In what will surely be remembered as a historic political comeback, Donald Trump has just been elected as the 47th President of the United States. Over a century has passed since Grover Cleveland’s unique achievement of serving two non-consecutive terms. But this election is far more than a repetition of history; it is a seismic event. Trump has proven to be one of the most determined and relentless leaders in American history. His tenure was marked by ceaseless attacks on him: accusations of Ru...
Nov 07, 2024•29 min
With the world in turmoil—the Middle East at war, a deeply polarized and divisive U.S. presidential election ahead, and countless other uncertainties—you may find yourself wondering: where are we headed? How will this end? We’re emerging from the Jewish holiday season, marked by the High Holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the joyous Sukkot festival, and culminating with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. This season traditionally calls for renewal, repentance, and joy, but this year carrie...
Oct 31, 2024•27 min
How do you deal with betrayal, especially when it comes from those you trusted most? Betrayal is one of the hardest challenges to navigate because it shakes the very foundation of trust, security, and certainty that we build our relationships on. So how do you overcome it? How do you learn to trust again? This is a challenge that speaks deeply to our times, especially with the turmoil we're witnessing around the world today. Nations betray their allies, and individuals feel betrayed by friends, ...
Oct 10, 2024•28 min
How do we react when our lives are disrupted—when routines and predictability are suddenly upended? Generally, disruption is disorienting. We thrive on consistency, on having a defined plan. When that gets shaken, it creates uncertainty, and we often feel confused, disturbed, even demoralized. Whether it’s trauma, loss, or any unexpected event, especially when it disrupts our regular structures, it can make us feel like we’ve lost balance and control. We saw this with the onset of COVID, and we ...
Sep 27, 2024•30 min
Clarity is one of life’s greatest blessings, the ability to know with certainty the correct path to take in life. There is no joy like dispelling the shadows of doubt. But how do we actually find clarity, especially in times of great confusion? Today, perhaps more than ever, we're being constantly bombarded by conflicting messages and contradictory narratives—whether in the media, politics, and in virtually every area of life. Self-interest and bias distort the truth. How can we navigate the maz...
Sep 19, 2024•32 min
There’s so much hatred in the world today—rational or irrational. The very essence of hatred, at its core, feels irrational. We see it everywhere: between individuals, in politics, in the media, and between nations. Wars rage on with no end in sight, and it can feel overwhelming, even depressing. To be clear, there is love in the world as well. We’ve all experienced and witnessed acts of nobility, virtue, and selflessness. Yet, that doesn’t erase the reality of the hatred we face. So, is there a...
Sep 13, 2024•33 min
Where do you turn in times of fear and uncertainty, when upheaval disrupts your regular routines? In such moments, we often get disoriented and demoralized. You might feel like a lost ship at sea, unsure how to navigate and where to turn. So, how do you find your bearings and maintain balance and equilibrium? We are living in such times now. The widespread threats and unpredictability is unprecedented. Consider the global situation: the volatility in the Middle East, especially in Israel; the co...
Sep 05, 2024•27 min
With all that has unfolded in Israel over the past year—the losses, the pain, the tragedies, the atrocities, the senseless deaths—we can't help but wonder: Will the war in Israel ever end? This is not just an abstract question; it is a deeply rooted apprehension, a profound and painful tension that grips any decent heart witnessing such upheaval. Tragically, this isn't new. The past year has only amplified a long-standing reality. If we look back through the years, the decades, the centuries, Is...
Aug 29, 2024•27 min
How would you rate the current state of education for our children and youth? This isn't a small question. Just as the health of a tree depends on how its seed is planted, so too, healthy adults are the product of a good education. But what is a good education? Are our schools failing us? Are they failing our children? Our world today is facing many crises. Our young people are lost in an ever-increasing technological blur of information overload, polarized political and social discord; they are...
Aug 22, 2024•26 min
With alarming threats emerging from Iran, many are asking: What will be? Should we be frightened? Will a larger war erupt? Will America get involved? And what will be the impact on Israel? These are not small questions, as the stakes go beyond just one region—they affect the entire world. War always has global repercussions, but conflict in that part of the world is especially significant, given its history as a powder keg for centuries, and indeed, throughout history. But history also offers us...
