Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson
291 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 61 ratingsJoin Rabbi Simon Jacobson, an embodiment of inclusive spirituality and wisdom, as he examines life & offers a comprehensive blueprint of the human psyche. Discover how to live a truly happy and meaningful life by using your divine gifts and wisdom to reach your highest potential. Listeners beware: this program may create a paradigm shift as stereotypes are dispelled, vulnerabilities spill through and universal truths emerge.
Visit The Meaningful Life Center, called a “Spiritual Starbucks” by the New York Times at www.meaningfullife.com for more.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
When Freedom is Slavery
April 18, 2024 16:35 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MBFreedom is one of our most cherished values. It is a monumental achievement of our times. The human aspiration for freedom, the desire to live as a free people, reflects the deepest longing of the soul, and is a vivid departure, standing in stark contrast to the days when monarchs and tyrants ruled. But what does freedom truly mean? Is it merely the lack of physical confinement, the absence of bars and chains, or does it go beyond that? Consider this: In our contemporary world, we are surr...
The Kabbalah of Existential Loneliness
April 11, 2024 01:15 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBDo you ever feel lonely? Not due to lack of companionship, friends, social circle or support system, but a fundamental nagging feeling that you are all alone in this universe? An inner cosmic vacuum: is there anyone out there that cares? Am I truly on a metaphorical island unto myself, surrounded by people yet really utterly alone, each person for himself?... Loneliness can be one of the most devastating experiences precisely because of its innocuous nature. It's not loud, it doesn't create...
Can a (Truly) Religious Person be Immoral
April 04, 2024 02:43 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBIs religion synonymous with morality? And is morality synonymous with religion? It is indeed disconcerting to witness a religious figure act immorally — doing something criminal, abusive, violating another, behaving in a manner that contradicts the moral standards we associate with their position. This stark contrast is very unsettling, as it challenges our perception of a religious leader’s role in upholding the highest virtues of humanity. This paradox has led some to question the integ...
How to Break Bad Habits and Build Good Ones
March 28, 2024 16:04 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MBDo you have a habit that you find increasingly difficult to break? Or is there a good habit that you wish to incorporate into your daily routines but you can't seem to make it stick?Very often we resolve to stop a certain obsessive behavior - overeating, biting our nails, being attached to our phone etc., or to begin a new commitment - spending more time with family, going to the gym, starting a new project etc. Armed with determination and enthusiasm, we set out on our way with gusto and a...
Are You Forgetful. 5 Secrets to a Better Memory
March 21, 2024 15:10 - 42 minutes - 58.9 MBSome dance to remember, some dance to forget… Despite the sentiment, in most areas of life most of us would like to be less forgetful and more retentive. But how? What causes us to forget things? And what is the secret to remembering? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this, well, memorable workshop as he shares his experiences as a “chozer” (remembering hours upon hours of the Rebbe’s talks) and discover the five secrets to a better memory: Absorb, Listen, Be Humble, Concentrate and Review. Le...
5 Ways to Build Trust
March 14, 2024 14:52 - 34 minutes - 47 MBTruthfulness Responsibility Understanding Security Tenacity How important is trust in our lives and relationships? Do we appreciate the crucial role it plays? Are we aware of the impact trust has -- for good and for bad -- on virtually every decision we make? Trust is the heartbeat of our existence, a beacon that guides our decisions and relationships. It’s a pivotal force, often underestimated, yet it shapes every aspect of our lives. Like the sturdy foundations supporting a skyscrap...
Are Individuality and Love Compatible
March 11, 2024 18:05 - 34 minutes - 47.8 MBAs we journey through life, two essential elements guide us: love and individuality. These core values nourish our growth and well-being. Love completes us, while individuality allows us to be true to ourselves. However, can these two intricate needs coexist without contradiction? As individuals, our primary focus leans towards self-preservation and ensuring our unique needs are met, and that we aren’t mistreated or compromised. Love, conversely, calls for empathy, sensitivity, and unselfi...
