''Toward a Meaningful Life'' is a book authored by

Chabad 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 ...

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 ...

writer

Simon Jacobson Simon Jacobson (born December 8, 1956) is the author of '' Toward a Meaningful Life'' (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 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 The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is a division of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. It offers adult Jewish courses on Jewish history, law, ethics, philosophy and rabbi ...

. The book elucidates the teachings of Rabbi

Menachem Mendel Schneerson Menachem Mendel Schneerson (Modern Hebrew: מנחם מענדל שניאורסון; old-fashioned spelling: מנחם מענדל שניאורסאהן; April 5, 1902 OS – June 12, 1994; AM 11 Nissan 5662 – 3 Tammuz 5754), known to man ...

, the seventh

Rebbe A Rebbe ( yi, רבי, translit=rebe) or Admor ( he, אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spiritua ...

."Toward a Meaningful Life:The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson"
''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

''. Accessed April 1, 2014.

Concepts

''Toward a Meaningful Life'' expounds on ideas in

Chabad philosophy Chabad philosophy comprises the teachings of the leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch, a Hasidic movement. Chabad Hasidic philosophy focuses on religious concepts such as God, the soul, and the meaning of the Jewish commandments. Teachings are often draw ...

and especially the teachings of the seventh Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi

. One of the central concepts explored by Jacobson is the

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...

. According to Jacobson, the soul is divine energy, "the flame of God," "a little piece of the infinite that lies within you." Faith is considered a central component for the social order. According to the book, life without faith would be "a random series of logical and illogical errors." Giving charity is seen by Jacobson as more than a physical act. Becoming a giver and a contributor to life sanctifies one's life, as the giver has the potential to become a partner in the creation and development of the universe.Silberman, Israela. "COMMENTARY: Spiritual Role Modeling: The Teaching of Meaning Systems." ''

The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion The ''International Journal for the Psychology of Religion'' is a Peer review, peer-reviewed academic journal devoted to research on the psychology of religion. Its scope includes the social psychology of religion, religious development, conversion ...

'' 13, no. 3 (2003): 175-195.

References

American non-fiction books Chabad-Lubavitch (Hasidic dynasty) Chabad-Lubavitch texts 1995 books {{Judaism-book-stub