The Sin of the Tree of Knowledge: What’s the Worth of Paradise If It’s Not on Social Media?: This text-based class is the fourth class in a series on the Chassidic discourse (Maamar) "Vayehu Chayei Sarah," said by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah, 25 Cheshvan, 5712, November 24, 1951, and was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, 29 Cheshvan, 5786, November 20, 2025, Parshas Toldos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. This class sums up the structure of the Maamar and continues to explore the deeper meaning behind Chava eating from the Tree of Knowledge and the snake having "intimacy" with Chava. We explore the meaning of true Bitul, in which surrender is not hijacked by the ego, and how wanting to be remembered is a subtle form of idolotry, created by the trauma of separateness.

In Complete Surrender We Experience Bliss; But It Is Not Our Own: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Monday, 26 Cheshvan, 5786, November 17, 2025, Parshas Toldos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Our Journey from Miserable Self-Consciousness to Humble Joy and Gratitutde: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, 22 Cheshvan, 5786, November 13, 2025, Parshas Chayei Sarah, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

What Is Bliss? Feeling in My Body That Hashem Is Celebrating Me: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Monday, 19 Cheshvan, 5786, November 10, 2025, Parshas Chayei Sarah, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Don't Run from Your Mistakes: Why the First Jewish Child Was Named Laughter: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 13 Cheshvan, 5786, November 4, 2025, Parshas Vayera, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. Why would Sarah deny the truth that she laughed? The Torah says, “because she was afraid.” Afraid of whom? Why was she afraid to tell Abraham that she laughed? After all, she was 89 years old, and Sarah stood her own in the presence of Abraham. Maybe the Torah means she was scared of G-d. But that is senseless. Did she believe that you can hide from G-d? Even more strange is the response to her denial. “But He said, ‘No, you laughed indeed.’” What was this all about? A he said/she said game in the therapist’s office? She said I never laughed; he says: No you did laugh! Okay great. Now what? The biggest question is this: When this miracle child is actually born, the name he receives is Yitzchak, which means LAUGHTER! Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me!” Strange. When Sarah hears she will have a child, she laughs. G-d gets upset over the fact that she is laughing. He confronts Abraham about her laughter. She denies it. Then Abraham, or G-d, says: No, you did laugh, Sarah! And then when the baby was born, they gave him that very name—laughter! There seems to be some strange theme unfolding here. One of the Chassidic masters, the Sefas Emes, provides a marvelous commentary. It was the moment that created the eternal and legendary Yiddishe Mamme, who will stop for nothing to protect and to believe in her children, and offer them the maternal holding, the fit of inner regulation, peace, and self-love. Cynicism undermines our feminine energy in very profound ways. It buries our trust. Our mother Sarah needed not only to avoid it, but to transform it.

Why Could the Baal Shem Tov Not Sleep with Money in His House?: This text-based class is part 2 of a two-part series on the Maamar of the Alter Rebbe V'lo Yikare Od Simcha Avram, published in Torah OR Lech Lecha, which he said at the bris of his great-grandson, Reb Boruch Sholom, the oldest son of the Tzemach Tzedek, on Thursday, 29 Cheshvan, 5566, November 1805. This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Friday, 9 Cheshvan, 5786, October 31, 2025, Parshas Lech Lecha, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Reality as a Series of Endless Veils; With Each Veil I Feel More Fragmented: This text-based class is part 1 of a two-part series on the Maamar of the Alter Rebbe V'lo Yikare Od Simcha Avram, published in Torah OR Lech Lecha, which he said at the bris of his great-grandson, Reb Boruch Sholom, the oldest son of the Tzemach Tzedek, on Thursday, 29 Cheshvan, 5566, November 1805. The class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, 8 Cheshvan, 5786, October 30, 2025, Parshas Lech Lecha, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