Aug 15, 2024•26 min
Does anyone care when you are in pain? Does G-d care? Are we alone in our suffering? One of the most devastating aspects of pain and suffering is the isolation—the feeling that no one is out there. When you are weeping, when a child is crying, is anyone else crying with you? And above all, is G-d crying with you? This is a critical question in life because we all face difficult times, setbacks, and losses. When you are in that situation, are you truly alone? Is anyone standing beside you, offeri...
Aug 08, 2024•32 min
If ever there was a leadership vacuum, it is now more glaring than ever. The world seems on the edge of a precipice. The Middle East is teetering on the brink of major conflict, with the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and top Hezbollah military figure Fuad Shukr, compounded by the chaos caused by Iran and its proxies. This crisis highlights the stark absence of global leadership. Where are our leaders? Why is no one speaking out? Have you heard any world leader address the c...
Aug 01, 2024•24 min
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Jul 25, 2024•34 min
The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has jolted the nation and the world. Whether you're his supporter or not, the shocking scene witnessed by millions on television—of a 20-year-old with an unknown motive, just a few hundred feet away, shooting at the President's head—has become an iconic image. Many are wondering: was this divine intervention? A small turn of the head, a split second, and the outcome could have been very different. Tragically, one attendee lost his...
Jul 19, 2024•30 min
Let's talk about the state of leadership today. Our modern world is blessed in many ways. Unprecedented success and prosperity, breathtaking breakthroughs in science and medicine, revolutionary technology that is dramatically raising our standard of living. The list goes on. Yet we also face many profound challenges. Our society is deeply polarized. We are witnessing a deterioration of personal values, with a foreboding sense of feeling lost at sea, without a clear moral compass to guide us. At ...
Jul 12, 2024•30 min
With July 4th, Independence Day, upon us, it's a good time to ask: What exactly is freedom and independence? What does it really mean? When the American Founding Fathers declared independence 248 years ago, it was straightforward. They felt the overbearing control of King George of Great Britain and that compelled them to throw off the shackles and declare their independence from that sovereignty. So, is that what freedom means—to not be under someone else's control? Does it simply mean not bein...
Jul 04, 2024•28 min
Are you reactive or proactive? Most of us tend to be more reactive, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, we start our lives as children reacting to our parents—their attitudes, smiles, approval, and disapproval and we mirror their behavior. Secondly, as we grow older, we seek acceptance from our peers, friends, and society. This often leads us to follow others rather than take initiative. Fear plays a significant role, especially for those who grew up in insecure environments. The fe...
Jun 27, 2024•25 min
Do Real Men Cry? There's a pervasive myth that real men don't cry, implying that tears are reserved for women. This notion is not only demeaning, suggesting women are emotional and weak while men are tough and stoic, but it's also untrue. Is vulnerability a weakness? Is expressing emotions wrong? Where did this stereotype originate, and why does our culture view honesty and fragility as problems? Why do we idolize toughness and machismo? What does this say about our society? Our perceptions of m...
Jun 20, 2024•31 min
With war continuing to rage in the Middle East, it would be wise to go back and trace the roots of this war and the long-standing antipathy and confrontation between the Muslims, Arabs, Jews and even Christians. We all know this isn't the first time that fighting has broken out in the region; there is unfortunately an ongoing history of deep tensions between nations and religions over the millennia. Countless battles being waged for control of the land of Israel and particularly Jerusalem. Going...
Jun 06, 2024•41 min
Why is memory so important? How does it affect our lives on a daily basis? How can it transform us?Very often if you want to appreciate something, you have to think what life would be like without it. What would our days look like if we did not have our memories? If every morning we woke up with a clean slate, a blank picture and we had to rebuild everything anew... If we didn't have our past experiences, thoughts, and memories to inform our present and future..As we celebrate Memorial Day, the ...
