Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Fire is one of those things you can't live with and you can't live without. Get too close to fire or if the fire gets too large and close to you, it can wreak terrible devastation, consuming everything in its path (witness the recent wild California fires). On the other hand, life could not exist without the warmth and light of fire. What is fire and what role does it play in our lives? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this special Chanukah program as he dissects the anatomy and soul of fire. Discover how a flame reflects the human soul. By studying and "listening" to the the inner "personality" and "psyche" of the flames we learn fascinating facts about ourselves, providing invaluable lessons how to build -- and grow -- healthy lives and relationships.

6 Joulu 201850min

What possible good can there about feeling inferior?! A negative self attitude is the root of so many human problems. Feelings of inadequacy and insecurity undermine our confidence, they demoralize us and compromise virtually every aspect of our lives. So how can there be anything positive in that? Don't we all need a healthy sense of self? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores the role of ego and humility in our lives, and digs into the very root of the "self." Should we be ego-less or is it important to have an ego? How do we assure that ego doesn't turn into arrogance? How do we balance ego and humility? Discover a new take on the self. Learn the secret of true value -- that in order to be a true "somebody" you first need to be a true "nobody."

29 Marras 201855min

Control. We all would like to have or take control over our lives? But how much do we actually control? How often do we invest in changing things we have no power over, while neglecting that which we have power over? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he addresses this important issue and learn methods how to determine and distinguish between the things you can change and those you can't. How to focus your energies and time on matters you have control over, and not waste precious strength on that which you cannot control. Imagine the peace of mind and heart you would have if you could know which areas you should be fighting for and which not?

22 Marras 201848min

Much has been said about our fear of failure. Indeed, fear is usually associated with concern over defeat and loss. But how about fear of success? Do we undermine our very own interests because we are afraid of what success may bring? Why would anyone even do such a thing? Perhaps this illuminates the deeper roots of fear -- not the fear of failure or the fear of success, but the fear of change... Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores and dissects the anatomy of fear and courage, and learn about the forces that make you tick. Discover the causes that hold you back from reaching your greatest potential, and develop tools to overcome your resistance and achieve your dreams and aspirations -- to become the best you can be.

19 Marras 201859min

"Kabbalah of Tattoos" -- say what?! What in the world can the Kabbalah possibly say about tattoos?! What mystical significance can tattoos possibly have, particularly considering that tattoos are explicitly prohibited in the Torah (“You shall not etch a tattoo on yourselves")?! Please join Rabbi Jacobson and discover some surprising and illuminating insights into the nature of tattoos and their psycho-spiritual impact on our bodies and souls. Learn how tattoos of all types -- literal and physical ones, as well as emotional wounds and scars -- affect our lives, and how we can transcend them in our quest for living meaningful and mission-driven lives.

8 Marras 201854min

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