How to be More Productive Step 3: Yetzirah - Shape

We are all mortified by the brutal murders of the eleven innocent Jews killed last Saturday in Pittsburgh. During morning services a Jew hating gunman stormed the Tree of Life Synagogue and opened fire on worshipers, yelling "kill all the Jews." This horrific massacre, considered the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, has left the community and the entire nation reeling. But beyond shock and grief, how are we to respond to such unspeakable tragedy? What can we do about such hate? Is there a way to fight anti-Semitism? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this somber but candid talk discussing the healthy response to violent acts of hatred. By entering the "heart of darkness' and dissecting the very root of evil, discover how to uproot and transform its negative force into positive energy and how to channel our grief into a powerful, inspiring way to strengthen ourselves and our communities.

1 Marras 201854min

Morality lies at the heart of every healthy society. Without mutual ethical values checking raw self-interest and different viewpoints, any group of individuals would tear itself apart. But what/who defines our moral standards? If we are left to our own subjective devices to determine right from wrong, how can we find common ground and respect? Even if we can achieve a consensus and build a constitution of laws to govern our communities and nations, what happens with all the areas that cannot be legislated and enforced, like decisions we make in the privacy of our homes and families -- how do we decide what is virtue and what is vice? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores this important topic, which impacts every aspect of our lives. Is morality wired or acquired? Is it inherent in our DNA, or is it something we are taught? How do we identify values that transcend and unite us all? Discover the answers to these and other critical questions, as you learn some surprising insights into the very nature of our collective and personal psyches, and how we can and must unearth the moral "threads" that connect every one of us while embracing our individuality.

29 Loka 201851min

You can't live with it; you can't live without it. If ever this expression applies it certainly applies to the ego. Without an ego we lose our personality and self-confidence, not to mention our natural instinct for self-preservation. Too great of an ego can hurt us and others. But how much of an ego is healthy? And above all: How big is your ego? Are you able to answer that question when your ego blinds you from seeing yourself objectively? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this fascinating analysis of the ego, its role in our lives, and its benefits and liabilities. Discover methods to gauge and monitor your own ego, and to control and harness it toward productive ends. Learn the one secret that can redirect a large and unhealthy ego into a force of extraordinary change.

18 Loka 201845min

Glaringly missing from all the controversy and debate raging around now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s contentious confirmation hearings is the underlying issue that lays at the heart of the matter: Sexuality. Or in legal terms: Roe vs. Wade - the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that established a woman's constitutional legal right to an abortion. In a twist of irony, the last-minute bombshell accusation that almost torpedoed Kavanaugh’s nomination was also about sexuality: his alleged sexual attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Beyond the story of extreme partisan politics, beyond the story of the Trump Presidency and age of disruption, beyond every imaginable angle covered by every media outlet, the true inside story – the root of the issue at hand, beyond all the symptoms – is our attitudes toward sexuality and relationships. We live in times where sexuality has become divorced of intimacy and commitment. It is looked at as a personal right to pleasure and leisure, not as a personal and social responsibility. “Sexual freedom” – the right to engage in sexuality as one sees fit, without consequences or commitment if one so deems fit — trumps the effort and work needed to build healthy and enduring relationships and families. The right to an abortion (not due to rape or other extenuating circumstances) has become equated with sexual freedom; it has become associated with the voice and battle cry for women’s rights and emancipation. This of course serves men’s interests as well – being able to engage in physical relations without consequences. Had our society considered sexuality as sacred, and seen sexual relationships as part of a serious commitment and intimate connection between soulmates, one can wonder if there would be both less motivation to choose abortion and less incidences of sexual assault. How much our politics and our political positions are affected by sexuality and the perceived freedoms around it? In this charged climate and paralyzing polarization, Rabbi Jacobson will address the state of sexuality in our times, and how it impacts virtually every aspect of our lives. What is sexuality? How is it different than intimacy? What can we do to build healthier and sustainable relationships? How can an improved attitude to sexuality free us from being trapped in a political vortex and help broaden our horizons? After all that has been said and written about the Senate’s confirmation proceedings, discover, in this refreshing and groundbreaking talk, a new perspective that will shed light on the core issues and its relevance to our lives.

11 Loka 201849min

Balance is the healthiest and most coveted approach to life and the challenges we encounter. Extremes usually lead to undesired consequences. When we act desperately, without disciplined composure and presence of mind, we usually make mistakes and go too far in one direction or another. Yet there are times when extreme measures are warranted. How does one determine when to exercise an extreme approach and when not to? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this special High Holidays talk which addresses healthy ways and methods of introspection and soul searching, without going to extremes. Everyone faces situations which may require stronger than usual responses. Discover how to navigate your life knowing when to stay the course and when to veer sharply left or right.

14 Syys 201859min

We all want a good life. But what does "good" mean? Does it signify anything more than a platitude? The traditional New Year greeting is to be blessed with a "good and sweet year." What is the difference between "good" and "sweet'? Why are these specific terms used? Please join Rabbi Jacobson is this pre-Rosh Hashana talk and discover how the two dimensions of "good and sweet" capture the primary thing we are all looking for: A year of abundance and blessings in all matters, material and spiritual, all in good health. A year of life and joy, filled with nachas (pride and gratification) from yourself, your family and your children. A year of having the humility and gratitude to appreciate your gifts, and the strength and courage to face your challenges. Learn what you can do to help manifest a good and sweet year, allowing you to actualize your greatest potential and build healthy and successful relationships.

7 Syys 201848min

How high can we reach and how do we reach there? These two questions lie at heart of life's "big" questions. Some argue that we mortals are quite limited and cannot reach very far. Others add that even if you were able to reach to the stars, you wouldn't know how to or you wouldn't be able to find a vehicle that can take you there. These perspectives hardly leave us with much hope to discover great vistas. No wonder many of us give up before even trying. Enter two great mystics who taught us both the what and the how of transcendence: that we can indeed reach the sky and beyond, and the tools how we can achieve that. Please join Rabbi Jacobson on this special day, Chai Elul, the birthday of these two great luminaries, who provided us with the ladder to climb to the greatest heights and with the method how to climb. You will not want to miss this presentation, which illuminates the Kabbalah of you -- the two primary dimensions in your spiritual DNA, that allows you to see yourself in

31 Elo 201849min

How many of today's marriages are healthy and successful? What even defines success in marriage? Is it simply two people getting along, or is there more to it? While failed marriages can be difficult to measure, current statistics show up to a 50% divorce rate. And that does not take into account dysfunctional marriages and emotionally divorced couples who remain only technically married. So we are left with the million dollar question, which is asked again and again: Can we build a marriage that defies the odds? Is there a formula for a healthy and successful marriage? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he tackles, in his unique way, this formidable challenge. Take a journey into the heart and soul of love and relationships, and above all -- into the inner obstacles and demons that block and blind you from finding and holding on to your soulmate. Yes, you can be, unbeknownst to you, your own worst enemy, acting in ways that undermine your own happiness. Learn methods to identify and neu

17 Elo 201856min