The Zodiac: Is My Life Predestined?

With high profile celebrity suicides in recent news, this painfully tragic issue has returned to the fore. Perhaps the single most dreaded and shame-filled act, suicide remains one of the darkest deeply hidden secrets in a family's life. Citing statistics about something so alarming, seems callous and insensitive, yet this unfortunate data can hopefully serve to propel us to action with increased and focused urgency. Facing the devastating facts, that 45,000 people die by suicide each year - and that's only in the USA - should open our eyes and hearts to be more vigilant to the signs of those who are at risk. The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.42 per 100,000 individuals... And this does not even touch upon attempted suicides. What can we do to stem this tide? What can we do or say to someone with suicidal thoughts or words? How can we help a family member or friend in need? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as he addresses this most distressing issue from both a practical and

21 Juni 201859min

"Trust me" is one of the most untrustworthy statements one can make. Would you trust someone simply because they ask you (or tell you) to trust them? Trust must be earned. This is especially true in a situation -- and an environment -- in which trust has been violated, and people have been hurt by those they trusted. But how does one earn trust? Trust is the single most important ingredient in any true communication; it creates the fertile ground for all relationships. What ingredients are necessary for trust to flourish? How do we gain trust? Can one love without trust? And how does one regain trust after it has been betrayed? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he dissects the anatomy of trust, its importance in our lives and how we can build (and rebuild) trusting relationships. Discover surprising insights into the nature of trust, and how it can help you in every aspect of your life.

21 Juni 201855min

When faced with a dilemma do you usually find yourself stuck between two stark options - yes or no, right or wrong, hold or fold, proceed or retreat? Do you tend to look at things in black and white? Or in extremes? Do you see people in terms of being either friend or foe? When someone hurts you, do you write them off? When you run into an obstacle, do you easily give up? So often, we only see two options before us. Whether this is due to social conditioning or lack of training, this myopic view on life -- that things are either good or bad -- can seriously limit us from achieving our goals and beyond, as well as impede the great potential in our lives and our relationships. Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this fascinating presentation, which offers a new approach to dealing with virtually every challenge and confrontation in life. We shall call it The Third Option -- one that looks beyond the immediate and the obvious two dimensional perspective, and finds a third way to see things.

11 Juni 201855min

How would you define civilization? Do you think that the standards for a civilized society have changed over the years? Would we consider, say, ancient Greece as civilized? How would they consider us? Which words would you use to describe civilized: cultured, educated, ethical, enlightened, refined, sophisticated, advanced, or something else? Are there even objective values with which to measure civilization? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this pre-Shavuot class as he presents a surprisingly new definition of civilized life based on the 3330-year old Sinai experience. Discover how this revolutionary event radically changed the universe and introduced the true meaning of a healthy civilization to the world. Learn how it offers us a blueprint for personal and global transformation and redemption.

24 Maj 201852min

How much energy and time do you expend on fighting your inner fears? The catch-22 is the more you dwell and obsess over your demons the stronger they become. Is there a way to 1) protect yourself from negativity in the first place? 2) fight your dark thoughts once they consume you? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he addresses this urgent and crucial issue, which is all-pervasive, impacting virtually every aspect of our lives. Discover tools and methods to dispel fear and anxiety. Learn how to preempt and prevent negativity from entering your psyche, and how to free yourself from it after it has attacked. Find out how you can spend more time and energy cultivating your flowers instead of uprooting weeds.

24 Maj 201850min

How many partners are there in a relationship? Some say that there are at least six people -- the two spouses, and each of their parents, whose attitudes shaped (and often continue to shape) the lives of their children. When you consider past relationships, then you can throw in more partners -- since a previous relationship often continues to impact (or haunt) a present relationship? On the other end of the spectrum, some cynics argue that there really are no partners in a relationship; that ultimately a "relationship" is nothing more than a self-absorbed relationship with yourself, and your partner and all others are simply "props" to enhance the self. Now let's rephrase the question: How many partners are there in a healthy relationship (with emphasis on the word healthy)? Relationships are difficult enough without bringing into the mix parents and previous connections. So how many partners are necessary to create a robust, growthful and mutually enriching relationship?

14 Maj 20181h 2min

How important is respect in life? How would you rate the level of respect in society today? Is it strong, average or weak in our homes, schools and workplaces? And what are the consequences of a lack in respect? What impact does it have on us, our children and our world?

7 Maj 20181h 8min

Having a broken heart is one of the most debilitating, yet powerful, and overwhelming experiences one can encounter in life. Can one possibly avoid heartbreak? Can one heal from it? Are there ways to recover from shattered emotions, and grow from them? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he dissects the heart and its mysterious secrets in this - well - heartfelt talk on the nature of love and vulnerability. Learn powerful tools to mend the cracks, suture tears, and discover that nothing is truly as complete as a broken heart.

29 Apr 20181h 19min