From the desk of Rabbi Simon Jacobson, director of the Meaningful Life Center: With the war in Israel and Gaza escalating and anti-Semitism rearing its ugly head, we are reminded in this week’s Torah portion of events that shaped our civilized world, helping us reclaim our human mandate, and wage war against those forces that wish to defile the dignity of our sacred lives, and destroy the fabric of our society and the values we cherish • Full Article

Many tears indeed can be shed for our children whose lives are prematurely “hijacked” by the demons of abuse and drugs… bright futures suddenly aborted, robbed of their possibilities, their psyches injured. It’s one thing when an elder person, who has endured losses and pain, gets jaded. But, when children – innocent young men and women – fall hostage to despair, there are few sadder sights • Full Article

From the desk of Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Director of the Meaningful Life Center: Dear Rabbi, Beyond the addictive, destructive and unhealthy effects of substance abuse, is there any thing wrong with achieving a high through foreign substances? In other words: if drugs and alcohol would not have any adverse effects would the Torah have a problem with their use to reach a spiritual high? • Full Article

From the desk of Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Director of the Meaningful Life Center: A manufacturing question: What do you create first – the package or the product? In today’s commercial world it often appears that wrappers are so vital that they are designed before thinking what they contain inside • Full Article