Meaningful Life Skills: Weekly Global Class

It's one thing to get inspired at an auspicious moment (a birthday, a milestone); it's quite another to maintain that motivation once we reenter the grind of our daily routines. How can we lift up and improve our day to day lives?   Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this potentially life-changing discussion how to transform your "ordinary" day into an extraordinary one and turn your usual life into an unusual one. Discover ways to eliminate monotony and inertia of your quotidian existence and live a life brimming with vitality, enthusiasm and passion. 

How many faces do you have? Perhaps a better word for it is "masks" -- how many masks do you wear? The face/mask you show your co-workers, the face/mask you show your friends, the face/mask you show your family, the face/mask you show strangers, the face/mask you show to people you trust, and the one you show to people you fear -- and in each one of these groups you have likely a different face/mask you show to each respective individual. Bottom line: We have of variety of many different faces/masks we wear, for different people and different occasions. But what are you like without any mask? If you were to "kick off your shoes" and remove all your filters and buffers, all your defense mechanisms and armor, what would you look like? Is there anyone you feel comfortable to be so vulnerable with? With all the preforming we need to do in our lives, to satisfy and meet people's expectations and demands, do we even know who we truly are beneath the surface? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he tackles this vital y

 Can you be happy without money? Does money guarantee happiness? Can you have money and be miserable? The power money wields over us is undeniable. It deeply impacts and exerts its influence on virtually every aspect of our lives. What does this power teach us about ourselves? We all need money to live, but is our dependency on money simply about necessity, or is it deeper than that -- emotionally and psychologically? Your relationship with money can illuminate so much about who you are and where you stand in life. Is your net self worth defined by your net worth? We all want to be valued. How much of your worthiness is determined by the value of your inner self and how much is determined by externals?  What does money tell you about your self-confidence? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this insightful talk on our often bizarre connection with money and how it profoundly reflects our personalities and priorities. Despite the fact that no one has ever figured out how to take their money with them to

 If life's tool chest -- the skills we need to cope and thrive -- could be distilled into three essential elements, what would they be? We all want success. But what does it take to achieve that? And what even defines a successful life? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he takes on this challenge and presents three vital life skills necessary to succeed and actualize your potential. Discover three key tools that will help you maximize your strengths, fulfill your aspirations and dreams. and enhance -- and even transform -- your life and your relationships.  

 This week a a rare celestial occurrence took place: A supermoon (when the moon is at its closest point of orbit to Earth, making it appear about 14% larger) coincided with a total lunar eclipse. Some call it a “super blood wolf moon,” due to the reddish tint the moon takes on when fully eclipsed. The eclipse was visible across the entire U.S. for 62 minutes on Sunday night, as well as South America and parts of Europe and Africa. This combination happens roughly 20 times in a century. What lessons can we glean from this cosmic event? The mystics teach that we are each a microcosm of the moon, and the moon's movements and cycles are reflected in our personal lives. What does this unique supermoon eclipse teach us about ourselves and our experiences and relationships? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he deciphers the personal, psychological and spiritual significance of the eclipse, and how it reveals the deeper meaning and the mysterious power contained in the "eclipses" in o

Do you have any idea how much power and potential you carry within you? How much strength you have in your "engine room"?  Are you shortchanging yourself by not living up to your enormous capabilities? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this intriguing discussion and discover fascinating insights into what makes you tick "under your dashboard." Learn how to access your inner angels and inner mystic, transforming the way you experience every aspect of life: To look at life inside out instead of outside in, and unleash a plethora of energy which has been trapped inside of you. 

 Do we have past lives? Were you here before? Do past life experiences impact your current life and personality? Why do some of us have a déjà vu experience when encountering certain people or places? Why do some children appear to be an "old soul" in a new body? is there a way to become more aware of a past life? Where does your soul come from upon birth and where does it go to after death? Does the soul journey on? The questions go on in our never-ending curiosity about the exotic and unknown, and our quest for understanding what inner secrets lie beneath the surface of our life journey. Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he delves into the mystical mysteries of the soul's journey in this life and in previous lives. Learn the basic "science" of reincarnation -- its fundamental principles and its application to our lives today. 

