Fishel Jacobs

Rabbi Major (ret.) Fishel Jacobs, (born March 21, 1956) is an American martial artist, ex-Israel Prison Service officer and author. After graduating from the University of Vermont and winning many regional heavyweight Black Belt tournaments, including the 1976 YMCA mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title, he immigrated to Israel to study in the rabbinical school in Kfar Chabad. There became the first American ordained by the two Head Rabbis of Israel.
Jacobs has published seven acclaimed books on practical Talmudic law in use worldwide. He is the legal authority for numerous websites, including: www.mikvahcalendar.com, www.mymikvahcalendar.com, and www.mikvahminder.com.
Rabbi Jacobs is a devout Chabad -Lubavitch Rabbi and speaker. Jacobs' interviews, articles and columns frequently appear in Jewish and mainstream media.
Early life
Philip, aka Flip, Jacobs was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Harold and Rita Jacobs, second-generation Americans of Russian descent. A younger brother, Eric, lives in Burlington, VT, an older sister, Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs-Pinson, is a clinical psychologist, living in Brooklyn, N.Y.
In his book: Israel Behind Bars—U.S. Karate Champ Turns Israeli Prison Officer, Jacobs describes growing up in South Royalton, VT and getting picked on as the only Jewish kid. Subsequently, he was enrolled him in a Korean Karate class, run by Master Tae Yun KimSite..
Jacobs received his private pilot's certification in 1976. On their 150 acre farm, the "Sargent Farm," located in Royalton, Vermont, the Jacobs family bought and raised twelve recreation horses.
In 1974, Jacobs earned a black belt in karate from the International Tang Soo Do Association. He was elected American Legion Vermont Boys State Governor in 1973.
Jacobs completed his B.A. at the University of Vermont in 1979. His academic advisor, Professor Richard Sugarman, a world renowned expert on Existentialist Philosophy, was instrumental in influencing Jacobs toward religion while he attended U.V.M.
In university Jacobs won many regional competitions. He met the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, and, upon graduation, went to Israel to study in a rabbinical school, yeshiva.
Adult life
After spending many years studying in the rabbinical school in Kfar Chabad, Israel, Jacobs went on to serve in a number of rabbinic positions.
From 1988 to 2007, he served as the Chabad-Lubavitch Campus chaplain at Tel Aviv University .
Concurrently, from 1992 until 2005 he served as a full-time chaplain, a staff-officer with the rank of Major, in the Israel Prison Service (I.P.S.) He retired from that position in 2005. And subsequently published the first book ever describing life within the I.P.S. -- Israel Behind Bars—U.S. Karate Champ Turns Israel Prison Chaplain.
During the course of his prison service, the Israeli government saw fit to use his previous martial art expertise. In typical military fashion (so the story goes), the prison Manpower Officer called Jacobs to her office, and said, "You've just volunteered to become a hand-to-hand combat instructor." He was shipped off to the Wingate Military Institute and returned three months later certified to teach the Israeli form of self-defense, Krav Maga. The remaining years of his chaplaincy were spiced with teaching staff how to fight.
In 1981, he married Miriam, an Israeli girls' high school teacher. Miriam is a scholar in her own right, with an M.A. and directs the Biblical studies program at the Beit Rivkah Seminary in Kfar Chabad, Israel. They have seven children.
Education - Awards
Jacobs became highly decorated and achieved many degrees overseas. Including:
1996 - Rabbinical Attorney Certification: Machon Ariel, Israel
1995 - Ph.D. (equiv.) Dept. of Religion, Israel
1995 - Master of Higher Torah Studies, Head Rabbinate, Israel
1991 - Israeli Army Officer's Course
1986 - Ordination: Head Rabbinate, Israel
Media Coverage - Interviews- Articles
Jacobs was the central figure in the closing chapter of Boychicks in the Hood. That book documented the author's, Robert Eisenberg, worldwide travels. And finished off with his fascinating week's stay with Jacobs, during which the two discussed everything from contemporary politics to Talmudic marital theory. A chapter commonly thought to be the most powerful in the acclaimed book.
The famous "Day in the Life of..." series featured Jacobs in his role as an American Prison Officer working inside Israel's maximum security penitentiaries in the Day in the Life of Israel edition. That edition was published in consort with the Israel Department of Defense as well as the U.S. publishing house, and featured a striking article presenting Jacobs in his role as officer and chaplain.
Often Jacobs is interviewed and featured in the media, particularly in connection with his prison service background.
The magazine section of the Israeli national magazine Kolot, presented a six page feature interview with Jacobs in its July, 2009 edition.
He was featured on Arutz Sheva, Israel National Radio station, in December, 2008 in connection with his children's book series.
Israel Behind Bars—U.S. Karate Champ turns Israel Prison Officer was featured at the Bakersfied Borders Book store.during its book of the month meeting of November, 2006.
A feature interview, titled: Criminals Slammed for Using Religion, with Jacobs appeared online in the Forward.com web site on Oct. 8, 2008.
He was interviewed on the Jewish Experience radio show in January 2007 regarding the appearance of his newest book at the time.
The London Jewish News had a feature article about Jacobs on its front cover in July 2006.
The New York based Jewish Press had a feature article with Jacobs in its December 2006 edition.
The Spanish web edition of Chabad.org featured a translated (into Spanish) interview with Jacobs in its July 2008 edition.
The Ynet new online edition featured an article about Jacobs legal writings in its July 2009 edition.
The German magazine Judisches Berlin featured an article on Jacobs legal writing books in its July 2006 edition.
Under the direct request of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the main magazine of the international Chabad-Lubavitch organization, Kfar Chabad Magazine, featured Jacobs in its July 2006 edition.
Present
Presently, Jacobs spends his time writing additional books on practical Talmudic law. His books appear regularly in expanding formats.
For many years, he aided the development of the groundbreaking site: MikvahCalendar.com.
He is the primary answering legalist to this site, as well as other sites serving a worldwide audience, e.g. mymikvahcalendar.com, FamilyPurity.com, and others.
Publishing
1. Family Purity-A Guide to Family Purity.
Comprehensive, yet user friendly guide to family law issues in use worldwide. Family Purity site.
2. Israel Behind Bars.Details here.
Describes the author's decade plus experiences working inside the Israel Prison Service. (Opted for Hollywood feature film.)
3. Blech Book . Details here.
Laws of Sabbath hotplates, in use in high schools and seminaries worldwide.
4. Two Kings. (Children's series, see: Two Kings Book Series.)
Two Kings site.
Teaches a moral lesson, based on wisdom of King Solomon.

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