Is Arrogance Masking Ignorance and Insecurity
February 28, 2024 14:35 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBThe root of many problems and disagreements in life is arrogance. But what exactly is arrogance? And how do you deal with it; both with your own personal arrogance and with the arrogance of others? Ostensibly, we think of arrogance as a result of an overinflated ego. Take a gifted individual who is endowed with unique qualities and virtues. Instead of humbly recognizing them as a blessing to share, the person feels superior to others, resulting in a pompous, condescending attitude. Or som...
How to Create Miracles in Your Life
February 22, 2024 15:04 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MBWere you ever in a situation where you wished a miracle would happen in your life? Someone close to you may have been ill or suffering in some way, or you may have experienced a setback, or faced a difficult predicament. You really hoped and prayed for a miracle to happen. All of us at some point will have moments when we wish for a miracle to save us from a seemingly helpless and hopeless circumstance. But here's the question: is there even such a thing as a miracle? Or is it simply wishf...
Finding Joy in the Dark Moments
February 15, 2024 17:09 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBCan you find joy in difficult times? Is it possible to find happiness during dark days? Joy and happiness are critical for a healthy life. We all know what it feels like when we're happy, when we're joyous and celebrating; experiencing the joy not just externally but also internally. Inner joy creates a state of peace and calm, a sense of belonging and serenity: life just feels right.But it's one thing to experience joy in good times, when things are going well. What about when things are n...
What is Intelligence: IQ vs. EQ
February 07, 2024 19:39 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBWhat is intelligence? Human beings are considered to be the most intelligent of creatures; we value the mind, education, smart people... But as is often the case, we use a word without defining the axioms and assumptions that define the concept behind that word?What exactly is intelligence? Is it IQ - the intelligent quotient , or is it EQ - the emotional quotient? Intellectual intelligence vs. emotional intelligence. Book smart vs. street smart. Knowledge vs. common sense. Facts vs. imagin...
The Kabbalah of Today’s Global Conflicts: The Battles between Islam, Christianity and Judaism
February 01, 2024 17:23 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBWith the current war raging in Israel, the big question returns. Why is it that this region - more than anywhere else in the entire world - has had so many battles and fought so many wars over the last three millennia? From the beginning of Biblical times with the war over the land of Canaan and the land of Israel, to the wars waged by the Assyrians, Babylonians and the Romans (just to name a few), to the rise of the major religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam battling over control of ...
What Jews Really Think of Gentiles
January 25, 2024 14:35 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBWhat do Jews really think of gentiles? With Jews in the news yet again, dominating headlines as they so often do -- the war in Israel, rising antisemitism -- all the big timeless questions rise to the surface: Why is the world so obsessed with Jews? What are the roots of antisemitism? Why are Jews hated so much by some people, and respected by others? But a question that's less often asked is the other way around: what do Jews really think about non-Jews? Ostensibly, one would naturally e...
How to Overcome Fear
January 18, 2024 02:46 - 29 minutes - 40.4 MBOne of our greatest enemies is a silent enemy. It's called fear. Its power lies not in aggression, not in violence and not in sheer fire power. Its power lies in its inconspicuous and insidious ability to paralyze us; to hold us back and prevent us from moving forward.What effect does fear have on your life? And what can we do to counter it? Being that it's not an overt enemy you really can't measure its consequences in a tangible way. But how many decisions do we not make, how many moves d...
How Hatred Consumes and Destroys
January 11, 2024 15:22 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBI was looking at aerial images of Gaza before and after October 7th. The sheer destruction, the tragedy, the shattered lives and losses that are all so senseless and such a waste. And I thought to myself, what is the root of it all? Why? Who needed this devastation?How could Hamas subject their own people to such utter ruin and destruction? The answer is one simple word: hatred. It all began with the tremendous potent power of hatred. Atrocities perpetrated against innocent men, women and c...
Birth and Renewal
January 03, 2024 20:42 - 32 minutes - 45 MBThe tremors and upheavals of 2023 are meant to lead to a new birth, to a new world. So as we enter this new year of 2024, what shape will this renewal take? What will this new world look like? An added, exhilarating element to this metamorphosis is that we - every single one of us - are very much active participants and partners in writing the script of this birth and renewal. Our actions and behavior will help define the unfolding drama, the narrative and choreography of our future life....
