Free Choice vs. Determinism

Is resilience something we’re born with—or is it something we learn? Why is it that when life throws challenges our way—setbacks, failures, disappointments—some people bounce back faster, while others struggle to find their footing? Is that strength hardwired into them, or is it something we can all develop?This question touches every one of us. No one is immune to pain—be it a broken dream, a betrayal, or a deep personal loss. We all face moments that shake us. The real question is: How do we heal? And even more so—where do we find the strength to keep going?Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this vital discussion as we continue to journey through the 49 steps of the Omer. Focusing on Netzacḥ, the attribute of determination, resilience, and endurance, we will explore how to access that inner strength embedded deep within the soul and uncover how this can empower us not just to survive the storm, but to rise from it stronger, more focused, and more connected to our purpose.

12 Touko 202527min

Do you feel like your life is chaotic—especially lately, with all the disruptions and upheavals?Uncertainty seems to be the new norm, throwing us off balance, leaving many of us feeling confused, even overwhelmed.Chaos can be disorienting. Sometimes it shakes us to the core. Other times, it gnaws at us quietly—we compartmentalize, minimize, escape. At best we work around and try to cope with chaos. But the inner turbulence remains.But would you be surprised to hear that chaos doesn’t have to be your enemy? That within the chaos lies the seed of transformation?Yes, you can turn chaos into harmony. You can transform confusion into clarity—if you know the method.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we explore the powerful force of Tiferet—and discover how to turn your inner chaos into a symphony of purpose and peace.

1 Touko 202530min

How do we make sense of the turbulence and upheavals shaking our world today? Just glance at the stock market — a mirror of our times, swinging wildly with volatility, reflecting trade wars, tariffs, and global conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine. President Trump, in many ways, personifies this era of disruption.But disruption is not inherently negative. The question is: how do we understand it?Because one thing is certain — unpredictability unnerves us. Human beings crave stability. And yet, here we are, waking up each morning to an uncertain reality, bombarded by events we could never have anticipated.Still, everything has a deeper story.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we explore, through the prism of Passover, the deeper meaning behind today’s turmoils — the unrest in Israel, Trump, and the larger currents reshaping our lives. What lies beneath the chaos? And what does it ask of us?

24 Huhti 202526min

We all seek healing from psychological and emotional wounds like childhood abuse, trauma, abandonment, and loss. These wounds create fears and insecurities, and undermine our trust, inhibiting us from reaching our potential. Often, we turn to destructive behaviors for relief. Addictions of all sorts may result from the deep void in our psyches. How many hours of therapy are spent, how many medications are ingested -- all attempting to bring some peace into our lives.But there is hope. Join Rabbi Jacobson in a pre-Passover special to learn a 3,337-year-old formula for true freedom and transformation from the constraints that impede and trap us. Discover how to turn pain into growth and success.

11 Huhti 202530min

Frederick Douglass famously said, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." Can we even begin to estimate the staggering cost—financial, emotional, and societal—of fixing broken adults? Therapy, medication, addictions, ailments—endless attempts to numb the pain of fear, insecurity, dysfunction, trauma.Imagine how much could be saved—how much suffering could be avoided—if we focused on building strong children rather than repairing broken adults. But this isn't just about money. It's about human well-being. How much time, energy, and potential are wasted battling demons when we could be nurturing angels?But the real question is how. How do we raise resilient, whole, and empowered children so they blossom into healthy adults.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this vital discussion as we explore the path to building strong children—so we no longer have to fix broken adults. As well as methods to mend and rebuild things that may have broken us.

3 Huhti 202537min

Would you sign a contract without reading it? Would you make a serious commitment without first understanding the details and implications?Most people would instinctively say, Of course not! First, we understand—then we act, then we commit.And yet, the great paradox of life—the true secret to deep, lasting, and eternal connections—is precisely the opposite: commitment before full understanding.This was the defining moment at Sinai, 3,337 years ago. The Jewish people stood at the mountain and declared to God, Na’aseh v’nishma—“We will do, and then we will understand.” A radical statement. What intelligent person agrees to something before knowing the terms?Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we unravel this mystery—the Kabbalah of action. Why is doing first the key to transformation? And how can this principle unlock a more profound, meaningful life?

28 Maalis 202541min

We speak much about freedom—but are we truly free? Bob Dylan famously sang, “Gotta serve somebody.”You may be an ambassador to England or France,You may like to gamble, you might like to dance.You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,You might be a socialite with a long string of pearls.But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed.You’re gonna have to serve somebody.Well, it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord,But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.Dylan’s words strike at a deep truth: We all serve something. It may be money, power, approval, or expectations ingrained in us since childhood. Our fears and anxieties often stem from feeling bound by what others want from us—real or imagined.Servitude comes in many forms. It’s not just ancient slavery; it’s being enslaved to addictions, to materialism, to toxic relationships, even to therapy or medication when they dictate our lives. Is it being enslaved to that which imposes itself upon you and compels you to do something that you otherwise wouldn’t do.The real question each one of us must ask is: Whom do you serve?Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson and discover Purim’s secret: true freedom begins with not serving any man or man-made institution. Only by releasing ourselves from the material forces that control us – whom and what we serve – and connecting to a higher eternal reality beyond our mortal existence can we break free from our shackles and gain true freedom.

14 Maalis 20251h 6min

How much of your potential have you actualized?That’s actually a trick question. Because the real question is: Do you even know how much potential you have? You can’t measure what you've actualized until you first recognize the vastness of your inner reservoir—your treasure chest of talents, skills, and gifts, both inherent and acquired.This touches on a fundamental truth: each of us is blessed with unique abilities, shaped by both nature and nurture. And deep down, we all seek to actualize that potential—whether in business, creativity, relationships, or personal growth.In fact, success can be defined as the ratio of actualized potential to total potential. If your capacity is 100, have you reached 10%? 20%? More?This awareness impacts every aspect of our lives. Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we embark on this journey together—raising the bar, unlocking our hidden strengths, and fully embracing our divine potential. The more we recognize what lies within us, the more we can illuminate the world around us.

6 Maalis 202536min