Government

Join Rabbi Simon Jacobson and education historian Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman for a critical and fascinating discussion dissecting censorship and freedom of speech.

Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this timely and relevant post-election talk and learn how to look at the unknowns of our lives with a new bird’s eye view perspective. Discover how to use disruption and unpredictability as a springboard to forge a visionary path into the future.

Election 2020: Will Anyone Win?

When following current events many of us feel defiled and violated. It’s tempting to ask: If others want to fight “bloody” battles, why do we need to be part of this spectacle? What true difference will the outcome have on our personal lives? What long-term collateral damage will all this acrimony create?

What Should We Be Looking for in a Leader?

After witnessing so much deceit and such frequent abuse of power, many people have stopped trusting their leaders. We have begun to question, do we really need leaders? And what should we expect from our leaders?

What Role does Government Play in Our Spiritual Lives?

What is the role of government? Is it merely to legislate laws and serve as a referee to maintain the peace and coexistence of its peoples? Or does government have a deeper and more spiritual responsibility?

How to Disagree Without Hate

Join Rabbi Jacobson as he addresses this critically important subject, one that is affecting us all. Learn what each of us can do to become part of the solution, to help create harmony within diversity — respecting the dignity of each individual, finding deeper truths in our differences, without annihilating one another.

How to Have Civil Disagreements During Tense Times

Podcasts •Video •MLC TV • 0 Comments

Join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for an inspiring discussion on the trying times we’re going through and strategies for dealing with disagreements. There are better ways to have civil discussions rather than argue.

Elephants and Donkeys: Where Are the Humans?

Video •MLC TV • 2 Comments

Join Rabbi Simon Jacobson in this eye-opening talk, as he finds insights and direction from a most surprising place: the very origins of the political parties association with the donkey (Democrats) and elephant (Republicans).

What Will the New Normal Look Like? Reclaiming Yourself

Discover how revisiting preconceived notions opens up surprisingly new perspectives and deeper truths. The upending of our previously-held givens in these times of crisis allows you to see the bigger picture, and recognize a far more expansive “normal” — and reclaim yourself in the process.

Where Are Our Leaders?

Video •MLC TV • 1 Comment

A true leader provides a higher purpose to life and its challenges. While addressing the immediate crisis and mobilizing the best and most efficient possible teams to handle the challenges on the ground, a real leader offers the people a long-term vision, a strong and resolute voice, resonating with moral and spiritual clarity.

Does Government Have a Spiritual Responsibility?

Learn how we are not victims and products of our governments; quite the contrary: we have the ability to shape government. Come away with a new confidence and appreciation of the power we have to create a better world.

The Politics of Sexuality

After all that has been said and written about the Senate’s confirmation proceedings, discover, in this refreshing and groundbreaking talk, a new perspective that will shed light on the core issues and its relevance to our lives.

The Founding Fathers: All People Are Created Equal

Rabbi Simon Jacobson discusses the American Constitution in the context of idol worship, materialism, and religious freedom.

The Stunning Election of President Trump: What Does it Mean?

Video •MLC TV • 29 Comments

Please join Rabbi Jacobson in this extraordinary presentation about this unprecedented election, as he places it in historical context of events that are shaking up the world today.

Back to the USSR: Dispatch from Moscow

How does Russian history affect our Jewish lives today?

What is a True Leader?

Shorts • 13 Comments

What is a true leader? Rabbi Simon Jacobson explains in this excerpt from his best-selling book, “Toward a Meaningful Life”.

Bamidbar/Shavuot: After 3336 Years How Far Are We From Sinai?

Weekly Op-Ed • 6 Comments

Israel is under attack, yet again. As we stand in proximity of Shavuot, when we relive the revelation at Sinai, this may be the best time to demand accountability of the Arab/Muslim world for their actions, and to call the rest of the world to demand a response.

Trust and Self-Interest

Weekly Op-Ed • 16 Comments

Perhaps our current economic meltdown is an unprecedented opportunity to give us all pause to think about the meaning of trust. And to learn the most vital lesson of all: The foundation of all trust is trust in G-d.

Finding a True Leader

Weekly Op-Ed • 5 Comments

Rabbi Simon Jacobson discusses Gimmel Tammuz, the yartzheit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in light of Parshat Korach.

What Leadership Is (And Is Not)

Shorts •Essays •List • 4 Comments

By discovering what a leader is not, we can come to understand what a leader is. What leadership is…

Are You Unique?

Weekly Op-Ed • 9 Comments

Become a giver, instead of a taker, and you will find the courage to be yourself, to finally allow your unique voice to play its own music.

Righteous and Just

Weekly Op-Ed • 8 Comments

Abraham’s mandate is as important today as ever. And his persistence teaches us the power of one individual’s choice, how much it can accomplish.

Behold

Weekly Op-Ed • 3 Comments

This week you are given the power to become a visionary. The first step is to believe in yourself and in your soul’s capacity. The second step is to work on it – to establish regimens in your daily schedule that allow your visionary soul to emerge, to allow it to rear its head and breathe…

Ukraine in Crisis: J’Accuse…!