May 31, 2024•30 min
We are always looking for miracles in our lives, seeking out extraordinary moments within our ordinary routines. Those aha moments that affect, inspire and transform who we are. I'd like to share with you some miracles I recently experienced. Life is filled with paradoxes. Joy, pain, tears, celebration... the roller coaster of the cycles and vicissitudes of life. Nowhere is this captured more than in the biblical Promised Land, the Holy Land of Israel. I have just returned from a trip there and ...
May 27, 2024•30 min
The continued unrest on our university campuses has raised very powerful and existential questions: Are our education systems healthy or corrupt? Are we actually giving the very best to our children and to our students? Are we setting them up for life and providing the necessary tools to help them not only survive but also thrive? There's clearly a problem. Our universities were always meant to be the ultimate model of academic excellence, free thought, open inquiry, and healthy discussions - a ...
May 17, 2024•24 min
With protests breaking out on our campuses across the country, everyone is asking what is going on? Why suddenly now? What's happening? What's behind all this?Initially, the protests seemed to be a spontaneous reaction of innocent students simply outraged at innocent civilians being killed in Gaza. But if that's the case, why were there no protests after the horrendous atrocities of October 7? It's becoming increasingly clear that the intentions of the organizers of these protests was to deliber...
May 09, 2024•28 min
Freedom is one of our most cherished values. It is a monumental achievement of our times. The human aspiration for freedom, the desire to live as a free people, reflects the deepest longing of the soul, and is a vivid departure, standing in stark contrast to the days when monarchs and tyrants ruled. But what does freedom truly mean? Is it merely the lack of physical confinement, the absence of bars and chains, or does it go beyond that? Consider this: In our contemporary world, we are surrounded...
Apr 18, 2024•40 min
Do you ever feel lonely? Not due to lack of companionship, friends, social circle or support system, but a fundamental nagging feeling that you are all alone in this universe? An inner cosmic vacuum: is there anyone out there that cares? Am I truly on a metaphorical island unto myself, surrounded by people yet really utterly alone, each person for himself?... Loneliness can be one of the most devastating experiences precisely because of its innocuous nature. It's not loud, it doesn't create dram...
Apr 11, 2024•34 min
Is religion synonymous with morality? And is morality synonymous with religion? It is indeed disconcerting to witness a religious figure act immorally — doing something criminal, abusive, violating another, behaving in a manner that contradicts the moral standards we associate with their position. This stark contrast is very unsettling, as it challenges our perception of a religious leader’s role in upholding the highest virtues of humanity. This paradox has led some to question the integrity of...
Apr 04, 2024•22 min
Do you have a habit that you find increasingly difficult to break? Or is there a good habit that you wish to incorporate into your daily routines but you can't seem to make it stick?Very often we resolve to stop a certain obsessive behavior - overeating, biting our nails, being attached to our phone etc., or to begin a new commitment - spending more time with family, going to the gym, starting a new project etc. Armed with determination and enthusiasm, we set out on our way with gusto and a posi...
Mar 28, 2024•35 min
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget… Despite the sentiment, in most areas of life most of us would like to be less forgetful and more retentive. But how? What causes us to forget things? And what is the secret to remembering? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this, well, memorable workshop as he shares his experiences as a “chozer” (remembering hours upon hours of the Rebbe’s talks) and discover the five secrets to a better memory: Absorb, Listen, Be Humble, Concentrate and Review. Learn su...
Mar 21, 2024•43 min
T ruthfulness R esponsibility U nderstanding S ecurity T enacity How important is trust in our lives and relationships? Do we appreciate the crucial role it plays? Are we aware of the impact trust has -- for good and for bad -- on virtually every decision we make? Trust is the heartbeat of our existence, a beacon that guides our decisions and relationships. It’s a pivotal force, often underestimated, yet it shapes every aspect of our lives. Like the sturdy foundations supporting a skyscraper, tr...
Mar 14, 2024•34 min
As we journey through life, two essential elements guide us: love and individuality. These core values nourish our growth and well-being. Love completes us, while individuality allows us to be true to ourselves. However, can these two intricate needs coexist without contradiction? As individuals, our primary focus leans towards self-preservation and ensuring our unique needs are met, and that we aren’t mistreated or compromised. Love, conversely, calls for empathy, sensitivity, and unselfish car...
Mar 11, 2024•35 min
