Rabbi Simon Jacobson at Scott Air Force Base

Simon Jacobson (born December 8, 1956) is the author of ''

Toward a Meaningful Life ''Toward a Meaningful Life'' is a book authored by Chabad Hasidic writer Simon Jacobson. The book became the basis of a six-part course titled ''Toward a Meaningful Life: A Soul-Searching Journey for Every Jew'' by the Jewish Learning Institute. ...

'' (William Morrow, 2002), founder of The Meaningful Life Center and publisher of the Yiddish English weekly, The '' Algemeiner Journal''. Jacobson is a member of the

Chabad-Lubavitch Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic group ...

movement.

Life and early career

Jacobson was born in Brooklyn,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, to a Chabad

Hasidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

family. He studied in the United Lubavitcher Yeshiva and the Rabbinical College of America, and did his post-graduate studies in Central Tomchei Tmimim. While still in yeshiva, Jacobson began working extensively as a ''choizer'' for the talks of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson the seventh Chabad rebbe.

Career

In 1979, Jacobson began directing a team of scholars known as ''Vaad Hanachos Hatemimim'' that memorized and transcribed entire talks that the Lubavitcher Rebbe gave during the

Sabbath In Abrahamic religions, the Sabbath () or Shabbat (from Hebrew ) is a day set aside for rest and worship. According to the Book of Exodus, the Sabbath is a day of rest on the seventh day, commanded by God to be kept as a holy day of rest, as G ...

and holidays (when writing and tape recording are not permitted under

Jewish Law ''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws which is derived from the Torah, written and Oral Tora ...

). This team published more than 1,000 of the Rebbe's talks. Jacobson was also part of the research team for ''Sefer HaLikkutim'' – an encyclopedic collection of

Chassidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

thought anthologized from the works of Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (26 volumes, published 1977–1982).Interview with Simon Jacobson
, Chabadominican.com Jacobson heads The Meaningful Life Center, called a "spiritual Starbucks" by The New York Times.

Publications

Jacobson is the author of the book ''

'', a William Morrow publication that has sold more than 300,000 copies and has been translated into Hebrew,

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, Russian,

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, Hungarian, Polish and Czech. Jacobson is also the publisher of the Yiddish English Weekly, ''The Algemeiner Journal''. Many of his writings are syndicated on other Chabad websites, including

Chabad.org Chabad.org is the flagship website of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. It was one of the first Jewish internet sites and the first and largest virtual congregation. History In 1988, Yosef Yitzchak Kazen, a Chabad rabbi, began creating ...

and

AskMoses.com AskMoses.com is a defunct website that previously served people with questions about or related to Orthodox Judaism or who have a moral dilemma they wished to solve through religious beliefs. It offered live chatting and a database of questions th ...

Publications

Books

*''Toward a Meaningful Life'', 1995 *''Spiritual Guide to Counting the

Omer Omer may refer to: __NOTOC__ * Omer (unit), an ancient unit of measure used in the era of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem * The Counting of the Omer (''sefirat ha'omer''), a 49 day period in the Jewish calendar * Omer (Book of Mormon), a Jaredite ...

'', 1996 *''60 DAYS: A Spiritual Guide to the

High Holidays The High Holidays also known as the High Holy Days, or Days of Awe in Judaism, more properly known as the Yamim Noraim ( he, יָמִים נוֹרָאִים, ''Yāmīm Nōrāʾīm''; "Days of Awe") #strictly, the holidays of Rosh HaShanah ("Jew ...

'', 2003

Personal life

Jacobson married on February 21, 1983, and has two children. His brother is Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson, a Chabad rabbi and dean and Rosh Yeshiva of ''TheYeshiva.net''.

References

External links

Rabbi Jacobson's Homepage – Meaningfullife.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobson, Simon 1956 births Kabbalists Jewish American writers Living people People from Brooklyn Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis American Hasidic rabbis American male writers

Life and early career

Career

Publications

Publications

Books

Personal life

See also

References

External links