Some of the most silent, yet demoralizing forces in our lives are boredom and monotony. They may seem innocuous, but lifeless routines create breeding grounds of toxicity. What can we do to infuse vitality and passion into the pedestrian day? How can we spice up our humdrum lives? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he presents a dynamic approach of how to spiritually charge up your daily quotidian, and turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Sep 12, 2019•45 min
What is depression? Why do we get depressed? And what can we do about it? Many answers have been posited to these pressing questions, with suggested interventions ranging from medication to therapy, and various alternative methods. What has been less explored are the spiritual roots of depression. After all, a soulless body does not get depressed. Is depression a spiritual or physical malady? How does spirituality impact depression and can a heightened spiritual life help decrease depression? Pl...
Sep 05, 2019•43 min
When things are not going well, especially when they get desperate, people often fantasize about starting life over. This also happens when we have regrets over grave, irreversible errors we may have committed, or serious traumatic experiences that have injured our psyches and worn us down. "If only I can turn the clock back." "If only I had a second chance." "If only I would be born into another body to another family." Is there indeed any hope after experiencing serious loss? Can we rebuild af...
Aug 29, 2019•43 min
Despair is one of the worst possible human conditions. It's one thing to experience pain and suffering, it's quite another to give up hope. Even the most trying circumstances can be faced when you have hope. Even the most difficult challenges can be addressed when you have confidence, and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But when you give up on life and its possibilities, then what's left to work with? Please join Rabbi Jacobson and travel into the heart of the abyss, and dis...
Aug 22, 2019•40 min
Have you ever found yourself staring at the moon at night? There is something about the haunting lunar sphere in the sky that mystifies and mesmerizes us. What lessons does it teach us? What can we learn from the lunar cycles and from the full moon? Is there any deeper connection between us and the moon? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores the "psyche" of the moon -- and its parallels in our personal lives. Discover how to moon -- and the full moon -- can empower us as we face our own emot...
Aug 15, 2019•43 min
How much of our lives do we take for granted? How often do we step back and appreciate the gift of every breath we take and every move we make? Do we recognize the sanctity of every moment and every space we traverse? Many of us see ourselves as "victims" of time and space -- always trying to beat the clock and maneuver the places we occupy. Can we learn to control space and time instead of them controlling us? Living life to its fullest means valuing every fiber of our beings -- every second of...
Aug 08, 2019•42 min
The very word death fills our hearts with dread. We consider it as unfathomable as it is inevitable. But what exactly is death? What happens at that moment when soul and body separate? In truth the mystery of death is one with the mystery of life: What happens at the moment of conception when soul and body meet and join? Medicine and science deal primarily with the causes of illness and death -- and ways of battling it, to help prolong life. They address the definition and symptoms of health, li...
Aug 02, 2019•41 min
What defines healthy masculinity? This question has emerged. perhaps more than ever before, in our generation. Is masculinity about power, aggression and strength -- the historical view of the man as the unwavering pillar that the family and community rely on for security and confidence? Is vulnerability in men a weakness, as in true men don't cry? Or is that an unhealthy stereotype and expectation that has developed over time, one that has evolved into a male hierarchical society with men takin...
Jul 25, 2019•46 min
We often hear about listening to the voice of your soul. Allowing your spiritual aspirations to express themselves. Some call it: Freeing your spirit. But did you know that your body too contains many messages for you? Remember, your body and soul have been traveling together through your life. And just as your soul has memories so does your body. Your body silently watches and absorbs every one of your life experiences. These experiences become etched into the crevices of your body, and from ti...
Jul 18, 2019•44 min
Trust is a vital component in life. Healthy relationships and bonds are built on trust. Without trust, almost everything is compromised if not outrightly destroyed. But which criteria define trust? How do we gauge whom to trust? Which traits and behaviors engender trust? Can these characteristics be acquired? Many of us have been hurt and are justly wary of trusting another, or sadly, may have totally lost trust in others. Is it possible to rebuild healthy trust after betrayal? Please join Rabbi...
