• Why do we pray for our personal needs on Rosh Hashana, and not focus primarily on coronating G-d as King and on His “needs”, and trust that He will bless us with all that we need? 

• What do we learn from Rosh Hashana going directly into Shabbos? 
• Has anyone come up with a fitting acronym for tov shin pei hei?   
• Can we learn a lesson from 85 being 5 times 17 (tov)? 

What do we learn from Rosh Hashana and the Shofar? This year’s special schedule 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:How can Elul help us during these trying times? 

• How do the Thirteen Divine Attributes of Compassion empower us especially when we are faced with difficult challenges and war? 
• What do the last days of Elul teach us today?  
• When we say the King is in the field in Elul, do we mean the Divine essence or some of His characteristics? 
• When it says Hashem is in the field and greets everyone with a beautiful smiling face, does that mean Hashem will automatically respond positively to our requests?
• How do we explain the fact that not all our requests are fulfilled, and sometimes far worse than that? 
• Is there a way to contact G-d directly and have a conversation and get a direct answer? 
• How can we know who the King is, especially if He is undercover wearing regular clothes instead of royal garments? 

• What do the names of these portions and their opening verses teach us? 
• What is its connection to Elul and Rosh Hashana? 
• What does it mean when it says Hashem will hide his face from us? 
• What is the difference between tzimtzum and hester panim? 
• Didn’t G-d say to Moshe that no one can see My face and live, so what additional concealment is caused by our transgressions? 

• What is their function? 
• When do we recite them? 
• How do we understand the different customs about the time when we say selichos? 
• Why don’t we say Selichos during the Ten Days of Teshuva? 

• How should we react to the mass exploding pagers in Lebanon? 
• Will this help protect us? 
• Are there any instances in Torah where we saw similar events? 
• What additional things can we do to thank G-d for helping protect us from the terrorists in Lebanon? 
• Is this a prelude to the geulah? 

Am I responsible for someone else’s transgressions? Follow-up 
 
What do we learn from Parshas Netzavim-Vayeilech? Selichos War in Israel 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
How can Elul help us during these trying times? 

• What can we do differently and better this Elul to ensure that 5785 will be a great year? 
• Can you explain in practical terms how I can connect to the king in the field? 
• Why don’t we find Elul and its special customs mentioned in the Talmud or the Rambam? 
• What is the proper translation of kesiva v'chasima tova? 
• Did the Rebbe say that his favorite prayer is modeh ani? 

• 13 Elul 
• 15 Elul 
• 18 Elul 

• As an introverted artist uncomfortable with reaching out to curators and galleries, what more can I do to get my art out there?  

• What does the opening verse teach us? 
• What is its connection to Elul? 
• If the curses in this week’s chapter are really deep hidden blessings, why do we read them in an undertone, and no one is called up to that reading? 
• Why does it take 40 years to truly understand the Torah and have a complete relationship with Hashem? 

• What more can we do to release the remaining hostages? 
• How can we honor the souls of those brutally murdered? 
• How can I get beyond my anguish for the families of the hostages and those that have lost loved ones? How can I find a balance between holding space and praying for them and living my own life? 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
How does Elul empower us today?  

• How can we ensure that the 13 Divine attributes of compassion radiating this month manifest in our collective and personal lives – in helping secure the release of the hostages, in bringing us blessings in our livelihood, health, children etc.? 
• Should we buy lottery tickets this month? 
• What accounting (cheshbon ha’nefesh) should we be doing during this month?  
• Is Elul initiated from above or from below? 
• Why is it the “king” and not the “queen” in the field? 
• Is everything in Judaism centered around men? 
• How does the Alter Rebbe’s example relate to our times when kings don’t go out into the field? 
• Should leaders be going out into the “field”? 
• Why do we blow shofar every day in Elul in preparation for Rosh Hashana and don’t eat matzah every day for a month in preparation for Pesach? 
• Why do we pray at a tzaddik’s resting place during this month? 
• How is this reconciled with the prohibition of “praying to the deceased”? 

• What does the opening verse teach us about how to fight today's war? 
• What is its connection to Elul? 
• Do the laws of capturing enemy women apply today? 
• Why is the mitzvah of shiluach ha’kan related only in the book of Devarim? 
• What is it about Amalek that makes them our long-standing arch enemy?  

• How do we respond to arguments claiming that Jews are racists? 
• Why are Jews called the “chosen people”? 
• What is the Jewish view of non-Jews? 

What do we learn from Parshas Ki Teitzei? Does Jewish supremacy have any basis? 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
What does the month of Elul teach us today?  

• How Elul empowers us with strength in threatening times? 
• Which names describe the month of Elul? 
• What is the meaning of the “king is in the field”? 
• What specific things should we be doing during this month? 
• What unique power and energy does this month have? 
• What is its historical background? 
• 60 Days: A Spiritual Guide to the High Holidays 
• Is this month an opportune time for receiving blessings to have children? 
• What can prospective parents do during this time to manifest these blessings? 
• How is this month connected with the geulah? 
• Who initiates the effort in this month – we or G-d? 
• What is the meaning of ani l’dodi v’dodi li? 
• What responsibility do we have in these times of challenge and war? 
• Would it be wrong and considered a lack of emunah to move into a bunker for the next few years and come out after the wars end? 
• After the great divine revelation at Sinai how could the people commit the worst sin of idolatry? 
• Should we be concerned that the revelation of Moshiach could also bring such a downfall? 

