Meaningful Life Skills with Rabbi Simon Jacobson

I speak to you with a heavy heart in the aftermath of the cold-blooded and brutal murders of our brothers and sisters—colleagues, friends, families—on the first night of Chanukah at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. We are all shaken, shocked, and devastated by the sheer evil inflicted upon innocent men, women, and children.Our hearts ache for the sacred souls taken from us, and for the shattered families left behind. We offer our deepest prayers for the wounded to experience a complete and speedy healing.Yet beyond the pain, an agonizing question confronts us. How could such darkness erupt on the Festival of Lights—at the very moment when we celebrate the triumph of light over darkness? At that moment, it seemed as though darkness had prevailed.We find ourselves at the threshold of a new year, a season when we seek meaning, love, and hope amid the many challenges of our lives. And now we are compelled to ask: How do we look directly into the face of such evil and not turn away? How do we emerge stronger, more resilient, and more deeply defined by our values than ever before?This is a challenge we face in every generation, but it becomes especially urgent in the wake of such senseless tragedy.I invite you to join me as we explore how to carry the light forward—how to cross into the new year with purpose, courage, and moral clarity, and how to discover a deeper, more enduring light even within the abyss of pain and loss.

I speak to you with a heavy heart in the aftermath of the cold-blooded and brutal murders of our brothers and sisters—colleagues, friends, families—on the first night of Chanukah at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. We are all shaken, shocked, and devastated by the sheer evil inflicted upon innocent men, women, and children.

If you had an X-ray of your soul, what would it reveal?Today’s technology can map every contour of the body; X-rays, CAT scans, endless diagnostics that expose the inner mechanics of our biology. But when it comes to the psyche — to the soul, the seat of your identity and the engine of your entire life — where is that scan? The body is but the vehicle; the soul is the driver. So what does a healthy soul look like?Just as a physical X-ray shows strengths, weaknesses, and areas needing adjustment, imagine having the same clarity about your inner world. Without a picture and a blueprint how do we grow? How do we heal? How do we navigate pain, anxiety, or the challenges that life inevitably delivers?This is the central question of all emotional and spiritual work: Do our therapists, doctors, and coaches possess a true map of the human spirit or are we all stumbling in the dark, guided only by intuition and experience?Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we explore a deeper truth: that there is a divine blueprint, an X-ray of the soul — a map that allows us to decode the psyche and realign heart, mind, and spirit.

Is who you are defined by what you do? Is your self-worth measured by your net worth? These questions strike at the very heartbeat of life — at what truly drives us.Are we physical beings who occasionally embark on a spiritual journey, or spiritual beings navigating a physical world?Much of our lives is consumed with survival; eating, sleeping, working, shopping, socializing. Yet what of our higher needs? Our dreams, our aspirations, the search for meaning, the purpose of our existence? It is all too easy to get lost in the means and forget the end.From our earliest years, society, education, and even our families train us to perform, to achieve, to excel but rarely to reflect on why. Why do we strive? Why do we labor? What is the purpose behind our efforts?Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this vital conversation and together, we will explore how our everyday actions — our work, ambitions, and relationships — can be transformed into vessels of transcendence and higher purpose. We will uncover how to align the material and the spiritual, so that everything we do resonates with the eternal within us. This is a conversation about reclaiming meaning, living not merely for achievement or comfort, but for a life that reflects the deepest truths of our being, and awakening to the profound potential of every moment.

How much do our family dynamics shape our lives?Today we recognize more than ever that from our earliest, most impressionable years, the attitudes and environment of our homes—whether positive or negative—leave a deep imprint on our psyches. Picture a warm ball of wax: every experience, every word, every gesture becomes etched into it as it cools and hardens, accompanying us into adulthood.Our childhood traumas…Our moments of beauty…The nurturing we received, and the nurturing we didn’t…The functionality—and the dysfunctionality—of our homes…All of these weave themselves into the fabric of our lives in profound ways.As we approach Thanksgiving—a time when many gather with family—it’s worth pausing to reflect. Family can be a source of immense warmth, connection, and joy. But it can also stir discomfort, tension, and old wounds.So let’s explore this together. Let’s dig deeper into what family really means, how these dynamics shape us, and what we can do to navigate them with greater awareness and healing.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for this important conversation: When Family Hurts: The Hidden Emotions Around the Family Table.