 To "build the life you want" sounds simple. Who, after all, doesn't want to create a desirable life? But it's not simple at all. First of all, how do you even determine what it is that you "want"? And how do you know that what you want is really good for you and achievable? Even once you define a healthy life goal, how do you actually build such a life? What tools are necessary and how do you keep focused and not distracted by the pressures and demands on you? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he addresses, in his unique style, practical ways to identify what you truly want out of your life, and methods how to implement your wishes. Learn to avoid the most common mistakes people make when looking to build a life they want, and what new approaches you can take to living up to your great potential and possibilities. 

Can you be happy if your body is in perfect shape but your soul is not? Most us of us are familiar with at least the basic necessities of physical health -- how to maintain the hygiene of a fit and healthy body through nutrition, exercise and rest. But do we know how to achieve spiritual health -- how to nourish and condition the soul? Do we understand the importance of having a healthy soul and its impact on our well-being? Are we aware of the far-reaching effects of a deprived soul? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explains how a dynamic soul is critical in life. Learn the key factors that determine spiritual wellness. Discover the different components and dimensions of your soul, and how each requires its respective "nutrients." Taking control of your life begins with taking control of -- and energizing -- your spirit.

It may sound cliche, but one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is: "Who am I?" If that seems too simplistic, let's rephrase the question: Can you distinguish between what you do and who you truly are (when most people are asked who they are, they present their business card...)? Can you tell the difference between the attitudes and forces -- parental, cultural and social -- that have shaped you and your true personality? The fact is that many of us don't really know what our real personality is like. Some may even be unaware of the fact that each one of us is born with an exclusive personality. And that your individuality may have been obfuscated by the many pressures and expectations that adults in your formative years projected upon you. When an impressionable and vulnerable child is not validated, nurtured and loved -- and instead, is judged and criticized and made to believe that he or she has no value, and the only thing that has value is their parents opinion -- is it a wonder that w

The "dark side" sounds very foreboding. While most people have not actually fallen prey to dark forces which control their lives, each of us has our darker side -- that ugly part of our lives which we prefer to keep buried like skeletons in our "closets." Is there then any value in speaking about these shadows, which we are loath to expose? The only purpose in doing so is not to simply dwell on the negative and the unpleasant, but to help us learn how to return from the dark side - whatever form it takes -- and build a life of light and warmth. Can we indeed free ourselves from the darker forces in our lives? Can one who has fallen hostage to the dark side come back and create a healthy life? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he addresses, in his unique way, a topic rarely discussed: How to deal with the dark side? Whether it is the darker secrets we each harbor, or the demonic darkness of addiction or cults and other powers that control us -- this illuminating class will help you dissect the abyss and come away

Fire is one of those things you can't live with and you can't live without. Get too close to fire or if the fire gets too large and close to you, it can wreak terrible devastation, consuming everything in its path (witness the recent wild California fires). On the other hand, life could not exist without the warmth and light of fire. What is fire and what role does it play in our lives? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this special Chanukah program as he dissects the anatomy and soul of fire. Discover how a flame reflects the human soul. By studying and "listening" to the the inner "personality" and "psyche" of the flames we learn fascinating facts about ourselves, providing invaluable lessons how to build -- and grow -- healthy lives and relationships.

What possible good can there about feeling inferior?! A negative self attitude is the root of so many human problems. Feelings of inadequacy and insecurity undermine our confidence, they demoralize us and compromise virtually every aspect of our lives. So how can there be anything positive in that? Don't we all need a healthy sense of self? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores the role of ego and humility in our lives, and digs into the very root of the "self." Should we be ego-less or is it important to have an ego? How do we assure that ego doesn't turn into arrogance? How do we balance ego and humility? Discover a new take on the self. Learn the secret of true value -- that in order to be a true "somebody" you first need to be a true "nobody."

Control. We all would like to have or take control over our lives? But how much do we actually control? How often do we invest in changing things we have no power over, while neglecting that which we have power over? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he addresses this important issue and learn methods how to determine and distinguish between the things you can change and those you can't. How to focus your energies and time on matters you have control over, and not waste precious strength on that which you cannot control. Imagine the peace of mind and heart you would have if you could know which areas you should be fighting for and which not?

