Finding Joy in the Dark Moments

It may sound cliche, but one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is: "Who am I?" If that seems too simplistic, let's rephrase the question: Can you distinguish between what you do and who you truly are (when most people are asked who they are, they present their business card...)? Can you tell the difference between the attitudes and forces -- parental, cultural and social -- that have shaped you and your true personality? The fact is that many of us don't really know what our real personality is like. Some may even be unaware of the fact that each one of us is born with an exclusive personality. And that your individuality may have been obfuscated by the many pressures and expectations that adults in your formative years projected upon you. When an impressionable and vulnerable child is not validated, nurtured and loved -- and instead, is judged and criticized and made to believe that he or she has no value, and the only thing that has value is their parents opinion -- is it a wonder that we have difficulty identifying our own exceptional personality and unique skills? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this important talk and learn how to uncover your true personality, not one jaded and distorted by life experiences. Discover your personality type -- how you are wired and where your strengths lie. With all the hoops you've been jumping through in your life. isn't it about time to find out your personality type -- who you truly are?

20 Dec 201850min

The "dark side" sounds very foreboding. While most people have not actually fallen prey to dark forces which control their lives, each of us has our darker side -- that ugly part of our lives which we prefer to keep buried like skeletons in our "closets." Is there then any value in speaking about these shadows, which we are loath to expose? The only purpose in doing so is not to simply dwell on the negative and the unpleasant, but to help us learn how to return from the dark side - whatever form it takes -- and build a life of light and warmth. Can we indeed free ourselves from the darker forces in our lives? Can one who has fallen hostage to the dark side come back and create a healthy life? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he addresses, in his unique way, a topic rarely discussed: How to deal with the dark side? Whether it is the darker secrets we each harbor, or the demonic darkness of addiction or cults and other powers that control us -- this illuminating class will help you dissect the abyss and come away with even greater strength to face any challenge and adversary. Discover the enormous power contained in the "dark side" -- like that of a "black hole" -- and how to harness it for the good.

13 Dec 201859min

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 Dec 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 Nov 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 Nov 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 Nov 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 Nov 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 Nov 201854min