Jul 15, 2019•38 min
If you were to list the five most important things you want to accomplish in your life, what would they be? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this special tribute to his mentor -- the Rebbe -- in which he discusses five foundational principles he learned from his teacher, which radically transformed his life, and can transform your life as well. Discover how these principles can guide you in creating your personalized list of goals you want to achieve in your life, which in turn will help you ...
Jul 03, 2019•40 min
Do you ever find yourself feeling uneasy that your life is kind of empty and aimless? Believe it or not, that feeling is the beginning of a spiritual awakening. Every epiphany, every wake-up call, every transition, starts with a state of discomfort, as you move from one paradigm to another. What other signs are there that indicate the opening of new opportunities? Are we missing these signs due to our dismissing them as just temporary nuisances or setbacks? If you're stuck in a rut, how do you g...
Jun 20, 2019•43 min
Last year medical researchers discovered a new body part, called the interstitium -- a network of fluid-filled spaces in connective tissue across the body that hadn't been seen before. Previously, it was thought that these tissue layers were a dense "wall" of collagen — a strong structural protein found in connective tissue. But the new finding reveals that, rather than a "wall," this tissue is more like an "open, fluid-filled highway," said co-senior study author Dr. Neil Theise, a professor of...
Jun 17, 2019•50 min
It may seem like a silly question, but does your life truly matter? With 7.7 billion people on this planet, what possible significance can one person have? This is not a small issue: If you feel that you don't really matter, then your life choices and decisions also don't really matter. What type of life can you live when all that you do has no true value? No wonder that many of us feel unmotivated and uninspired. Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as he presents a fresh new approach to finding me...
Jun 17, 2019•44 min
Have you ever behaved like a coward? Do you regret any situations when you neglected from acting out of fear? Would you be brave enough to acknowledge such behavior? Cowardice and fear impact much more of our lives than we imagine. How many of our decisions are driven — and how many opportunities are lost — due to cowardice? But what do we know about this force that effects us so deeply? What makes some people more cowardly than others? Is courage inborn or acquired? Can we do anything to become...
Jun 17, 2019•46 min
The ancient mystical teachings of Kabbalah — once obscure and unknown — has recently become popular and even fashionable. Or has it? Do we really know what Kabbalah is? What does the word even mean? What do these teachings offer us? Tonight is Lag B’Omer, the anniversary of Rabbi Shimeon Bar Yochai’s passing. Rabbi Shimeon, or Rashbi, is the “father” of Kabbalah. He authored the Zohar — the classical esoteric work, which is the foundation of mysticism, laying out a blueprint of the divine and th...
Jun 17, 2019•50 min
There are no parenting schools. So where and how do we learn to parent? We learn it 1) from our own mothers and fathers — we emulate how they parented us, and 2) above all we learn it on the job: When a couple is blessed with a child/children, trial and error and hard earned challenges, and their natural instincts — shaped by the attitudes we picked up from our parents — teaches them how to parent and educate, for better or for worse. But how do we know whether our parenting methods are sound? A...
Jun 17, 2019•53 min
We have always been mystified by the moon -- it's haunting presence shimmering in our night sky. We have studied the moon and its effects on life on earth, we have spent trillions to travel to, land on and explore our lonely lunar sphere. From romance to music and science fiction, the moon with its pale glow captures our imagination. What lies behind this fascination? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he "launches" a lunar probe --exploring the "soul" of the moon -- the cosmic and spiritual forces t...
Jun 04, 2019•41 min
Good people are always mystified by what drives a "regular" person to plan and execute the deliberate and premeditated cold-blooded murder of innocent people, let alone in a house of worship. What is going on in this person's twisted mind and dark heart as he attacks men, women and children of faith during their prayers and celebrations?! How can a human being stoop to such obscene hate and cruelty? Our hearts are shattered as they go out to the husband, daughter, family and community of Lori Gi...
May 06, 2019•46 min
Evil is a word thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? What exactly is evil? Does evil exist? Are there any things that are inherently evil, or is evil man-made -- the injustices and crimes one perpetrates against another? Is evil a subjective or objective reality? Is it just in the eyes of the beholder, or is there more to it? And if there is such a thing as evil how do we protect ourselves from it? Without defining evil we certainly cannot take measures to secure ourselves against its impa...