2023: Tremors and Upheavals
December 28, 2023 01:17 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MBAs the curtain comes down on the year of 2023, we can headline it as the year of disruption. So many of our expected "norms" have been upended..In fact, the disruptions really began earlier in this millennium in so many different ways; in technology, in commerce, in politics, in geopolitical shifts etc. And of course, Covid. As we look back at the last two decades and connect the dots we can discern a developing pattern of accelerating disruptions.And indeed in this past year we are witness...
Don't Let Your Enemy Define You
December 21, 2023 02:50 - 30 minutes - 42.5 MBHow much of your personality has been shaped by others? By our parents - our genes and our DNA. By our environment, our homes, our families, our schooling, our education, our value systems and our social influences. The question is how much of your existing identity is really you and how much has been defined by others? Have you found your own voice, your unique purpose? Or have you never discovered it, or perhaps lost it along the way? This question is acutely amplified when faced with adv...
The Indestructible Power of Light
December 14, 2023 18:16 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBIs there anything in life that is indestructible? We are mere mortals, finite creatures in a physical world where everything in existence seems to be impermanent. Things erode, deteriorate, and ultimately age and perish. That inner search for eternity, for immorality - is that just a fantasy or is it indeed possible? Chanukah teaches us the secret to immortality, the indestructible power of light that turns the finite infinite and the ordinary extraordinary. Please join Rabbi Simon Jaco...
Military Strategies: Lessons Learned From Chanukah
December 07, 2023 17:53 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MBWith war being waged in Gaza, military strategists are obviously seeking and employing all types of methods and ways to fight this war. Every war has its distinct personality and unique challenges and therefore requires a customized solution. This war is no different. Dealing with a hostage situation, savage terrorists, who wantonly use civilians as shields, poses particular difficulties, as we all know.And frankly the war is not just in Gaza. This war is also in the media; the war over o...
When War is Peace
November 30, 2023 14:50 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBWe all hate war. (Well let's qualify that. There are some people who for one reason or another historically, as well as today, are predisposed to aggression, violence and upheaval. But civil people generally despise war and everything it stands for. Healthy people inherently want a calm and peaceful existence.) So why would any decent person go to war? Why would a moral country deploy their citizens to fight? Why would anyone put themselves in harm's way? Who in their right mind would want...
Historic Wake-Up Call: Are We Responding
November 23, 2023 17:54 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBThere are rare moments in our lives when we are provided with an unprecedented opportunity, a wake up call. Those moments where a paradigm shift occurs that can affect us on an individual level, on a collective level or on a global level. Certain events shake us to our core and open us up to these quantum leaps. And at that moment your actions, your choices, your decisions can change everything. We are now living in such a time. The events that happened on October 7, the atrocities perpetr...
The Evil of Antisemitism
November 16, 2023 19:34 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBWith the recent alarming rise of antisemitism in wake of the atrocities perpetrated on October 7th by Hamas, it's well worthwhile to dig deeper into the nature of Jew hatred, what exactly antisemitism is. What are the roots of this abhorrence and where does it stem from? Why is it that throughout history Jews were consistently singled out more than any other minority? With acts of hatred, discrimination, expulsions and genocide. From a scientific point of view we cannot associate antisemi...
Choose Life
November 09, 2023 17:49 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBI call on heaven and earth as witnesses today that I have offered you life or death, blessings or curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants will live! Deuteronomy 30:19 Does it make any sense that a healthy person would choose death over life? Would any sane person choose destruction over survival?And yet we see - amplified in the latest atrocities going on in Israel - that there exists a perverse culture of death, of martyrdom. Where death is celebrated. Where death is the ultim...
The History of the Holy Land. Truths Revealed and Myths Dispelled
November 02, 2023 00:51 - 45 minutes - 62.1 MBWhile Israel is at war with its enemies, following the atrocities that took place on October 7th, there is another war raging all over the world. This is the war over truth, a propaganda war filled with misinformation, disinformation, lies and myth. This war is being fought in the media, on campuses, with protests and videos aimed to manipulate and pull at our heart strings - all vying for control over our minds. And this information war is only amplified by modern technology, incessantly s...
