About Rabbi Jacobs
Rabbi Jacobs has published ten non-fiction books, including acclaimed works on difficult areas of Talmudic law, used worldwide.
Between 1988 – 2005, he served as Tel Aviv University campus chaplain (Chabad).
Rabbi Jacobs is the legal authority for numerous popular web sites.
He was the first American ordained by Israel’s head rabbis, holds a PhD (equiv.) from the Israel Dept. of Religion, and completed studies as a Rabbinic attorney.
He served as lieutenant in an Israel army combat engineering unit, on active duty during the Gulf War.
Jacobs retired from the Israeli Prison Service, 2005, where he was the only American staff officer, Major, serving as a prison chaplain.
In 2006, he was awarded an 8th degree Master Instructor certificate in Los Angeles.
Education – Awards
- 2021 – LLB, Israel Law Degree
- 2006 – Eighth Degree Black Belt Master Instructor, L.A.
- 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
- 1983 – Rabbinical Ordination, Chabad-Lubavitch, U.S.A.
- 1979 – B.A. University of Vermont, U.S.A.
- 1976 – YMCA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Black Belt Karate title
- 1976 – Private Pilot’s Licence, U.S.A.
- 1974 – Black Belt Korean Karate, Int. Tang Soo Do Assoc.
- 1973 – American Legion Vermont Boys’ State Governor
Youth
Philip, aka Flippy was born in Brooklyn to Harold & Rita Jacobs, second-generation Jewish Americans of Russian descent. His younger brother, Eric, lives in Vermont; older sister, Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs-Pinson, is a clinical psychologist in Brooklyn.
Jacobs grew up in VT, got elected American Legion Vermont Boys’ State governor, and earned a karate Black Belt at 17, winning the 1976 YMCA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title. He is a certified private pilot, and graduated from the University of Vermont.
Personal
Fishel is married to Miriam, who is director of the Biblical Studies Department at Beit Rivkah seminary. Of their seven children, 12-27, two are attorneys. The Jacobs live in Kfar Chabad, Israel, a suburb of Tel Aviv. Fishel travels frequently worldwide.
