Weekly Women's Class by Rabbi YY Jacobson

Women's Behaloscha Class - Have We Put Our Children Before G-d? 02.06.2026 1h 25m

Have Secular Values Destroyed Our Standards of Jewish Education? What Happened to Good Old Discipline?: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 17 Sivan, 5786, June 2, 2026, Parshas Be'haloscha, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Nasso Class - The Secret of Samson's Riddle 26.05.2026 1h 19m

Surrender Is an Infinite Process: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 10 Sivan, 5786, May 26, 2026, Parshas Nasso, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Shavuos Class - Does Our Religion Suppress Creativity? When Moshe Meets Reb Akiva 19.05.2026 1h 28m

A Mountain Over Your Head? When You're Feeling Disconnected from Your Spouse: It is one of those strange, intriguing, poignant, and profound Talmudic tales. It includes such wonders as a dialogue with G-d-the-Scribe, instantaneous time travel, and the convergence of humility and self-expression in the evolution of Judaism. When Moses ascended on High (after the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai on Shavuos), he found G-d sitting and tying crowns on the letters of the Torah. Moses said before G-d: Master of the Universe! Who is preventing You from giving the Torah without these additions? What is lacking in the words themselves that You must add crowns as well? G-d said to him: There is a man who is destined to be born after several generations—Akiva the son of Yosef is his name. He is destined to derive from each and every ‘thorn’ of these ‘crowns’ mounds upon mounds of halachos (laws). It is for his sake that the crowns must be added to the letters of the Torah. Moses said before G-d: Master of the Universe! Show him to me. G-d said to him: Turn around. Suddenly, in a classic case of “back to the future,” Moses finds himself 1600 years ahead of his day. He went and sat at the end of the eighth row in Rabbi Akiva’s study hall. Rabbi Akiva is teaching Torah to his disciples, but Moses does not understand what they are saying. Moses’ strength waned; his energy departed from him. He was demoralized. When Rabbi Akiva arrived at the discussion of a particular exposition, his students asked him: Master! From where do you derive this? Rabbi Akiva said to them: It is a halacha, a law, transmitted to Moses from Sinai. When Moses heard this, his mind was put at ease. The entire story seems absurd. For starters, how could Moses not comprehend the lecture of Rabbi Akiva? Moses studied on Mt. Sinai for forty days at the “feet” of the best teacher of all time, G-d Himself. What is even stranger is Moses’ response. When he fails to understand, his strength wanes; his energy is deflated. But then, when Reb Akiva quotes him, his mind is put at ease… Was Moshe’s ego first shattered by his lack of understanding and then placated by hearing his name quoted? What happened to the legendary humility of Moses? It was at the Farbrengen of Shabbos Parshas Shemini, 26 Nissan, 5726, April 16, 1966, when the Lubavitcher Rebbe offered a most powerful and extraordinary explanation of this Talmudic narrative. The sermon takes on a fascinating journey through the Mesorah of Judaism, from master to student. We enter with Moses into the study hall of Reb Akiva, and we discover the great revolutionary composing unsurpassed symphonies of Torah wisdom.

Women's Lag Ba'Omer Class - Three Ways to Respond to Fear & Stress: Hagar, Yishmael, and Reb Akiva 05.05.2026 1h 35m

The Untold Story of Global Terrorism: Are You the Bow or the Arrow?: This powerful and life-changing women's Lag Baomer class, on why we shoot arrows on Lag Baomer, was presented on Tuesday, Lag Baomer, 5786, May 5, 2026. It is a most perplexing and fascinating story—Hagar and Yishmael—and it is read every Rosh Hashanah. Did you notice a very strange expression? As she walks away from her thirsty child, not to be with him at his moment of distress and not see his death, the Torah says, she sits down at a distance, “a bowshot away.” It is the only time such an expression is used in Tanach. What is it supposed to mean and symbolize? It could have just said, “she sat at a far distance”?! And then a few verses later, we come back to the bow. Yishmael, her son, becomes an archer, “the master of the bow.” What’s the significance of this detail? He may have also taken on pickleball or yoga. Why is this important? There is a profound message here, and it will teach you about our world today more than any website, newspaper, or book in the world. It will also teach us our mission today during turbulent times. There are three ways to respond to tension, pressure, and anxiety. The Hagar away: You look away, or you run away. The Yishmael way: You become the master of tension, making the world panic as you smile. Today we want to discover a third way. This is the Jewish way, and it’s the Jewish secret. We are the “masters of the arrow.” The secret of the arrow is: The deeper the tension, the more you apply the pressure, the further it strikes, with more impact and intensity. We are the Divine arrows of history. The more tension we experience, our “arrows,” our force and light, soar and reach the greatest of distances with the deepest might and power. The story of Jacob, David, Joseph, Moses, and Esther—captures the powerful secret of Jewish history. Reb Akiva taught us how to take the bow of Yishmael and transform it into transformative growth, becoming G-d's arrows to transform the world from darkness to light, from exile to redemption.

