In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast, Rabbi Jacobson argues that to understand why the conflict keeps resurfacing, we have to look beyond headlines and negotiations—and go back to the spiritual roots: the tension that begins in the house of Abraham, the competing archetypes of love and discipline, and the Torah’s insistence on a third force: balance—the integration that creates real harmony.

David and Levi explore:

• Why this conflict can’t be understood as “just politics” or “just land”
• The Torah framework of Chesed (love), Gevurah (discipline), and Tiferet (harmony)
• Rabbi Jacobson’s short-term clarity: protecting innocent life is non-negotiable
• The long-term vision: transforming religious passion into humility, education, and peace
• The personal takeaway: the microcosm/macrocosm idea—how inner balance creates outward ripple effects
• The “Spiritual Spa” practice Rabbi Jacobson gives: study, prayer, and action as a daily formula for harmony

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, confused, or helpless watching what happens in Israel, this conversation reframes the question from “What’s happening out there?” to “What can I strengthen in here—and how can that create real impact?”

🎥 Watch the full class here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7eiJRCJsuk

📌 Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and join us as we keep moving—toward a meaningful life.

In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast, hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein explore powerful insights from a Rabbi Simon Jacobson class examining how radically different narratives can exist around the same reality — and what Torah perspective contributes to understanding identity, history, and purpose.

Drawing from timeless Jewish wisdom, they unpack the contrast between material and spiritual frameworks for interpreting events and discuss how perspective shapes not only global discourse but also personal growth, resilience, and meaning in everyday life.

Rabbi Simon Jacobson is a renowned educator and founder of The Meaningful Life Center, known for presenting Torah teachings as a practical blueprint for navigating the human experience and bridging the secular and spiritual worlds.

🎥 Watch Rabbi Jacobson’s full class here:

Watch the Full Episode

(Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iglMnx5ExVI)

Why is it so hard to change—even when we want to grow?

In this episode of Toward a Meaningful Life Podcast, hosts David Cohen and Levi Goldstein unpack a powerful class by Rabbi Simon Jacobson on comfort zones, growth, and the invisible force that keeps us stuck: inertia.

We explore why comfort feels nurturing yet quietly blocks transformation, why willpower alone rarely leads to lasting change, and how the human soul is wired not just for survival—but for transcendence. Drawing on vivid metaphors, Torah wisdom, and deeply relatable examples, this conversation reframes discomfort as an act of love toward ourselves and others.

This episode isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about awakening the deeper, restless part of you that didn’t come into this world to stay comfortable—but to live meaningfully.

👉 Watch the full class by Rabbi Simon Jacobson here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V_Q4l61nmc

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s been circling the same patterns—and subscribe for more conversations that help us journey toward a meaningful life.