MyLife: Chassidus Applied Contest: An Origin Story
Now in its sixth season, the success of the MyLife: Chassidus Applied Contest is evident. The over 2,000 essays submitted to date testify to the widespread impact it has created, giving individuals across the globe the opportunity to connect Chassidus to their personal lives.
But six years ago, when Rabbi Simon Jacobson first suggested running an essay contest, the idea was met with dubious glances. Rabbi Jacobson set aside an afternoon and composed an email pitch. He outlined his vision for the contest, including its objectives, merits, and budget, and sent it to a dear friend and longtime Meaningful Life Center supporter. Within a matter of hours, a brief response had returned to his inbox, affirmative. “Excellent idea – I’m in,” wrote the founder of the Meromim Foundation.
The weeks that followed were a frenzy of activity; office meetings about publicity, strategy, judges, and contest rules intermingled with a slew of staff emails and phone calls. The MyLife team was on fire with the energy of a new idea. It wasn’t long before the contest launched and the excitement had spread to Chassidus enthusiasts across the globe.
The Letter
About two weeks after the contest’s launch, Rabbi Jacobson signed into his email to find the words “You have got to check out this letter from the Rebbe” blinking back at him from his computer screen. The letter his friend was referring to was one he hadn’t ever seen before. Its contents, he found as he read it with increasing interest, moved and surprised him.
The letter was originally written to a woman teaching in a girls’ school in Eretz Yisroel. It addresses various issues, many related to her position as an educator, some personal as well. At the very end of the letter, the Rebbe writes:
“We see from experience, here and in other places, that when you draw the students themselves into the work through [having them] make their own presentations, etc., it evokes far greater enthusiasm among their friends, and a heightened interest, etc. …
“In connection with the upcoming Tenth of Shevat, it should be suggested … that each one write an essay which relates to some aspect of the work of my father-in-law, the Rebbe; his talks, etc., etc.” (Igros Kodesh volume 10 p. 238-239)
Amazingly, and clearly Providentially, the letter was dated 18 Teves, 5715 – exactly 60 years to the day of the initial launch of the MyLife: Chassidus Applied Essay Contest!
Rabbi Jacobson realized that the idea for the contest had not been his own at all. This contest was more than just a good idea. It was an opportunity for every Chossid to fulfill a directive of the Rebbe with an added bonus: the chance to win $10,000!
A Call to Educators
This year, 70 years from the first Yud Shevat, Rabbi Jacobson wants to make a suggestion – “to everyone,” he says, “but to parents and teachers in particular.” He continues, “Let us use the essay contest as an opportunity to fulfill the Rebbe’s hora’ah while empowering our children and students in their own struggles. Ask them what they are grappling with, and make it a class or family project to look into Chassidus for answers and perspective. When you challenge a young person to seek out answers to their challenges, and then to address them in writing or through creative expression, it infuses them with confidence and resilience.”
Rabbi Jacobson says the feedback from previous years leaves no doubt in his mind that the contest can have truly transformative results. “I’m not exaggerating!” he assures his listeners. “I have been told by multiple people that this project changed the atmosphere and conversation in their homes or classrooms.”
If you needed any encouragement to enter into the contest, here it is. Write an essay or create something in honor of Yud Shevat. Center it around a real-life struggle and address it using Chassidic sources. Take advantage of this opportunity to win $10,000 – for following a directive of the Rebbe. The due date for submissions is February 28th at 11:59 pm EST.
https://www.chassidusapplied.com/contest
Rabbi Jacobson, thank you for your leadership and giving us directives on how to connect in this new era.