Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Should the United States and Israel have launched a war against Iran? It’s a question many people are asking. It has stirred intense debate, controversy, and even wild conspiracy theories. But let’s step back and try to address this in a sober, rational, and thoughtful way—without politics, without propaganda and slogans, and without the noise that so often clouds our judgment.
Perhaps the real question begins even earlier. Before we ask whether this particular war is justified, we must ask a more fundamental question: What is the case for war at all? War is bloody, painful, and tragic. There is nothing desirable about it. No one truly wants war. No one dreams of sending their sons and daughters to fight on a battlefield. So why do wars exist in the first place? And is any war ever legitimate?
There are those, like Mahatma Gandhi, who argued that war is never justified—even when one is attacked. According to that view, violence should never be met with violence. But history forces us to confront a difficult moral dilemma: if aggression threatens innocent lives, is it always moral to stand down? Or are there circumstances where defending life may require force?
So before we rush to conclusions, we need to establish a framework. What are the criteria that make a war morally justified? What principles should guide such a decision? Once we have that clarity, we can then apply those standards to our current situation. Doing so allows us to cut through the rhetoric, the pundits, the disinformation, and the distortions that dominate public discourse.
Only then can we ask the real question: Do operations like Epic Fury and Roaring Lion stand on solid moral ground? Because history teaches us something very important—clarity of purpose is essential. When a nation lacks that clarity, it loses direction. Vietnam is a powerful example of a conflict where the absence of a clear moral and strategic framework led to confusion and ultimately failure.

But when there is moral clarity, it creates focus, unity, and purpose. And that is why the first step is not choosing sides, but understanding the principles.
Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson to explore together the deeper question: What is the true case for war—and does it apply here?

It is uncannily providential that the events unfolding right now in Iran — ancient Persia — are echoing events that took place nearly 2,400 years ago in that very same region.
And it is all happening as we celebrate Purim and Shushan Purim, a story that centers entirely around Persia.
It was in the days of Achashverosh, as we read in the Book of Esther, a Persian king, who ruled over 127 provinces. His minister named Haman incited him, calling for the genocide and annihilation of every Jew; men, women and children. And then, in a stunning and miraculous reversal, everything turned around. Not only were the Jews saved but they were able to eliminate all the enemies that called for their extinction.
That is the story of Purim.
And here we are today, literally happening now. In the same region. At the same time of year. A regime and leader named Khamenei (so similar to Haman) that for years has called for the annihilation of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. And once again, events are turning. Once again, history is pivoting before our eyes, and the Persian Haman of our times has been eliminated. And we pray — this time once and for all — that we will achieve genuine and lasting peace.
Coincidence? Or Divine choreography?
Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this critically important discussion: Purim and Persia — Then and Now as we explore the parallels, and above all, the lessons. Because when you step back and see the bigger picture of history, you begin to understand the small picture — our personal lives, our challenges — and how they shape the future of our world.

You know the one where the fellow who says, I used to think I’m indecisive… now I’m not so sure.
It makes us smile. But for many, it’s not just a joke.
Do you struggle with making decisions? So many people speak about procrastination, second-guessing, commitment issues — the constant back-and-forth. Bottom line: the inability to be decisive, to come to a decision and move on one way or the other.
At times it’s amusing. At times it’s annoying. And at times, it’s far more serious. How many important life decisions have we pushed off? Delayed? Avoided? Sometimes to our own detriment and even to the detriment of others.
Indecisiveness is not just a personality quirk. It’s something that needs to be addressed and understood. Is it coming from a deeper place within us? Or is it something more superficial; fear of failure, fear of commitment, fear of losing options?

Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we explore the deeper roots of this dilemma, the inability to decide. You may be surprised to discover that the struggle to choose is not just psychological, but also spiritual at its root.

Here’s a million-dollar question: What can you do to become a happier person?
Who wouldn’t invest time, energy, even resources, to find a reliable formula for happiness? Imagine how many problems would dissolve if we simply knew the method.
And yet no one has ever handed us a guaranteed formula. Why?
We live in an age where everything is accessible. Products, programs, promises—pleasure delivered at the click of a button, pain avoided with the right purchase. If we can order bread, medicine, or technology instantly, why can’t we order happiness the same way?
Because we are looking for it in the wrong place.
We treat happiness like a commodity—something to acquire, consume, possess. But happiness is not an object you chase; it is a byproduct of how you live.
Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson to explore the paradox and discover that the people who are truly happy are not obsessed with being happy. They are committed to something beyond themselves—purpose, meaning, service, contribution. The moment happiness becomes the goal, it slips through your fingers. But when you live with intention and dedicate yourself to something larger than your own gratification, joy emerges naturally.
Remember: Happiness cannot be pursued.

Humans are naturally enthralled and seduced by the irresistible allure of the "crystal ball"—the fantasy that we can press a button, consult a guru, or find a magic formula to peek behind the curtain of tomorrow. It’s a tempting illusion, but it is a childish one.
The truth is, the most important and profound dimensions of existence are invisible. Truth, love, soul, purpose, values -- they transcend our five senses; they aren't experienced by sight, sound, taste, touch or smell. They lie beneath the surface, but define everything. Think of a powerful tree -- blossoming from the invisible seeds planted and watered beneath the ground; the healthy adult resulting from the quiet love and nurturing of a child by its parents.
As long as you are searching for a "trick" or a shortcut to see the future, you will never develop the internal tools necessary to build that future. Growth isn't found in a magic button; it’s found in the unseen forces that shape all reality. We don't acquire these indispensable strengths; you can't cause a flower to grow by pulling it out of the earth. When you do what is necessary, the flower emerges in a process that can't be forced.
Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this vital discussion as we explore why the most significant growth in your life is driven by things you cannot see. Discover how to access those hidden powers, and transform how you look at yourself and the world around you -- from the inside out, rather than the outside in.