Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Do you feel that you matter? That among 7.7 billion people on earth, and trillions of other forces in the universe, you are indispensable and your life is vital? This is not a small or academic question;  every decision you make, every move you take, is effected by how much you value your life. If you  feel that your life doesn't matter much, then all your life choices and relationships...

Morality is a big word, which means different things to different people. What exactly is morality? Is it absolute or relative? Are moral values something we can all agree about, or are there different opinions on what constitutes a moral act? Can certain behavior be considered by some as moral and by others immoral? If so, how do we determine what is the moral standard to abide by? And if we all...

What do you see when you look around you? Do we all see the same thing? Ostensibly it would seem that all healthy eyes observe the same empirical reality. The fact is, however, that what you see is not (usually) what you get. Observation is not just what is visible to the naked eye, but far more than that.  Despite knowing that fact, here is a mysterious paradox: We all understand that there...

Manifestation? "What exactly is that," you may be wondering. Well. in short it's about being present -- about "showing up" and being immersed and invested in your life experiences. How often do we have our foot halfway our the door, afraid to commit due to the risks involved? How often are we not fully present in a relationship or even a conversation? It may be for good reasons -- lack of trust, f...

We all have, at some or another, wronged or hurt another person -- a loved one, a friend or a stranger. What can and should we do about it? Are we aware of the full impact and effect our behavior has on ourselves, others and the universe in general? And do we appreciate the potency contained in correcting our errors? One of the most noble and courageous human acts is to ask for forgiveness and mak...

At one or time or another, many of us feel stuck in our lives. Unable to move forward. It can take on the shape of resignation, hopelessness and even depression. It can be more subtle as in feeling old and worn out, without the energy to create change. And it can even manifest in cynicism, as in the more things change the more they stay the same.  What causes us to feel stuck? Are they object...

"Do you believe in miracles?" is one of the most common questions asked. But before we answer that question, we need to first define the meaning of a miracle. Is it a fantastical, nature-suspending event (like the parting of the sea), or is it an awesome and unique event (like giving birth)?  Our sages teach us that one experiencing a miracle often does not recognize the miracle that has tran...

Some of the most silent, yet demoralizing forces in our lives are boredom and monotony. They may seem innocuous, but lifeless routines create breeding grounds of toxicity. What can we do to infuse vitality and passion into the pedestrian day? How can we spice up our humdrum lives? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he presents a dynamic approach of how to spiritually charge up your daily quotidian, and...

What is depression? Why do we get depressed? And what can we do about it? Many answers have been posited to these pressing questions, with suggested interventions ranging from medication to therapy, and various alternative methods. What has been less explored are the spiritual roots of depression. After all, a soulless body does not get depressed. Is depression a spiritual or physical malady?...

When things are not going well, especially when they get desperate, people often fantasize about starting life over. This also happens when we have regrets over grave, irreversible errors we may have committed, or serious traumatic experiences that have injured our psyches and worn us down. "If only I can turn the clock back." "If only I had a second chance." "If only I would be born into another...

Despair is one of the worst possible human conditions. It's one thing to experience pain and suffering, it's quite another to give up hope. Even the most trying circumstances can be faced when you have hope. Even the most difficult challenges can be addressed when you have confidence, and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But when you give up on life and its possibilities, then...

 Have you ever found yourself staring at the moon at night? There is something about the haunting lunar sphere in the sky that mystifies and mesmerizes us. What lessons does it teach us?  What can we learn from the lunar cycles and from the full moon? Is there any deeper connection between us and the moon? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores the "psyche" of the moon -- and its para...

 How much of our lives do we take for granted? How often do we step back and appreciate the gift of every breath we take and every move we make? Do we recognize the sanctity of every moment and every space we traverse? Many of us see ourselves as "victims" of time and space -- always trying to beat the clock and maneuver the places we occupy. Can we learn to control space and time instead of...

The very word death fills our hearts with dread. We consider it as unfathomable as it is inevitable. But what exactly is death? What happens at that moment when soul and body separate? In truth the mystery of death is one with the mystery of life: What happens at the moment of conception when soul and body meet and join? Medicine and science deal primarily with the causes of illness and death -- a...

 What defines healthy masculinity? This question has emerged. perhaps more than ever before, in our generation. Is masculinity about power, aggression and strength -- the historical view of the man as the unwavering pillar that the family and community rely on for security and confidence? Is vulnerability in men a weakness, as in true men don't cry? Or is that an unhealthy stereotype and expe...

 We often hear about listening to the voice of your soul. Allowing your spiritual aspirations to express themselves. Some call it: Freeing your spirit. But did you know that your body too contains many messages for you? Remember, your body and soul have been traveling together through your life. And just as your soul has memories so does your body. Your body silently watches and absorbs every...

Trust is a vital component in life. Healthy relationships and bonds are built on trust. Without trust, almost everything is compromised if not outrightly destroyed. But which criteria define trust? How do we gauge whom to trust? Which traits and behaviors engender trust?  Can these characteristics be acquired? Many of us have been hurt and are justly wary of trusting another, or sadly, may ha...

If you were to list the five most important things you want to accomplish in your life, what would they be?  Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this special tribute to his mentor -- the Rebbe -- in which he discusses five foundational principles he learned from his teacher, which radically transformed his life, and can transform your life as well. Discover how these principles can guide you...

Do you ever find yourself feeling uneasy that your life is kind of empty and aimless? Believe it or not, that feeling is the beginning of a spiritual awakening. Every epiphany, every wake-up call, every transition, starts with a state of discomfort, as you move from one paradigm to another.  What other signs are there that indicate the opening of new opportunities? Are we missing these signs...

Last year medical researchers discovered a new body part, called the interstitium -- a network of fluid-filled spaces in connective tissue across the body that hadn't been seen before. Previously, it was thought that these tissue layers were a dense "wall" of collagen — a strong structural protein found in connective tissue. But the new finding reveals that, rather than a "wall," this tissue is mo...

 It may seem like a silly question, but does your life truly matter? With 7.7 billion people on this planet, what possible significance can one person have?   This is not a small issue: If you feel that you don't really matter, then your life choices and decisions also don't really matter. What type of life can you live when all that you do has no true value? No wonder that many of...

 Have you ever behaved like a coward? Do you regret any situations when you neglected from acting out of fear? Would you be brave enough to acknowledge such behavior? Cowardice and fear impact much more of our lives than we imagine. How many of our decisions are driven — and how many opportunities are lost — due to cowardice? But what do we know about this force that effects us so deeply? Wha...

 The ancient mystical teachings of Kabbalah — once obscure and unknown — has recently become popular and even fashionable. Or has it? Do we really know what Kabbalah is? What does the word even mean? What do these teachings offer us? Tonight is Lag B’Omer, the anniversary of Rabbi Shimeon Bar Yochai’s passing. Rabbi Shimeon, or Rashbi, is the “father” of Kabbalah. He authored the Zohar — the...

 There are no parenting schools. So where and how do we learn to parent? We learn it 1) from our own mothers and fathers — we emulate how they parented us, and 2) above all we learn it on the job: When a couple is blessed with a child/children, trial and error and hard earned challenges, and their natural instincts — shaped by the attitudes we picked up from our parents — teaches them how to...

We have always been mystified by the moon -- it's haunting presence shimmering in our night sky. We have studied the moon and its effects on life on earth, we have spent trillions to travel to, land on and explore our lonely lunar sphere. From romance to music and science fiction, the moon with its pale glow captures our imagination. What lies behind this fascination?  Please join Rabbi Jacob...