Is There Absolute Good and Evil
October 26, 2023 17:27 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBWith the latest brutal atrocities perpetrated in Israel - the horrific sights and descriptions of things that most of us couldn't imagine in our darkest dreams - the words "absolute evil," "pure, unadulterated evil", have become the way many are describing these massacres. Not simply killing which is total evil in itself, but the sheer savage ways and extreme forms of cruelty and sadism with which these heinous crimes were committed, defies any word in our human language. Absolute evil does...
Why How What Can We Do. How to React to the Tragic War in Israel?
October 12, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBWe - and every decent person in this world - are shocked by the heartwrenching events and the tragic war taking place in Israel. How can a decent human being not be horrified by the brutal atrocities perpetrated against innocent civilians; men, women, children, elderly murdered in cold blood, abused, degraded, tortured and taken hostage in the most inhumane way. We are united and devastated in pain and confusion. How could this happen? Why did God allow it? How should we react to this? What ...
Happiness: Nature or Nurture?
September 28, 2023 19:12 - 27 minutes - 38.2 MBAre you a happy person? Do you feel happy right now? As human beings, we all have times that we're happy and times that happiness eludes us. But overall, what is your natural inclination?Are some people just born happier than others? Is happiness inherent or acquired? And more importantly, are there things we can do - tools we can learn, methods we can implement - to bring more happiness and joy into our lives, to become more upbeat and optimistic? Or are we simply hard wired a certain way,...
Let Go. Let God. How to Get Unstuck and Propel Yourself Forward
September 21, 2023 00:58 - 28 minutes - 39 MBDo you feel stuck in your life? Stuck in a situation, stuck in a relationship, stuck in your job? Are there things that you simply cannot free yourself from, no matter how much you try and no matter how good your intentions are? After all your attempts, you just keep being tugged back into the same old rut?What do you do in a situation like that? Is there any way out? How do you get yourself out of the pit when there is seemingly no rope to hold onto, no light to show you the way out? This ...
Bored. Trapped. How to Rejuvenate Your Life
September 14, 2023 01:00 - 27 minutes - 38 MBAre you motivated? Do you wake up each morning feeling energized, excited to seize the day? Or is your life one of tedious routines, monotonous habits, repeating the same cycles, day after day, simply making do and getting by?One of the great challenges in life - even though it sounds innocuous - is boredom. The monotony and the routine, feeds into a lethargy that ultimately leads to resignation and demoralization. It may seem harmless enough at the start, and yet it can often be the beginn...
How Do I Find My Calling in Life
September 08, 2023 04:00 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MBNo company, organization or entity can efficiently function without a mission statement. Can you? Have you ever asked yourself what your personal calling is in life? If you haven't, know that you're not alone. Most people on this planet do not have a personal mission statement. But the bigger question is how do you find your mission? How do you identify your unique and indispensable role in this world? We're so busy and overwhelmed with the existing pressures of life, with expectations a...
Is God Relevent
August 31, 2023 17:02 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MBLet's talk about God. What does God mean to you? Is God real or superstition? Do you have a personal relationship with God, or is God simply part of the culture and home you grew up in? This three-letter word "God" evokes perhaps more conversation and debate than any other word. And the debates continue to rage. There are firm believers, firm non-believers, firm agnostics -- and those not so firm in their beliefs. Everyone has an opinion on the matter. The battle between science and reli...
Is Love Real
August 25, 2023 02:56 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBLove - we all need it and yet we find it so difficult to attain. It is perhaps the most elusive of all experiences. What is love? Is is real or just a chemical reaction? Is it just another physical/psychological aspect to our being or is there something deeper, a spiritual/ethereal component to love? Schopenhauer notoriously wrote, “Love is based on an illusion and represents what is an advantage to the species as an advantage to the individual.” Is this correct? Is love simply a way of ...
