Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Scholar In Residence

Rabbi Simon Jacobson is the author of the best-selling book Toward a Meaningful Life, a William Morrow publication that has sold over 300,000 copies to date and has been translated into Hebrew, French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, German, Hungarian, Czech and Croatian.

Rabbi Jacobson heads The Meaningful Life Center (www.meaningfullife.com), which bridges the secular and the spiritual, through a wide variety of live and on-line programming. The Center, which has now found its home in Downtown Manhattan, presents to people of all backgrounds, the universal teachings of Torah as a blueprint for life. MLC, called a "Spiritual Starbucks" by the NY Times, is in the process of creating a warm, soulful environment, a "third space" where men and women can commune, read, have a coffee and interact, while also offering dynamic, interactive experiences of living spirituality through a variety of ongoing programs, musical and artistic events, lectures, classes and seminars, as well as a wide array of published learning materials, books, audio and video programs. The Center is an outgrowth of Rabbi Jacobson's popular Wednesday night class that has captured the hearts of thousands of participants over the last 25 years with its spiritual message and profound insights into the human condition.

For over 14 years Rabbi Jacobson, as Editor-in-Chief of VHH, was responsible for publishing the talks of the late Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Beginning in 1979, he headed a team of scholars that memorized and transcribed entire talks that the Rebbe gave during the Sabbath and holidays, as writing and tape recording are not permitted on holy days. In this position, Rabbi Jacobson was privileged to work in close association with the Rebbe and published more than 1000 of the Rebbe's talks. He also headed the research team for Sefer Halikutim - an encyclopedic collection of Chassidic thought (26 volumes, published 1977-1982).

Jacobson is one of the greatest scholars and sought after speakers in the Jewish world today. He has lectured to diverse audiences on six continents and in forty states on psycho-spiritual issues, applying Jewish thought to contemporary life, in a voice that is rooted in the timeless teachings of Torah, yet at the same time profoundly timely and relevant, unique and cutting edge. He has been interviewed on over 300 radio and TV shows, including CNN with Larry King, the Charlie Rose Show, and the CBS News Show, "The Best of Us."

Mrs. Shaindy Jacobson

Jewish Educator

Shaindy Jacobson is the director of JLI’s women’s studies division, The Rosh Chodesh society. Mrs. Jacobson has been involved in the field of Jewish education for over twenty five years, teaching at the Bais Rivkah Teacher’s Seminary and serving as a community liaison and counselor for Operation Survival – a substance abuse prevention program. Shaindy lectures around the world, educating women about their Jewish heritage and its practical application to their daily lives. She is also an accomplished musician and composer and frequently accompanies her lectures with song and music.

Josh Kahane

Lawyer

Josh Kahane is a leading trial lawyer, community builder, and international basketball player and coach, who has spoken to audiences around the globe.

As a lawyer, Josh has litigated cases before the United States Supreme Court and federal and state courts in more than 17 states.  He was the cover and featured attorney in both the Top 100 Attorneys in America and Top 100 People in Real Estate.  Josh has been featured on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC and in Forbes, Fortune, Money, Bloomberg Business Week, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Mishpacha Magazine. 

But Josh’s passion for the law is matched, if not exceeded, by his commitment to Jewish communal causes.  He has served as an executive officer on the board of almost every Jewish not-for profit in his hometown of Memphis, is serving his fifth term on the Board of Overseers for Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and has worked closely with Torah U’Mesorah, Prizma and the Consortium for Jewish Day Schools. In 2015, Josh spearheaded the creation of the Memphis Kollel which currently serves the Memphis Jewish Community with eight chevrai kollel. 

In high school, Josh was widely considered one of the top Jewish high school basketball players in the country.  Because of his commitment to observing Shabbos, he declined opportunities to play collegiately but continued his love of the game by representing the United States on Maccabi USA’s National Team. Josh has competed in Israel (three times), Europe, South America, and Mexico and holds six medals in international competition.  He will be coaching Team USA in the 2025 World Maccabiah Games slated for this summer in Israel.

Josh is a dynamic and moving speaker who combines humor and inspiration on topics ranging from arguing before the Supreme Court, competing for international gold medals, and the critical role Jewish education and community play in a vibrant Jewish future.

