Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

As we welcome the New Year, one of the most pressing questions -- and modern-day dilemmas -- is: how can we sustain our New Year’s resolutions? Whether it’s losing weight, launching a new project, mending a relationship, or breaking a habit, the resolutions we make often struggle to last beyond a week—sometimes even a day. This year, the New Year aligns with the final day of Chanukah, when we light all eight candles of the menorah. Indeed, Chanukah offers us profound insight into this challenge: how do we maintain inspiration? Like a maintenance contract often costing more than the initial service, sustaining our commitments can feel far more difficult than starting them. So, let’s delve into this timely and relevant discussion. What does Chanukah teach us about carrying the light forward—not just tonight, but every day? How can the enduring message of Chanukah’s flames guide us in illuminating our lives with purpose and resolve in the year ahead?

With the recent, bloodless fall of the oppressive Assad regime in Syria and the arrival of the holiday of Chanukah, it's impossible to overlook the striking parallels between events of millennia ago in Syria and those unfolding today. These connections offer profound lessons for our personal lives and the world at large.What did Syria symbolize in the time of the Maccabees, and what does it represent now? What can we learn from their defeat then, and their downfall today? And most importantly, what comes next?As with all things in life, the macrocosm reflects the microcosm. Global events mirror the inner struggles and triumphs we each experience. In this special Chanukah edition, we’ll explore the historical and spiritual dimensions of Syria’s story—then and now—and uncover its guidance for shaping a brighter future in the Middle East and beyond.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this discussion as we delve into the timeless lessons of Chanukah and the enduring relevance of its flames.

At the end of one of my classes, a cardiologist approached me—a gentle soul burdened by a life of profound challenges—and asked me, Rabbi Jacobson, can you help me? Can you pray for me to find some calm, some peace in my life?”Being a cardiologist, and with a good sense of humor, I replied, Do you mean... a flatline? He chuckled and said noo, no, not that calm, not that peaceful.I smiled. “Ah, you mean a wave—a steady, rhythmic cardiogram. Not the extreme peaks or plunging valleys, but a balanced wave of life.” He nodded, understanding. After all, we all know the alternative: a flatline signals no life at all.And yet, isn’t that the struggle for so many of us? The anxiety, the disruptions, the relentless upheavals. The big question we all have: Is it even possible to find calm in the storm of life? Or perhaps going even  deeper, why does life have to be so turbulent in the first place?But what if there is a way? A path to discover balance. To ride the wave without being consumed by its extremes.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for a profound and vital discussion on chasing calm—exploring why peace so often eludes us and how we can reclaim it in our lives. This is more than a conversation; it’s a journey to find the harmony we all yearn for.

The recent overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria raises profound and urgent questions: Where are we headed? What lies ahead for Syria, the region, and the world? The ripple effects are undeniable—Syria, once a cornerstone of Iran's axis of power, joins a wave of global upheaval. The Middle East burns with confrontations: Israel faces its enemies, Iran and its proxies loom. Tremors extend far beyond—to South Korea, Ukraine, Europe, and beyond. But the real question transcends the headlines: What does the future hold? Are these events isolated crises, or do they reveal the contours of a much larger, unfolding narrative? To glimpse the road ahead, we must look back. History—our greatest teacher—offers clarity and perspective. By tracing the roots of today’s conflicts to their biblical origins, we uncover profound truths about the forces shaping our world and, more importantly, our role in this unfolding drama. At the heart of this timeless struggle lies a battle as old as history itself: Jacob and Esau—a clash for the destiny of humanity. What lessons do their lives hold for us today? What guidance can their journey offer as we navigate this pivotal moment? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this critical conversation as we explore the forces at play, the deeper meaning of these seismic events, and the role each of us must play in shaping the future. Together, let us illuminate the path forward in this great drama of existence.