The Kabbalah of Time: 4 Time Management Tips that Will Change Your Life
August 17, 2023 00:45 - 20 minutes - 27.5 MBThink Importance Mission Energy Is time your friend or your enemy? On one hand we’re always trying to beat the clock and meet deadlines. The pressure of time - the constant tik tok, tik tok - can be overwhelming and even downright scary. Our time is limited, every minute that passes can never be reclaimed and it keeps on moving no matter what. We literally cannot do anything physical to stop time and the aging process. On the other hand, time keeps us moving, motivating us to make t...
Finding Your Self Worth
August 10, 2023 17:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBHow would you rate your self esteem? And how do we even define self worth? What do we consider valuable? Is it how much money you have; how many possessions you own? Is it how many friends you have; how much love you have in your life? And who defines self worth? Do we define it ourselves? Or do others define it? We live in a world where we are inundated from every direction by all types of voices trying to sell us something. If you buy this, you'll look better and you'll feel more valua...
Do Spiritual People Live Longer
August 03, 2023 16:16 - 28 minutes - 39 MBDo Spiritual People Live Longer? What is the secret to living a long and healthy life? Much has been said and written about the importance of maintaining physical fitness -- balanced diet, regular exercise, ample sleep, avoiding toxins, and so on. But how about our emotional, psychological and spiritual health? What effect does, say, anxiety and stress have on our welfare and longevity? How much do our fears and insecurities drain and erode our immunity systems? Please join Rabbi Simon Jaco...
How to Comfort and Be Comforted_A 5 Step Plan to Building Empathy
July 27, 2023 19:07 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MBOne of the greatest challenges in life is how to rebuild after loss, how to reclaim dignity after we've been violated, how to experience rebirth after we've been traumatized, how to find resolution after something may have been destroyed. Tonight is Tisha B'Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, when the Temple was destroyed. This day represents and personifies destruction on all levels, global, communal and personal. However, the good news is that within the destruction and within th...
How Can a Good G-d Allow Bad Things to Happen?
July 19, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBLife is often fraught with challenges and difficulties. Yes, there are many times where life is thankfully filled with celebrations, joy, happiness, beautiful events and experiences. But there is no person on earth who hasn’t also been affected by the other part of life, the pain and suffering, the distress and anxieties – everybody has dealt with this in their own personal lives. Which brings us to the age-old question: How can a good G-d allow bad things to happen? If G-d is just, how can...
Take on The Challenge: The Power of Competition
July 13, 2023 00:40 - 28 minutes - 39.7 MBWhen you think of competition, how do you react? What feelings and thoughts does it conjure up?For many the word evokes feelings of failure, losing, or even humiliation. A competitive nature may not tolerate that another person won, leaving them bitter, angry and resentful. For others, the word elicits excitement, overzealousness to take on the challenge and be victorious at all costs, even if it means trampling others in the way. It can be about dominance, power and control. Either extreme...
How to Feel Truly Alive
July 06, 2023 16:12 - 34 minutes - 47.3 MBDo you feel alive, truly alive? Is your life filled with enthusiasm, energy, passion and excitement? We all go through ups and downs in life; there are times that we are sluggish and can feel unmotivated, uninspired, apathetic, and even zombie-like. And there are times that we feel like we are burning on all cylinders, making the most of our time and actualizing our potential. What state do you generally find yourself in? Is our energy level simply based on our moods and vicissitudes? Is...
What the Bible Teaches Us About the Power of Words
June 30, 2023 00:34 - 28 minutes - 39.9 MBWhat power and potency do our words carry? Words are everywhere. Books, media, video, marketing, talk radio -- the list goes on. Words inundating us from every direction. And of course, the words we use endlessly. Words we think, speak and write. Do we even know how many words we utter a day? How many words we text? How many words we communicate? Do our words matter? How many of them are meaningful and how many are insignificant, even nonsense? How many of our words are hurtful and destr...