Apr 30, 2019•48 min
When asked "who are you?" most people show you their business card. But that's what you do, not who you are. Yet, with time many of us, sadly, lose sight of who we are and become what we do. when it should be the other way around; Who you are should define and direct what you do. With all the factors that have influenced you -- parents, education, job -- it can be very difficult to figure out who you really are. Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson and learn provocative methods and effective tools t...
Mar 28, 2019•44 min
What is intuition? Is it cognitive or emotional? Based on intelligence or instinct? Where do your gut feelings and instincts come from? Can you trust them? Can you hone and improve your intuition, or are some of us just wired with more intuition than others? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this eye-opening Purim workshop as he probes the inner workings of human intuition and the deeper recesses of the psyche. By peering "under the dashboard" of the human mind, you discover where your conscious mee...
Mar 25, 2019•42 min
What is the role of government? Ostensibly, this question may seem irrelevant to our personal lives. On further thought, however, it's quite clear that the welfare of a government directly impacts the welfare of every one of its citizens. Yet, with so much distrust in our governments today, with the polarization of our political parties, and accusations of corruption being hurled in all directions, no wonder many of us have become quite skeptical if not cynical about the function of government. ...
Mar 14, 2019•45 min
Many of us justify, for various reasons, the need to not be completely honest with others about our feelings. We may be judged or misunderstood. We are dependent on them and can't therefore always candidly express our true sentiments. To survive in this self-interest driven world, the argument goes, we need to wear a variety of masks and veils to please, placate and interact with others. When swimming with sharks we need to become a shark. But what about being honest with yourself? Have you beco...
Mar 08, 2019•44 min
What criteria defines your personal value -- money, respect or beauty? How much of your worthiness is determined by factors outside of you and how much by forces within you? Where does self-esteem come from? What role does validation by others play in your life? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he breaks down the different ways we measure our worth, offering a formula for developing and cultivating a far deeper and lasting sense of value - one not subject to the shifting attitudes and moods of othe...
Feb 28, 2019•37 min
It's one thing to get inspired at an auspicious moment (a birthday, a milestone); it's quite another to maintain that motivation once we reenter the grind of our daily routines. How can we lift up and improve our day to day lives? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this potentially life-changing discussion how to transform your "ordinary" day into an extraordinary one and turn your usual life into an unusual one. Discover ways to eliminate monotony and inertia of your quotidian existence and live a l...
Feb 20, 2019•40 min
How many faces do you have? Perhaps a better word for it is "masks" -- how many masks do you wear? The face/mask you show your co-workers, the face/mask you show your friends, the face/mask you show your family, the face/mask you show strangers, the face/mask you show to people you trust, and the one you show to people you fear -- and in each one of these groups you have likely a different face/mask you show to each respective individual. Bottom line: We have of variety of many different faces/m...
Feb 14, 2019•51 min
Can you be happy without money? Does money guarantee happiness? Can you have money and be miserable? The power money wields over us is undeniable. It deeply impacts and exerts its influence on virtually every aspect of our lives. What does this power teach us about ourselves? We all need money to live, but is our dependency on money simply about necessity, or is it deeper than that -- emotionally and psychologically? Your relationship with money can illuminate so much about who you are and where...
Feb 11, 2019•52 min
If life's tool chest -- the skills we need to cope and thrive -- could be distilled into three essential elements, what would they be? We all want success. But what does it take to achieve that? And what even defines a successful life? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he takes on this challenge and presents three vital life skills necessary to succeed and actualize your potential. Discover three key tools that will help you maximize your strengths, fulfill your aspirations and dreams. and enhance -...
Jan 31, 2019•42 min
This week a a rare celestial occurrence took place: A supermoon (when the moon is at its closest point of orbit to Earth, making it appear about 14% larger) coincided with a total lunar eclipse. Some call it a “super blood wolf moon,” due to the reddish tint the moon takes on when fully eclipsed. The eclipse was visible across the entire U.S. for 62 minutes on Sunday night, as well as South America and parts of Europe and Africa. This combination happens roughly 20 times in a century. What lesso...
Jan 24, 2019•51 min
