G.R.O.W.T.H. - The Journey Beyond Comfort

Are you feeling trapped by any form of anxiety, fear, shame or insecurity? Are you dealing with trauma - past or present - that you cannot seem to escape? Are there forces that overwhelm and hinder your daily life? These may include loss or tragedy, pain, suffering and abuse or any type of violation of your dignity and spirit. If the answer to any of these questions is yes (and I cannot fathom that any of us mortal beings are not plagued at times with at least one of these difficulties) know that you are not alone! We all have our share of challenges -- the different constraints and inhibitions that impede our personal and professional lives. But also know that there is a way out! We are not bound and limited by our limitations. We are now entering the Passover season, a holiday that celebrates the exodus from Egypt, which was far more than a physical liberation from chains and shackles. The Exodus was above all an emotional and spiritual emancipation, providing us with a formula - a time tested 3,334 year formula - to experience true exodus and transcendence from all forms of psychological captivity and distress (Mitzrayim, Egypt in Hebrew, means narrow straits, referring to all forms of hardships). Each one of us has a personal "Mitzrayim" within us, a place of enslavement and anguish, which constrains us and holds us back from true freedom -- from expressing our true selves, not the one shaped by others and by life circumstances. Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this special Passover program and discover a five-step strategy that will allow you to free yourself from any of your fears and obstacles, empowering you, once and for all, to spread your wings and release your great potential. Enter the holiday by tapping into its energy and gaining a new understanding of inner and outer freedom, enabling your free spirit to sing and soar above all the vicissitudes and limitations.

14 Apr 202235min

Freedom is our greatest gift; one that every human being is inherently born with. And yet freedom has not been agiven for most of human history. In fact, until the founding of the USA 246 years ago people world over did not live in freedom! Now that we have freedom and basic human rights are respected in most of the world do we truly appreciate it? Do we take it for granted? Are we aware of the sacrifices and prices we had -- and continuously have -- to pay to actually be free? Do we even know what freedom means? Think about it: Is freedom simply the ability to move about and not be bound by shackles, then why are so many of us enslaved to various addictions? These are critical questions because their answer will define the very way we look at our lives, our choices and our freedoms. Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for an enlightening discussion on the very nature of freedom and its benefits. Discover how to truly be free -- both from forces without and within. Learn the core concepts on how to appreciate freedom while helping it grow within us, allowing us to maximize who we really truly are.

6 Apr 202237min

Whether you are dealing with fear, anxiety, depression, aimlessness, or any of the many issues that plague our lives, one of the most important questions to ask yourself is, what are you passionate about? What excites your soul and fuels your energy and drive? Surprisingly, by focusing on these fundamental questions and identifying your true passions, you will be able to address the root of many negative forces in your life. Concentrating on your inner desires will compel you to recognize what you are investing your energy into it and will help you shift your focus toward positivity. Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for a fascinating and personal discussion on finding your passions in life. The human soul is a fire; synonymous with passion. Without passion the spirit withers. Identifying your passion will open new horizons and empowering methods to dealing with the many challenges and setbacks that life throws your way.

1 Apr 202228min

Addiction is one of the greatest plagues of our time. It impacts tens of millions of people - according to official statistics there are over 20 million addicts in the USA alone. And how many more are there who are not accounted for, due to denial and other factors? Addiction's impact on life is devastating - polluting virtually every facet of life: work, relationships, personal growth. How much of our potential remains trapped as we escape into our various addictions? The very word addiction sends a shudder down our spines. Whether it's behavioral, psychological or physical, addiction reflects one of the saddest states of the human spirit: the loss of control over one’s own decisions. Becoming enslaved to a substance or behavior is the ultimate desecration and betrayal of human dignity. But what is the root of addiction? What causes a person to allow themselves to become a slave to another entity - defying the very nature of human autonomy?! Aside from addressing its symptoms, is there anything we can do to uproot addiction at its core? When we look back at the etymology of addiction, we find it has other meanings as well - and surprisingly! - they are not all negative. Addiction also means devotion, attachment and connection. Indeed, this can actually provide insight into what lies at the root and heart of addiction. Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this eye-opening program to discover a new, fascinating way of looking at addiction. Addiction is essentially a form of attachment disorder. The “soul” of an addict has a powerful searching energy - seeking, aspiring, yearning for love, connection and transcendence - but this force has become misdirected for various reasons. The problem is not the drive, but the objective of the drive. This class will lay out the 12-step Kabbalistic system and formula of how to deal with addiction in any form. Learn how to recognize the enormous power hidden in addiction; examine how to harness and direct it to literally change your life and the world around you.

24 Mars 202247min

What is driving the war in Ukraine? Who is Putin and what makes him tick? What can impact him? How will it end? What can we do? Join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in a live broadcast on the eve of Purim to discover the surprising answers in the story of Purim - 24 centuries ago!

21 Mars 202251min

Interesting stat: More than half the world prays daily. But here is the big question many of us wonder: Is anyone actually listening? Does God even care? Does praying accomplish anything? But before trying to answer these questions, we first need to rethink what exactly is prayer. Prayer is NOT about what God wants from us. Rather, prayer is about what you want from your connection to God. Prayer is not just a desperate effort of someone in crisis, or a crutch based on cultural superstitions. Nor is it merely a religious ritual. Prayer is about attachment -- attaching yourself and pouring your heart out to a Higher Reality, and drawing that power into your life. Communicating your needs, desires and requests to a higher source in your own way, be it through words, tears, pre-written prayers.. whatever talks to you. Prayer is about connecting the big picture with the small picture of your life. It is very effective. It is free, and you can do it anytime and anywhere. Join Rabbi Jacobson and discover the true essence and purpose of prayer. Once we uncover what prayer truly is, we can begin to understand how our prayers indeed do work, and someone out there actually does listen and care.

24 Feb 202231min

Money certainly has the power to corrupt and destroy. Just look around you -- and look back into history -- for countless examples of the ugly ways money perverts people, the extremes individuals will go to in pursuit of wealth, and how it turns people and even families against each other, often with tragic consequences. But money has also been used in the noblest ways and has built the most beautiful institutions. So which one is it? Money clearly can bring out the worst and the best in us. Is money -- and materialism in general -- the root of the problem, or is it our excessive attachment to money and material indulgences? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he challenges us to dig deeper and realize that the real question is not about the nature of money, but the nature of us humans: Are we at heart material beings or spiritual ones? To understand what money is we first need to understand who we are. Discover a new way to look at money and the material world around you -- through the lens of your soul instead of the lens of your body.

17 Feb 202231min

Do you know how to criticize and discipline in a constructive way? Do you rush to judgment? Does your critique demoralize or motivate? Does it break or build the other's spirit? Very often we insert ourselves into the challenging situation, and react reflexively and emotionally, without deliberating on what would be best to remedy the issue. When faced with circumstances that require disciplinary action, many of us go from one extreme to the next: we either choose to ignore it or we come down hard. Is there a healthier way of disciplining and educating -- be it your child, your student, your employee or anyone else you have influence over -- and even yourself? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he discusses this imperative topic and discover a third approach, which balances constructive critique and productive results. Learn how to integrate discipline with love -- growing the flowers while uprooting the weeds -- in one seamless process of nurturing a beautiful and exquisite garden.

10 Feb 202226min