6 Tips to Improve Leadership Skills
June 22, 2023 14:26 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBAre there any leaders that you trust? We have a leadership crisis today, where the people in power - our leaders - are simply not leading, and are not trusted. Do we even know what defines a true leader? Interestingly, the question goes deeper and is actually also about each one of us. Do you see yourself as a leader? We often think leaders are somewhere out there, other people who have the proper leadership credentials. But did you ever consider that you - yes, you - may have the potential...
The Kabbalah of Graduating
June 15, 2023 07:17 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBWe are now in the graduation season with millions of students celebrating the conclusion of a stage of their schooling. But what exactly is a graduation? What does it signify? Is it just an invisible milestone that comes and goes? Or is there something deeper, something personal and meaningful that we all - not just the graduates but also friends and family - can learn from it? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we discuss transitions, the right of passage, that takes us from one stage in o...
In G-d We Trust. But Do We
June 08, 2023 14:08 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBIs there anyone that you absolutely and entirely trust? Trust with your life, trust with your confidence, trust with everything about yourself; someone you are comfortable being vulnerable with, knowing that you won’t be judged or criticized and the person’s attitude will not change in any way. Is there anyone that you have total transparency with, total honesty with no defenses? Actually you can ask a deeper question. Do you totally trust yourself? Are you completely in sync with yourself...
How to Become a Giver in a World of Takers
June 01, 2023 18:57 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBAre you a giver or a taker? The fact is that we live in a world that teaches us how to take, with the justification and argument that life is fundamentally selfish; survival of the fittest is the driving ethos and if you don’t take care of yourself no one else will take care of you. Is that accurate? Is that a healthy attitude? On a short term basis, it may seem that being a taker will benefit you, even if doesn’t help others. But what about the bigger, long-term picture? What about love, ...
Why Did a Spiritual God Create a Material World
May 24, 2023 22:16 - 36 minutes - 50.2 MBLet's talk about spirituality. It's pretty much a given today that beneath the material surface of existence lies layers and layers of energy. What we experience with our senses -- sight, sound, taste, touch and smell -- is only the tip of the iceberg. Whether you call it energy, or spirit, or the inner workings, or the dna or the microscopic quantum state - there is a deeper dimension to our world that remains hidden to the physical eye. We will define it as spiritual energy. But what is ...
Are Women Inferior to Men in the Bible
May 24, 2023 15:30 - 30 minutes - 42 MBAre women inferior to men? Were they created as an afterthought, a secondary human being, designed to live in the shadow of men? The common perception is that in earlier history, in primitive times, that was indeed the attitude – that men were the center of the universe and women were simply their accessories. Hence, totally inferior. And even more specifically, if you ask anyone about the biblical and religious views of male vs. female, the response is that male hierarchy controlled the wo...
How to Cope with Mental Health Challenges
May 11, 2023 14:21 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MBMental health is a critical component in every aspect of our lives. It affects how we think, how we feel, our moods, our behavior and our actions. It impacts how we will deal with stress, our relationships, the choices we make, and so much more. Therefore, to lead a functional, productive and meaningful life, it is absolutely vital that our mental state be healthy. But what exactly is a mental state? What does our psyche look like? And what constitutes a healthy psyche, and how do we build...
Inclusivity. Am I My Label
May 04, 2023 00:54 - 36 minutes - 50.8 MBWe live in a world where we are constantly categorizing and labeling all our experiences, our products and our entities. We do this in our personal lives; organizing our kitchen cabinets and closets and orchestrating our family's activities. And we do this in our professional lives; creating a filing system and a structured work environment and schedule. The human mind is a master at quantifying, classifying, sorting and organizing information. Modern technology has only accelerated the proc...
What the Bible Says About Mind Altering Substances
May 01, 2023 13:57 - 47 minutes - 65.3 MBThere has been a recent explosion of the use of mind altering substances - specifically psychedelics; DMT, psilocybin, ayahuasca, mescaline, ketamine, and other forms of experiences that people are attributing to helping them heal and reach deeper spiritual states and expanded consciousness. Some are suggesting that certain psychoactive substances have immense therapeutic potential, especially when it comes to tackling serious, hard-to-manage mental health issues such as post-traumatic stres...