Women's Emor Class - Stone Him to Death? When We Allow Our Pain to Stone Our Hearts 28.04.2026 1h 48m

The Story of the Blasphemer: You’re Not Guilty, But Cursing G-d/Reality Robs You of Your Inner Radiance: This class, exploring the perplexing and disturbing story of the Blasphemer who was stoned to death, was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, Parshas Emor, 11 Iyar, 5786, April 28, 2026, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Sefira Class - Surrender, Unblending, Sweetening: The Baal Shem Tov’s 3-Step Program to Authentic Living 21.04.2026 1h 30m

When to Trust Your Therapist: Three Vital Steps for Every Parent, Teacher, & Mentor: This class, exploring the three phases of emotional healing according to the Baal Shem Tov,was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 4 Iyar, 5786, April 21, 2026, Parshas Achrei - Kedoshim, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. How do you know when to trust the person giving you advice? How do you know to trust your own advice? Three steps we each need to engage in in our work of healing: Surrender, unblending, and sweetening. This is why Hashem tells the first Jew: Leave your earthiness and ego (surrender), your birth template (unblending), and your anger (sweetening). These are also the three stages in our annual calendar of Pesach (surredner), counting of the Omer (unblending), and Shavuos (sweetening).

Women's Pesach Class - We Tried to Hold It Together for So Long; G-d Is Cracking Us All Open. What a Gift! 24.03.2026

How Much Longer Will I Hide? The Splitting of the Sea and the Death of the Ego.: This class, exploring the deeper meaning of passing through the sea after leaving Egypt, was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 6 Nissan, 5786, March 24, 2026, Parshas Tzav, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. Why do we say "Dayanu" if G-d would have split the sea but not taken us through it? How would that help anyone? A profound explanation of living in two states of consciousness simultaneously, in the state of infinite oneness, and in the state of a fragmented ego, represented by the sea vs. the dryland. We tell the story of Raba bar bar Chana, who went to BBQ on an island, which turned out to be a whale, and turned over on him. Living in times when G-d is expediting consciousness, many of us are falling apart. It is time to let go! Just let it all go. As the sea splits in our lives, and we experience ego-death, some of us come to life; some of us perish. The death of the Egyptians by the sea came from the very experience that saved the Jews. When oneness is revealed, some parts of us live; others wither away.

Women's Iran/Purim/Pesach Class - The Secret Behind the Fall of Iran 17.03.2026 1h 31m

Hashem Didn't Make a Miracle in Iran; He Did Something Much Bigger: This class, dissecting the war of America and Israel against Iran, which began on Feb 28, 2026, Shabbos Zochor, 11 Adar, 5786, was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 28 Adar, 5786, March 17, 2026, Parshas Vayikra, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Terumah/Adar Women's Class - "When the Love Is Absent, a 90 Foot Bed Won't Suffice:" Healing Our Unconscious Resistance to Connection 17.02.2026 1h 40m

Is My Loneliness Serving Me? When My Nervous System Felt that Hitler Controlled the World: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 30 Shevat, 5786, February 17, 2026, Parshas Terumah, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. It explores the reason we announce about Shekalim and Kilayim on the first day of Adar, and the fascinating Talmudic story about the man who would complain about his marriage, how when the love was potent, even a narrow bed did the magic, yet now when the love is not strong, even a large bed does not suffice.

Women's Yisro Class - The Truth About Moshe's Marriage & the Reincarnation of Kayin and Hevel 03.02.2026 1h 26m

How Do I Know Why My Soul Came Down? Liberating Myself from Social Stereotypes: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 16 Shevat, 5786, February 3, 2026, Parshas Yisro, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Bo Class - The Greatest Gift Hashem Has Given You Is… Hashem 20.01.2026 1h 34m

Pharaoh and His 3 Henchmen: When You Know Your Nervous System, You Can Live with Agency, Presence, and Regulation: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 2 Shevat, 5786, January 20, 2026, Parshas Bo, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Vaeira/24 Teves Women's Class - "One Day You Will Look in the Mirror and See Only a Mouthpiece" -- Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz Warned Me 13.01.2026 1h 25m

Pharaoh Was Searching for a Miracle that Would Blow Away Moshe and Aaron: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, Parshas Vaera, 24 Teves, 5786, January 13, 2026, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Shemos Class - "Moshe Turned Here and There:" The Courage to Embrace Your Truth 06.01.2026 1h 34m

A Peek Into Moshe's Mind: The Day You Stop Living for Others and Go Into Flow with Your Own Energy: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, Parshas Shemos, 17 Teves, 5786, January 6, 2026, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's 10 Teves Class - Recognizing the Tectonic Shift that Happened in My Psyche is the Genesis of Redemption 30.12.2025 1h 22m

Refusing to Live Behind Walls: When Jerusalem and My Soul Are Under Siege: This class, explaining the historic story behind the fast of the 10th of Teves and its psychological relevance in our lives today, was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 10 Teves, 5786, December 30, 2025, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Chanukah Class - Has Judaism Been Hijacked by the Greeks? All Validation in the World Is Worthless When You Experience Your Own Spiritual Energy 16.12.2025 1h 26m