Much has been said about our fear of failure. Indeed, fear is usually associated with concern over defeat and loss. But how about fear of success? Do we undermine our very own interests because we are afraid of what success may bring? Why would anyone even do such a thing? Perhaps this illuminates the deeper roots of fear -- not the fear of failure or the fear of success, but the fear of change... Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores and dissects the anatomy of fear and courage, and learn about the forces that make you tick. Discover the causes that hold you back from reaching your greatest potential, and develop tools to overcome your resistance and achieve your dreams and aspirations -- to become the best you can be.

"Kabbalah of Tattoos" -- say what?! What in the world can the Kabbalah possibly say about tattoos?! What mystical significance can tattoos possibly have, particularly considering that tattoos are explicitly prohibited in the Torah (“You shall not etch a tattoo on yourselves")?! Please join Rabbi Jacobson and discover some surprising and illuminating insights into the nature of tattoos and their psycho-spiritual impact on our bodies and souls. Learn how tattoos of all types -- literal and physical ones, as well as emotional wounds and scars -- affect our lives, and how we can transcend them in our quest for living meaningful and mission-driven lives.

We are all mortified by the brutal murders of the eleven innocent Jews killed last Saturday in Pittsburgh. During morning services a Jew hating gunman stormed the Tree of Life Synagogue and opened fire on worshipers, yelling "kill all the Jews." This horrific massacre, considered the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, has left the community and the entire nation reeling. But beyond shock and grief, how are we to respond to such unspeakable tragedy? What can we do about such hate? Is there a way to fight anti-Semitism? Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this somber but candid talk discussing the healthy response to violent acts of hatred. By entering the "heart of darkness' and dissecting the very root of evil, discover how to uproot and transform its negative force into positive energy and how to channel our grief into a powerful, inspiring way to strengthen ourselves and our communities.

Morality lies at the heart of every healthy society. Without mutual ethical values checking raw self-interest and different viewpoints, any group of individuals would tear itself apart. But what/who defines our moral standards? If we are left to our own subjective devices to determine right from wrong, how can we find common ground and respect? Even if we can achieve a consensus and build a constitution of laws to govern our communities and nations, what happens with all the areas that cannot be legislated and enforced, like decisions we make in the privacy of our homes and families -- how do we decide what is virtue and what is vice? Please join Rabbi Jacobson as he explores this important topic, which impacts every aspect of our lives. Is morality wired or acquired? Is it inherent in our DNA, or is it something we are taught? How do we identify values that transcend and unite us all? Discover the answers to these and other critical questions, as you learn some surprising insights into the very nature of ou

You can't live with it; you can't live without it. If ever this expression applies it certainly applies to the ego. Without an ego we lose our personality and self-confidence, not to mention our natural instinct for self-preservation. Too great of an ego can hurt us and others. But how much of an ego is healthy? And above all: How big is your ego? Are you able to answer that question when your ego blinds you from seeing yourself objectively? Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this fascinating analysis of the ego, its role in our lives, and its benefits and liabilities. Discover methods to gauge and monitor your own ego, and to control and harness it toward productive ends. Learn the one secret that can redirect a large and unhealthy ego into a force of extraordinary change.

Glaringly missing from all the controversy and debate raging around now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s contentious confirmation hearings is the underlying issue that lays at the heart of the matter: Sexuality. Or in legal terms: Roe vs. Wade - the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that established a woman's constitutional legal right to an abortion. In a twist of irony, the last-minute bombshell accusation that almost torpedoed Kavanaugh’s nomination was also about sexuality: his alleged sexual attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Beyond the story of extreme partisan politics, beyond the story of the Trump Presidency and age of disruption, beyond every imaginable angle covered by every media outlet, the true inside story – the root of the issue at hand, beyond all the symptoms – is our attitudes toward sexuality and relationships. We live in times where sexuality has become divorced of intimacy and commitment. It is looked at as a personal right to pleasure and leisure, not as a personal and