• What is the practical application of appointing judges and law enforcers? 
• What is its connection to Elul? 
• Are we allowed to cut down fruit bearing trees in Gaza? 
• Are we allowed to use mediums to foresee the future? 
• What then was the function of the urim v'tumim? 

• Should anyone be exempt from joining the military? 
• Do the reservists have the right to not return to battle? 
• Is there any justification for Charedim not participating in the war? 

• Should we carry guns? 

• Who should we vote for? 

• What can I do about my husband being consumed by football? 
• What are our priorities in life? 
• How does that impact our children? 

What do we learn from Parshas Shoftim? Enlisting in the IDF How should we defend ourselves from antisemitic attacks? Presidential Election What should our attitude to sports be? 

MyLife Chassidus Applied: Where YOUR questions are answered Donate now: https://mylife500.com For recording visit the archive page or your favorite podcast carrier. Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Will war in Israel ever end? 01:34 • How should we react to the latest events in Northern Israel and Lebanon? 08:27 • What can we do? 09:30 • Did the prophets predict today’s war? 11:14 What does the transition from Av to Elul teach us today? 17:24 • How do these months empower us to turn challenges into opportunities and growth? 17:37 • Where do we see today the transformation of darkness to light? • Is a known adversary during the riots in Crown Heights in 1991 now supporting Israel? How do we bring light and truth into a world full of lies? • How do we overcome the appalling lies being propagated today? How can we not be disheartened and depressed by it all? • What can we do to advance the truth? • Does light automatically dispel all types of darkness, including the darkness of a “black hole” for example? • What are ways to find faith, healing and strength? • Can we lie to protect ourselves? • How can people so blatantly lie about the Jews stealing Israel from the Arabs? What is the difference between faith and imagination? • How can we turn the dream of Moshiach into a reality? What do we learn from Parshas Re’eh? • What is the significance of Re’eh – to see? • What is the opposite of blessing called a gift? • What is the deeper meaning of the ceremony that took place on Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal? • Why must an idolatrous city be destroyed? Does that apply today? Chof Av – 80 years • What can we learn from Reb Levi Yitzchak about our times? • Please share a relevant Torah from the Baal Ha’hilula Reader’s comments • Do you use a different Hebrew dialectic?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
What does the 15th of Av teach us today?  

• How does the cycle from destruction to rebuilding help us navigate the extremes in our times?  
• Why is this day such a great holiday, comparable to Yom Kippur? 
• How do we reconcile the great holiday of the 15th of Av with the rule that we must diminish in joy when the month of Av arrives? 
• Why did we break the axes on this day, and not just put them away to be used the next year? 
• I don’t see the Beis Hamikdash on Shabbos Chazon. What am I doing wrong? 
• Who will build the Third Temple? 

• How is this parsha connected to Moshiach? 
• Why is the time before Moshiach called “ikvesa d’meshicha”? 

• Should we be concerned that our lack of unity may negatively impact today’s events? 
• What can we do to increase unity? 
• How can we help steer Muslim fundamentalists to change course and live peacefully with their neighbors, as the Christians ultimately learned to do after centuries of aggression?  
• Before Moshiach’s coming do we need to endure difficulties? 
• What can we do to wake up people who have been brainwashed by a false alternative narrative? 
• Can we use recent events – the recent plot to attack a popular music concert; Iran’s ludicrous accusations against Israel – to help bring clarity to those that have been indoctrinated? 

• Why don’t you endorse a political party? Follow-up 
• If Moshiach comes now will there still be a presidential election? 

What do we learn from Parshas Eikev? War in Israel Presidential Election 

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
What does Tisha B’Av teach us today?   

• How does it empower us in difficult times? 
• What is its psychological application? 
• How do these days, and the general Jewish calendar, reflect the cycles of life? 
• Why are different prayers designated to different times of the year? 
• How do we explain Rabbi Akiva laughing when he saw destruction? 
• Is it appropriate for a family not to celebrate a child’s birthday in the month of Av? 
• Is someone born during this time of year destined to negative experiences, G-d forbid? 
• Why do we fast? 
• When was Moshiach born? 
• What is the connection between the sin of the scouts and the destruction of the Temple? 
• What was the difference between the sins that caused the destruction of the first and second Temples?  
• Why was baseless hatred the primary cause for the Temple’s destruction? 
• What can we do to increase unity? 
• Why does lashon hara affect the one spoken about? 
• How far are we from Moshiach’s coming? 
• What is a practical example of shtus d'kedusha that we can do today that can tip the scales and bring Moshiach? 

• How are we comforted by this Shabbos? 
• Why do we need Shabbo Nachamu after we were already shown the Beis HaMikdash on Shabbos Chazon? 
• Why did Hashem allow Moshe to pray 515 times but not a 516th time? 
• What is the purpose of Sefer Devarim? 

• Can we still say that Israel is the safest place on earth?  

• Why don’t you openly come out against the current democratic party? Follow-up 

• Thank you 

What do we learn from Shabbos Nachamu and Parshas Va’etchanan? War in Israel Presidential Election Reader’s comments