Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast

What does it truly mean to love yourself? In this episode of the Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore one of Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s most profound teachings: true self-love isn’t about ego—it begins with recognizing your inherent, God-given value. Drawing from Rabbi Jacobson’s inspiring class, they discuss: Why authentic self-love leads to humility—not arr...

What can a solar eclipse teach us about humility, freedom, and the secret to lasting greatness? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s profound insights inspired by the 2024 solar eclipse. While millions saw a breathtaking astronomical event, Rabbi Jacobson reveals a timeless Torah lesson hidden within it. Why does t...

Why do we dream? Are dreams simply random thoughts, or can they reveal something deeper about who we are and who we’re capable of becoming? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s inspiring class on The Kabbalah of Dreams . Together they unpack the Torah’s perspective on dreams, beginning with Jacob’s famous dream of...

Have you ever experienced déjà vu, felt an instant connection with someone you’ve just met, or wondered if you’ve lived before? In this episode of the Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore one of Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s most fascinating and misunderstood teachings: the Torah and Kabbalah’s perspective on reincarnation ( gilgulim ), past lives, and the soul’...

In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful class on fear, faith, Iran, Israel, and the spiritual courage needed in uncertain times. How do we respond when the world feels unstable? Rabbi Jacobson teaches the difference between fear and prudence, showing how faith, moral clarity, and connection to something higher giv...

Who are you beneath your body, thoughts, emotions, and daily responsibilities? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful class on the five dimensions of the soul. Through the lens of Jewish mysticism, they unpack what it means to nourish your inner life, understand anxiety as a signal from the soul, and reconnect wi...

What does Judaism really say about money, success, and wealth? Can money pull us away from spirituality — or can it actually become holy? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s profound conversation on “The Soul of Money.” Together, they explore the Torah’s revolutionary perspective on abundance, charity, ambition, marriag...

Why do some solutions fix a problem for the moment… but make things worse in the long run? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful teaching on body-driven vs. soul-driven problem solving — two completely different ways of approaching life’s challenges. Most of us react from survival mode: fixing symptoms, protectin...

Why do so many of us feel overwhelmed, distracted, and emotionally drained—even when we’re “getting things done”? In this powerful episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack one of Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s most practical and eye-opening classes on clearing the noise and discovering what truly matters. Drawing from Rabbi Jacobson’s timeless Torah wisdom,...

What if the climate debate isn't really about science or politics — but about something far deeper? In this episode, David and Levi unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson's eye-opening class on the Kabbalah of Global Warming. From a heated "follow the money" argument between two true believers, to a Rebbe scolding his son for rubbing a leaf — this teaching reframes the entire conversation around one radical...

What really happens to the soul after we die? In this thought-provoking episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack a powerful teaching from Rabbi Simon Jacobson that completely shifts the way we think about life and death. Using a striking analogy—a refrigerator asking electricity where it goes when unplugged—they explore a deeper perspective: What if the s...

Are you actually thinking freely—or just repeating patterns you’ve carried since childhood? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack a powerful teaching from Rabbi Simon Jacobson on what it truly means to “think outside the box.” Inspired by Einstein’s insight that you can’t solve a problem with the same thinking that created it , this conversatio...

Why do you feel driven one moment… and stuck the next? Why are some people naturally calm, while others are intense or scattered? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein break down one of Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s most powerful teachings: the four foundational elements that shape your personality— Fire, Water, Air, and Earth . Drawing from timeless T...

What if your inner conflict isn’t a weakness—but your greatest strength? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful teachings on the deeper meaning of Gemini through the lens of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. We explore the tension between opposites—spiritual vs. material, kindness vs. discipline, ambition vs. purpose...

Does prayer actually work? And when life feels heavy, uncertain, or painful, is anyone really listening? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful class on the deeper meaning of prayer. Drawing on Torah wisdom, Chassidic thought, and moving real-life stories, they unpack prayer not as a magic formula, but as a profo...

Is spirituality always good… or can it go wrong? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein break down a powerful and eye-opening class from Rabbi Simon Jacobson exploring the dark side of spirituality . We often associate spirituality with light, growth, and connection—but what happens when spiritual energy is misused? Where is the line between holiness a...

Are psychedelics a path to deeper spirituality—or just a shortcut that misses the point? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful and thought-provoking class on psychedelics, higher consciousness, and the human search for connection. With more people turning to plant medicine, LSD, and other mind-altering substances...

In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful insights on the deeper spiritual meaning behind current tensions in the Middle East. Drawing from the Torah story of Purim , Rabbi Jacobson connects the ancient events of Persia — the rise of Haman and the threat against the Jewish people — with modern geopolitical str...

What does it mean to stand for truth in a world where right and wrong often feel blurred? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack a powerful talk by Rabbi Simon Jacobson recorded during his recent visit to Israel. Just miles from Gaza, Rabbi Jacobson met young Israeli soldiers preparing to enter battle—and what he witnessed left a profound...

What if the thing you’re calling “a missed opportunity” is actually the beginning of your comeback? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , David Cohen (Jewish-American) and Levi Goldstein (Jewish-Australian) unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s class, “This lesson from the Bible will give you this SUPERPOWER.”    We explore the Torah origin of second chances through Pesach Sheni —the momen...

In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , Rabbi Jacobson argues that to understand why the conflict keeps resurfacing, we have to look beyond headlines and negotiations—and go back to the spiritual roots : the tension that begins in the house of Abraham , the competing archetypes of love and discipline , and the Torah’s insistence on a third force: balance —the integration that creates...

In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore powerful insights from a Rabbi Simon Jacobson class examining how radically different narratives can exist around the same reality — and what Torah perspective contributes to understanding identity, history, and purpose. Drawing from timeless Jewish wisdom, they unpack the contrast between material a...

Why is it so hard to change—even when we want to grow? In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack a powerful class by Rabbi Simon Jacobson on comfort zones, growth, and the invisible force that keeps us stuck: inertia. We explore why comfort feels nurturing yet quietly blocks transformation, why willpower alone rarely leads to lasting change,...

In this powerful episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast , hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack a deeply moving class by Rabbi Simon Jacobson on one of the most urgent issues of our time: the destructive power of hatred — and the redemptive power of love. Drawing from real-world events and timeless Torah wisdom, Rabbi Jacobson explores what happens to the human soul when hatred takes ov...

Is karma real — and if it is, are you stuck with the life your past “earned”? In this episode, David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s powerful take: yes, cause-and-effect is real… but Judaism introduces something radical — teshuvah , the ability to repair, return, and rewrite the trajectory of your life. We explore why accountability builds trust more than perfection, how den...