The Journey from Trauma to Trust; When I Need to Cover My Eyes In Order to See: This class was presented on Tuesday, 6 Cheshvan, 5786, October 28, 2025, Parshas Lech Lecha, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Noach Before Toldos: Showing Up for Our Children and the World from a Space of Internal Calm: This class was presented on Tuesday, 29 Tishrei, 5786, October 21, 2025, Parshas Noach, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

How Can I Enhance My Married Life?:

Don’t Do Teshuvah Because You Hate Yourself; Do Teshuvah Because You Love Yourself: This class was presented on Tuesday, 8 Tishrei, 5786, September 30, 2025, Parshas Ha'azinu, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Sunday, September 28, 8:30 pm ET: Rabbi YY Jacobson presents for Fresh Start Alumni with Q&A on Sunday, 6 Tishrei, 5786, September 28, 2025. Fresh Start Retreat, their flagship program, Fresh Start Retreat, is a 7-day intensive retreat helping participants understand their past to create a brighter future. https://jewishfreshstart.com/home

Mountains of Infinite Love: I Can Be Religious My Entire Life But Never Experience Teshuvah: This text-based class is the fifth and last in a series on Likkutei Torah Maamar "Atem Nitzavim," a discourse said by the Alter Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim, 28 Elul, 5662/1802, and was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Friday, 26 Elul, 5785, September 19, 2025, Parshas Nitzavim, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

The Final Chapter of Tehilim: When I Ask What's the Benefit of Connection, It's Because I’m Not Experiencing Connection: This text-based class is the fourth in a series on Likkutei Torah Maamar "Atem Nitzavim," a discourse said by the Alter Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim, 28 Elul, 5662/1802, and was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, 25 Elul, 5785, September 18, 2025, Parshas Nitzavim, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Why So Much Antisemitism? What Does This Tell Us Abour Ourselves?:

Let the Music Ignite Your Soul:

Coronating the King: Bringing Hashem into the Most Shameful, Lonely Parts of Your Being: This class was presented on Tuesday, 23 Elul, 5785, September 16, 2025, Parshas Nitzavim, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. We explore the first question asked by G-d to Adam on the first Rosh Hashanah of history: Ayeka, where are you? He did not ask him why he sinned and ate from the tree of knowledge; he asked him: Why do you need to hide from me? Can you come out of your hiding place so we can enjoy the garden together? We analyze the inner fear and shame that paralyze so many of us, and deprive us of the ability to experience internal love and bliss. The coronation of Hashem on Rosh Hashanah is the invitation to bring infinite Divine acceptance into those very shameful and scary places. The life-changing experience of embracing all our parts and allowing the love to flow freely and uninhibitedly.

In My Outer Heart, I Want to Stay in Flow; In My Inner Heart, It Can’t Get More Perfect: This text-based class is the third in a series on Likkutei Torah Maamar "Atem Nitzavim," a discourse said by the Alter Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim, 28 Elul, 5662/1802, and was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, 18 Elul, 5785, September 11, 2025, Parshas Ki Savo, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. This class was presented on Monday, 22 Elul, 5785, September 15, 2025, Parshas Nitzavim, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Turning My Soul and Body Into a Shofar: Live Selichos Event, Motzei Shabbos, 20 Elul, 5785, September 13, 2025, In Person at 20 Forshay Rd, Upstairs & Live Stream.

How Love Evolves: Your Deepest Love Flows Exquisitely from Your Connection with Self: This text-based class is the second in a series on Likkutei Torah Maamar "Atem Nitzavim," a discourse said by the Alter Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim, 28 Elul, 5662/1802, and was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, 18 Elul, 5785, September 11, 2025, Parshas Ki Savo, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. This class on the second chapter of the discourse discusses covenantal love vs. transactional love, and why people make a "covenant of love," inviting the connection to graduate to a space that is supra-rational. He discusses the love of David and Yonoson, and the love that Moshe engendered after the sin of the golden calf. We discuss the meaning of love that flows from your truest essence and becomes the most exquisite extension of your self-love.