When War is Peace

We all hate war.
(Well let's qualify that. There are some people who for one reason or another historically, as well as today, are predisposed to aggression, violence and upheaval. But civil people generally despise war and everything it stands for. Healthy people inherently want a calm and peaceful existence.)
So why would any decent person go to war? Why would a moral country deploy their citizens to fight? Why would anyone put themselves in harm's way? Who in their right mind would want to shed blood and create all the havoc and destruction that comes with war?
The only reason is because you have no choice. It is a last resort. If you are attacked, if your family is in danger, you are responsible to defend and protect yourself and your loved ones. It's called: self defense.
But then what does war achieve? Is it just to eliminate the threat, the enemy? It's more than that. When your sworn enemy has called for your unconditional destruction, and unwaveringly demonstrated that in action -- they have in effect left you with no other choice -- then war becomes not only a necessary way to protect yourself, but the only means to achieve true peace and harmony. Because as long as you don't vanquish your enemy, you will forever be at war. It may be dragged out and appear at times to be peaceful, but inevitably it is a war. It's just like an infection in the body - if you don't deal with it and eradicate it, it'll continue to fester and grow until it ultimately kills you.
As Israel continues to wage war with its sworn enemies, all ethical people are compelled to ask themselves: yes, we were forced to go to war. But to what end? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this critical discussion to establish the moral imperative of this war. Discover how war cannot be justified as an end in itself; we cannot be satisfied with fighting just to defend ourselves. War is legitimate solely when it is the only way to peace. At times we can achieve peace through peaceful means; but at times the only way to achieve peace is sadly through war.

Jaksot(349)

Rising Lion. The War That Will Define the Future of the World

Rising Lion. The War That Will Define the Future of the World

We are living in historic times. The war that began between Israel and Iran on June 13th is more than just another conflict — it is a turning point in history. This isn’t a battle that began weeks ago, or even decades ago. It’s the latest chapter in a millennia-old struggle — a war that has shaped and shaken the Middle East for centuries.Now, for the first time, a new horizon is emerging. Imagine a Middle East without war. Without terror. Without fear. Nations once at odds — now building, cooperating, cross-pollinating. It may seem impossible, but it is no longer a fantasy. We are witnessing the labor pains of a new world being born.As with every transition, there is pain. And our hearts grieve every life lost. But in the larger picture, the dismantling of evil clears the path for something greater: a world of possibility, of growth, of light.This is not just geopolitical. It’s cosmic. Emotional. Spiritual. We are standing at the threshold of a new era.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this urgent and timely talk addressing Operation Rising Lion: The War That Will Define the Future of the World.

19 Kesä 37min

Find Your Own Voice. The Flame That Rises on Its Own

Find Your Own Voice. The Flame That Rises on Its Own

Are you living a life that expresses your true individuality—or are you conforming, imitating, living someone else's script? Are you singing your own song, or the one others handed you?Too often, our lives are shaped not from within but by the expectations of parents, peers, society—external forces that define who we are, or who we should be.One of the most heartbreaking truths is captured in Oliver Wendell Holmes’ haunting words: “Alas, for those who die with their song still inside them.”Some of us don’t even realize we have a unique song—because we’ve been conditioned from early on to silence it, to fit into molds not our own.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for a vital conversation: How to discover your voice. Your authentic self. The inner flame that rises on its own. You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.

12 Kesä 31min

Crown Yourself. Embracing the Nobility of Malchut

Crown Yourself. Embracing the Nobility of Malchut

How would you rate your self-esteem? Your self-confidence?And I don’t mean arrogance or ego. I’m talking about something far deeper — a quiet dignity, a calm confidence, a sense of being truly comfortable in your own skin. A deep awareness of your own inner nobility.You can be brilliant, emotionally intelligent, even gifted in countless ways — but without that inner sense of worth, those gifts will always remain somewhat distant, underutilized, even hidden. Because if you don’t believe in yourself, how can your strengths shine?So the question is: How do we build that inner dignity? Is it even possible — especially if you grew up in a home or community that didn’t instill it, or worse, undermined it?Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for a vital discussion on how to uncover the divine majesty within you.

29 Touko 27min

Yesod. Where Commitment Becomes Connection

Yesod. Where Commitment Becomes Connection

Do you have commitment issues?These days that phrase has become almost a cliché. A convenient excuse. You hear it all the time—serial daters saying, “We’re together, but don’t expect a commitment. I have... commitment issues.”For some, commitment feels like a burden. Like a noose around the neck. “Why tie myself down?” they say. “I need an exit strategy. I want to keep the back door open.”I once met a guy who told me—proudly—that he had finally achieved what he called a “relationship milestone.” He said, “I’ve figured out how to be with my girlfriend... without being committed to her.” I asked, “Does she know that?” “Not yet,” he said, smiling.We’ve come to see commitment as a liability, when in truth, it’s one of the greatest gifts we can experience. Commitment is not just a moral obligation—it’s what gives life weight and meaning. It means that something—or someone—is no longer optional. It matters. It shapes who we are.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson to explore the sefirah of Yesod and delve deeply into commitment and connection, and how vital they are to living the healthiest possible life.

22 Touko 27min

Humility. When Nothing is Greater than Something

Humility. When Nothing is Greater than Something

Would you consider yourself a humble person?Most of us would agree that humility is a virtue—something noble and worth aspiring to. And for good reason. A humble person coexists peacefully with others. Humility allows for flexibility, for yielding. It builds bridges and fuels healthy relationships. Arrogance, on the other hand, breeds conflict, distance—even abuse.So why is humility so rare?Some may challenge the very premise and actually argue that humility might be a nice concept in theory but it's not realistic. They believe that life is driven by the "the selfish gene" -- self interest and self preservation. You need to have a healthy sense of self to fight for yourself, because if you don't protect yourself who will? You need an ego to survive and thrive.But let’s pause. Let's go deeper.If humility is so vital, so clearly valuable in our relationships, our communities, and even in our own peace of mind—why is it so elusive? What lies beneath this resistance?Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson on a surprising and counterintuitive discovery: That humility is not weakness, not passivity, and not self-negation. It is much more than modesty and selflessness. It is about opening yourself up to experiencing a reality greater than yourself and your subjective perspectives. True humility is power. The power of nothing being greater than something.

15 Touko 29min

From Setback to Comeback. The Secret of Netzach

From Setback to Comeback. The Secret of Netzach

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 27min

The Beauty of Tiferet. How to Turn Your Inner Chaos into a Symphony

The Beauty of Tiferet. How to Turn Your Inner Chaos into a Symphony

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 30min

What Lies Ahead. Post-Passover, Israel, Trump and the Upheavals of Our Times

What Lies Ahead. Post-Passover, Israel, Trump and the Upheavals of Our Times

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 26min