Why the Chanukah Struggle Is Still Going On: Can I Choose Experience over Reason?: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 26 Kislev, 5786, December 16, 2025, Parshas Miketz, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Vayeshev Class - The Collapse of the First Jewish Family: When Your World Unravels, Healing Can Begin 09.12.2025 1h 31m

Your Soul Craves Authentic Tranquility; That’s When Things Begin to Fall Apart: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 19 Kislev, 5786, December 9, 2025, Parshas Vayeshev, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. The class explores the reason for the name of the parsha, "Vayeishev," which means "settling down," when the entire portion records the collapse of the first Jewish family. And how can one grasp the words of the Midrash and Rashi that Yaakov was supposedly punished for craving to enjoy tranquility in his life? It seems so cruel. The class is based on an address by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, forty years ago, Shabbos Vayeishev 5746 (1985). We discover the meaning of authentic serenity and how to achieve it in life. Sometimes, when your life and family begin to unravel, healing has begun.

Women's Vayishlach Class - Competition is for Losers: Facing Your Loneliness, Rebirthing Yourself 02.12.2025 1h 28m

"And Yaakov Remained Alone:" As You Heal, Some Will Shun You While Others Will Embrace You: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 12 Kislev, 5786, December 2, 2025, Parshas Vayishlach, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Vayetzei Class - "Behold, She Is Leah!" Your Darkness Is Your Path to Greatness 25.11.2025 1h 42m

"Every Liar Has a Teacher:" Why Yaakov Had to Marry Leah: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 5 Kislev, 5786, November 25, 2025, Parshas Vayetzei, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. The Medrash describes a hidden scene on the wedding night of Yaakov and Leah. Throughout the night, Yaakov kept calling the bride “Rachel,” and Leah answered each time. In the morning, when the deception was revealed, Yaakov confronted her: “How could you answer to the name Rachel? You are just like your father, Lavan—a deceiver!” Leah replied with the shocking line: “Is there a barber without students? Didn’t your father call for Esav, and you answered ‘I am Esav’?” At first glance, Leah appears to justify deception with deception—but that cannot be the message. The matriarch of Klal Yisrael wouldn’t base righteousness on revenge or moral equivalence. To understand her words, the shiur introduces a profound idea. The Torah writes “הִיא לֵאָה” (“she is Leah”) but spells it “הוּא לֵאָה” (“he is Leah”), hinting that Yaakov’s shock that morning was not simply discovering who Leah was, but discovering who he was. Leah became a mirror. When Yaakov deceived Yitzchak by dressing as Esav, he spiritually adopted the role of Esav—not in wickedness, but because Hashem needed him to carry both types of Jewish souls: those of pure light (Rachel) and those who struggle, fall, rise, and wrestle their way to greatness (Leah/Esav archetype). The moment Yaakov declared “I am Esav,” he entered the world of struggle—which meant the soulmate for that part of him was no longer Rachel alone, but Leah, who embodies exhaustion, complexity, and inner confrontation. Thus, Leah’s response was not defensive sarcasm but a deep revelation: “I didn’t merely deceive you; I stepped into the place you created. You became Esav for a holy purpose—and therefore, your Esav-part must marry its counterpart. I am the mirror of the struggle inside you.” In this view, the switch under the chuppah wasn’t random trickery. It was a continuation of Yaakov’s own spiritual journey. Rachel represents his light, innocence, and clarity; Leah represents his darkness that can be transformed into light—the hard inner work, the exhaustion, the buried pain, the shadow that must be redeemed to access deeper strength. Ultimately every Jew descends from both Rachel and Leah—both the part of us that feels aligned and luminous and the part that feels heavy, complicated, and exhausted. True wholeness comes only when both are embraced. That is why Yaakov is buried with Leah, not Rachel. His life’s completion came not only from the parts that felt easy and beautiful, but from the parts that demanded courage, mirroring, self-confrontation, and transformation. The message of the Medrash is that our “Leah moments”—our struggles, shadows, and discomfort—are not punishments but invitations to greatness. And that is the deeper meaning of the badeken: by veiling the kallah, we declare, “I am ready to marry not only the parts of you that I see now, but also the hidden parts I cannot yet see — and this commitment is only possible if I am also willing to meet, accept, and marry the hidden parts within myself.”

Women's Toldos Class - Two Kings Fighting Over My Brain: Tanya’s Reading of Yaakov & Eisav in the Womb 18.11.2025 1h 32m

When You Grasp the Dynamics of Your Two Souls, You Liberate Yourself from Shame: This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 27 Cheshvan, 5786, November 18, 2025, Parshas Toldos, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Women's Vayera Class - Sarah's Laughter: How Cynicism Corrodes Our Feminine Energy and How to Heal It 04.11.2025 1h 39m

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.