In 1979, Jacobson began directing a team of scholars known as Vaad Hanachos Hatemimim that memorized and transcribed ("meiniach") entire talks that the Lubavitcher Rebbe gave during the Sabbath and holidays (when writing and tape recording are not permitted under Jewish Law). This team published more than 1,000 of the Rebbe's talks.[1]
Jacobson was also part of the research team for Sefer HaLikkutim – an encyclopedic collection of Hasidic Jewish thought anthologized from the works of Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, the third Chabad rebbe (26 volumes, published 1977–1982).[1]
Jacobson heads The Meaningful Life Center, described as a "spiritual Starbucks" by The New York Times.[2]
Jacobson married on February 21, 1983, and has two children. His brother is Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson, a world renowned rabbi and dean and Rosh Yeshiva of TheYeshiva.net.[5]
^"Chabad South Hills News". Pittsburgh, PA. IN Community Magazine. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will present Toward a Meaningful Life: A Soul-Searching Journey for Every Jew....Although the course is prepared by Rabbi Simon Jacobson, head of the Meaningful Life Center in New York City and author of the best-selling book Toward a Meaningful Life, the sessions are freestanding and no prior familiarity with the book is assumed.