Josh and his wife Elana reside with their children in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr. Barbara Pfeffer Billauer

Lawyer, Author, Educator, Science Writer

Barbara Pfeffer Billauer JD, MA, PhD.  is an internationally recognized scholar of law, bioethics, and public health.  She is Research Professor of Scientific Statecraft at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C., holds a Professorship in the International Program of Bioethics at the University of Porto, Portugal, and is a regular contributor of the American Council on Science and Health e-Zine. Dr. Billauer has authored numerous influential publications, including Health Inequity and the Elderly: The Impact of Pandemic Policy, Bioethics, and the Law, along with hundreds of articles published in both the academic and lay press, where her work has been featured in prominent outlets such as Harvard Bill of Health and Real Clear Science.

Dr. Billauer serves on the Board of Editors of the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics and is a member of the Association of Science Writers. She has also created programs in scientific-evidence and bioethics education for judges and edited The International Casebook on Bioethics for Judges.

With advanced degrees in science, law, and Jewish education, Dr. Billauer bridges the worlds of law, medicine, bioethics, and Jewish thought. In addition to her secular work, her passion lies in reconciling Torah teachings and Kabbalistic wisdom with contemporary legal and ethical dilemmas, harmonizing secular knowledge with spiritual insights. Among her most cherished projects, Dr. Billauer leads “The Septuagint Torah-Scholars” a group of distinguished Rabbis, Torah scholars, and academics, who meet regularly to explore the oldest extant version of our Torah, the Septuagint (written by 70 Rabbis circa 250 BCE in Greek), and compare it with the Masoretic text.

Rabbi Yoel Gold

As an ordained Rabbi who is dedicated to serving the Los Angeles community and renowned for his impactful sermons and popular lectures, Rabbi Yoel Gold currently serves as Rabbi of Congregation Beis Naftali. The organization, which comprises Holocaust survivors and modern American professionals, also provides charitable services throughout Southern California to people in need of food, clothing and shelter. In addition, Rabbi Gold is a ninth-grade Rebbe with Mesivta Birkas Yitzchok (MBY), a boys’ yeshiva high school catering to the strictly observant Jewish Community, whose educational emphasis is to produce students steeped in Torah learning and yiras shamayim. Rabbi Gold is also a sought-after motivational speaker throughout Southern California, sharing his love for life and passion for the torah. His contagious inspirational messages have inspired countless audiences, including Jew in the City, Chayenu, such universities as UCLA, Manchester and Leeds, and companies like BCBG Max Azria. He was previously appointed as the fulltime Rav of Aish Manchester in England, and has led a trip to Poland, where Rabbi Gold taught and inspired youth about past generations and orthodox heritage.

Charlene Aminoff

Inspirational Speaker

Charlene Aminoff is the founder & CEO at Gali’s Couture Wigs, public speaker, life-style/emunah influencer, wife and mother of five. Her life took a very drastic turn one day and she has been using her experience to bring others closer to Hashem ever since. For the past few years, she has been the voice of so many people in Klal Yisroel and the powerhouse behind the "nishmat movement".

Rabbi Aaron Kraft

Dayan Kavuah - Chicago Rabbinical Council

Rabbi Aaron Kraft is a Rosh Chaburah of the Yeshiva University Torah MiTzion Kollel and was a member of the Kollel Elyon, the most prestigious Post Semicha program at Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchanan Theological Seminary, RIETS.

Rabbi Yaakov Danishefsky

LCSW

Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky LCSW CSAT is the founder of Mind Body Therapy, a private group practice in Chicago, IL providing a variety of therapeutic services and specializing in treating trauma, sexual addictions, couples counseling, and eating disorders. Yakov is also the producer of Attached, an online podcast platform of guided meditations, Jewish learning, and psychological education. Attached is available on all podcasting platforms. Yakov is a popular speaker, teacher and author. His new book, Attached: Connecting to Our Creator, A Jewish Psychological Approach can be found on Amazon, Mosaica Press, and local Judaic book stores.

Dr. Norman A. Bailey

Speaker

Dr. Norman A. Bailey is Professor of Grand Strategy at the Institute of World Politics, where he teaches via Zoom.  He is a native of Chicago and his degrees are from Oberlin College (AB) and Columbia University (MIA and PhD).  He spent four years in army service in the US, England and France, specializing in strategic intelligence and joint operational planning.  His professional experience includes corporate (Mobil Oil), investment banking and consulting.  He is Professor Emeritus of the City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of Haifa.  He is author, co-author and/or editor of eight books and monographs on subjects ranging from US-Latin American relations to conflict analysis and the funding of criminal and terrorist organizations, as well as hundreds of articles, essays, columns, plays and short stories.  He was a senior staff member of the National Security Council in the Reagan Administration and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the George W. Bush Administration.  He speaks five languages and is the recipient of various honorary degrees, medals, awards and an order of knighthood.  He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife, Dr. Barbara P. Billauer..