Weekly Op-Ed •March 3rd, 2022• 2 Comments

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an unprovoked and baseless attack. For over a week now, Ukraine is being mercilessly bombed, innocent civilians killed, millions more stranded and fleeing in fear of their lives. A country and its people are being torn apart. Where are our leaders? Where is the outrage? Where is the Zola of our times? What has become of “never again”?

Money and Spirituality (Part 1/5)

Weekly Op-Ed • 4 Comments

Part I of a discussion on money and spirituality including a look at different economic systems.

What Is Going On at Capitol Hill?

Weekly Op-Ed • 3 Comments

Since its founding in 1776, the timeless and noble foundation of the United States of America is the principle of E Pluribus Unum, from the many, one.

Light and Truth: Jewish Influence on the Birth of American Democracy

Podcasts • 0 Comments

Rabbi Simon Jacobson as a guest on Equal Footing with Dov Tzuman, discussing the influence of Judaism on the Founding Fathers and the birth of American democracy, together with Dr. Bruce Powell.

An Open Letter to President Elect Donald J. Trump

Weekly Op-Ed •November 17th, 2016• 40 Comments

Mr. President-elect: You face a once-in-history opportunity to lead this country, and by extension, the entire world, to a new world order of global peace and prosperity.

The Times They Are a Changin’

Weekly Op-Ed •November 10th, 2016• 16 Comments

How we react to shocking events tells us volumes about our characters and how trapped we are by our comfort zones and conventional wisdom.

Future of the World

Essays • 5 Comments

This week’s Torah portion deals with the theme of war. Here we take a look at two visions on the war against Israel.

Joseph & Marx – Work & Alienation

Weekly Op-Ed • 2 Comments

Joseph possessed the unique power to integrate spirit and matter in an imperfect world where materialism dominates. Let us learn how this can be achieved.

Chanukah: An American Holiday

Essays •Transcripts/Sources • 0 Comments

Both the American Revolution and Chanukah’s message of freedom and transcendence is as relevant today as it was two millenniums and two centuries ago.

Vayigash: 2006

As we conclude the calendar year – my 50^th on earth – it’s an appropriate time to examine the past year’s events, and attempt to place them in perspective.

Why Do We Need a Leader?

Essays • 1 Comment

Why do we need a leader? The so-called ‘leaders’ around us – political, business, sports, entertainment – are essentially at best nothing more that good administrators, or people driven by aggressive ambition that allowed them to climb the leadership ladder. I am not even addressing the rampant corruption surrounding leaders that we are all aware and reminded of continuously.

Vayelech: A Year In Perspective

As we enter the new year, this essay reflects on the past year, the lessons learned, challenges encountered and meaning made…

The Rebbe on the Six-Day War

Transcripts/Sources • 0 Comments

Three times in our generation G-d granted us an opportunity for the beginning of the Redemption but they were missed & it is the Jewish leadership to blame.

Vayeitzei: Balance

The Torah chapters from the beginning of Genesis outline the story of our life’s mission and from here we can learn much about ourselves…

Toldot: Mixing G-d and Politics

A response to the thousands of emails written about the previous essay which discussed the notions of “conservative” and “liberal” belief in America…

Korach: Why Do We Need Leaders?

Essays • 1 Comment

‘Why do we need a leader’ is the precise theme of this week’s Torah portion. Korach challenges Moses to an important question about the need for leaders.

The Wilderness & the Torah

Teaching from the Alter Rebbe which highlight the significance of receiving the Torah in the desert and how this is a lesson for our daily lives..

Passover: Our Calling

Questions & Answers • 1 Comment

Rabbi Jacobson responds to a challenging letter which poses the question: How do we respond to the ‘clash of civilizations’ in the Middle East today?

Ki Teitzei: I Am To My Beloved and My Beloved Is To Me

In the last few centuries different approaches developed to find some way to relieve the tension between faith and modernity. This essay considers this idea

On the Essence of Leadership

Essays • 3 Comments

As Moses leads the Song of the Sea after the Jews escape the Egyptians, he demonstrates true leadership, for within Moses the soul of Israel was one.

Ki Tovo: Tremors

As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah we reflect on what the world has been and imagine into what the new century may challenge us with…

Ki Teitzei: United Or Ununited States ?

Vital life issues about the nature of the universe and our place in it are answered in the opening verse in this week’s Torah portion…

Shoftim: Katrina And Gaza

Questions & Answers • 0 Comments

Rabbi Jacobson’s answer to a question about the link between the Israeli evacuation from Gaza with the catastrophic devastation of by Hurricane Katrina.

Olympic Thoughts

Essays • 1 Comment

Sports are all consuming in today’s society, but what can we learn from this about reality and illusion?

Veatchanan: A New Religion

This week’s Torah chapter opens up with Moses’ begging G-d to allow him into the Promised Land. This article explores the personality of the first zionist..

Numbers

In the Torah portion Pinchas, Moses was instructed to take a census of the Jewish people in the desert. Counting numbers is easy, counting souls not so much

Chukat: The Salute

Weekly Op-Ed •June 25th, 2015• 1 Comment

In Parshat Chukat Moses strikes the rock instead of speaking to it. Even today our modern customs &symbols have military undertones. So what does this mean?

Awareness of Imperfection; Insufficient Recognition of Sacred Studies

Transcripts/Sources •Level: Advanced • 0 Comments

The Soul of a Conflict