COURSES

• 

  1. Introduction to Positive Psychology and Judaism

  Film: What is Positive Psychology? How is it different from other fields of psychology and the self-help movement? This class will open your eyes to the role of personal well-being in Judaism's approach to daily living. Discover the centrality of pleasure in Judaism.

• 

  2. Dynamics of Personal Change & Development

  Film: What is the relationship between behavior, attitude and emotion? In this class, explore what causes personal change and how behavior is affected by acting out of habit or intent. The merits of accepting rituals as established and patterns of behavior will also be evaluated.

• 

  3. Permission to be Human

  Film: Do you know how to alter your human drives? How about channeling them? In this class, you will analyze active acceptance versus passive acquiescence as well as learn how to leverage in-born traits and overcome weaknesses.

• 

  4. Personal Goal Setting

  Audio File: Are you a go-getter? In this class you will learn how to set and achieve your personal goals, whether big or small. Explore the process of categorizing your goals to achieve maximum results.

• 

  5. Mind Body Collection

  Film: If exercising for the sake of physical health isn't your style, you may be glad to learn that there are other benefits to exercise. This class focuses on what happens in the Western world when there is a gap between the mind and body. It explores the connections between exercise, sleep, meditation, touch and overall well-being.

• 

  6. Focusing on the Positive, New Ideas for Self Improvement

  Film: We all know that a healthy breakfast is the best way to start a day, but what about a healthy attitude towards life? This class looks at the benefits of developing gratitude and identifies the obligation in Judaism to integrate joy into daily living.

• 

  7. Self Esteem

  Film: How exactly is self esteem defined? Learn how to classify self esteem based on worth and competence. Experience the objective standards of self esteem in this informative and entertaining class.

• 

  8. Dealing with Challenges

  Audio File: How does Judaism deal with hardship? This class will explore the tools Judaism provides to help respond to and cope with life’s challenges.

• 

  9. Interpersonal Relationships, Love & Sexuality & More

  Film: What makes a relationship a happy one? This class centers on relationships, personal happiness and the connection between love and sexuality. You will learn some of the secrets and tips for building a successful relationship.

• 

  1. Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

  Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is a celebrated author and former lecturer at Harvard University where he is notorious for teaching the largest and most popular course, Positive Psychology, to over 1,400 students. Dr. Ben-Shahar consults and lectures on the subject to a variety of groups around the world, including executives of multi-national corporations. His areas of expertise include happiness, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, mindfulness, and leadership.

• 

  2. Dr. Efraim Becker

  Dr. Efraim Becker received his rabbinical ordination at the age of 22 and immediately began working in hospitals, teaching Jewish studies and counseling those in need. He currently serves as a clinical chaplain with the Jewish Chaplaincy Program of Milwaukee and is an educator at a prominent Yeshiva in Milwaukee. Dr. Becker received a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Wisconsin and specializes in counseling.

• 

  3. Rabbi Motti Berger

  Rabbi Motti Berger studied at Loyola University in Maryland and received rabbinical ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore. He currently lectures about Jewish Philosophy at Aish HaTorah Rabbi Berger also travels all over the world as a senior Discovery lecturer, attracting people from all levels of Jewish observance with his thought-provoking and exciting topics.

• 

  4. Rabbi Eitan Feiner

  Rabbi Eitan Feiner earned Masters Degrees from both Johns Hopkins University and Touro College as well as a degree in counseling from the Refuah Institute. He is a world-class lecturer at numerous educational institutions in Israel and America and a regular contributor to dozens of Jewish websites and magazines.

• 

  5. Rabbi Yitz Greenman

  Rabbi Yitz Greenman studied Political Science and Economics at Brandeis University and Hebrew University. He received his rabbinical ordination from Aish HaTorah. He currently serves as the executive director of Aish NY and Discovery North America. Rabbi Greenman lives in Passaic with his wife and children. Their home is always open to students and guests.

• 

  6. Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller

  Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller has been a full-time lecturer at Neve Yerushalayim College in Jerusalem since 1980. She specializes in textual analyses of Biblical literature and Jewish philosophy. Rebbetizen Heller lectures around the world, captivating audiences in the U.S., Canada, England, and South Africa. She is the author of numerous books including, Here You Are, Our Bodies Our Souls, and More Precious than Pearls.

• 

  7. Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

  Rabbi Zelig Pliskin received a degree in Counseling Psychology from The State University of New York and studied at the Brisk Yeshiva in Israel. He has authored more than 20 books, including Guard Your Tongue, Love Thy Neighbor, Gateway to Happiness, and Building Your Self-Image and the Self-Image of Others. He gives insightful lectures to both Israeli and American audiences on the subjects of human emotions and relationships. Rabbi Pliskin resides in Jerusalem with his family.

• 

  8. Rabbi Moshe Zeldman

  Rabbi Moshe Zeldman received his undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto in Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy and received rabbinical ordination in Israel. He lectures on a variety of topics all around the world and is involved in researching hidden codes in the Bible. He currently lives in Jerusalem with his wife and five children.

“The entire Jerusalem Online University Positive Psychology course was amazing! I loved the combination of psychology insight with Torah insight. Dr. Ben Shahar does a superb job of getting the innovative ideas of positive psychology across. Also, the rabbi's provide such a deep and easily comprehensible discussion about various Judaic topics ( ie, the Mishnah, Pirkei Avot, etc.) The readings were great and not too long and provided a good supplement to the lecture. The video lectures were easier to follow than the ones that had just audio. The quizzes at the end of each class were not too hard, but just challenging enough to make you pay close attention to the class. Thanks again!”
Romy Overbeke , Ohio State University

“I took the Jerusalem Online University class in Positive Psychology and I absolutely loved it. I learned about the psychology of Jewish thought and what truly makes a person happy. This online class was fun, easy to understand, and I was able to learn at my own pace. I highly recommend this course to my fellow peers.”
April Suna, NYU Graduate Student

"There was so much truth to this lesson. I am so much more successful and work so much harder to acheive a goal that is meaningful to me. I have done a lot of fundraising for an orphanage in Tanzania. If I were to put the same amount of unconditional passion and energy toward school as I do my fundraising, I would probably be more successful. If this is the path I go down in life, I know that I will be able to succeed. I want to find a career that is meaningful and will as a result, produce higher rates of success.”
Lauren Albert, McGill University

“This is truly a unique class. Not only is Positive Psychology an almost revolutionary class but to then Focus it on Judaism as having its base and roots is truly amazing. I was amazed at how gratifying it is to simply learn about this.”
Luis Carillo, California State University Northridge

“I love the course, it is truly life changing.”
Sean Fuchs, Indiana University

“Finally: actual, useful, imperative information! And it came with research to back it up! Very professionally done.”
Matan Shelomi, University of California Davis

“Tal ben Shachar continues to impress me with how practical his classes are and how easy he makes it to translate the positive psych into life immediately”
Hillary Kener, John Hopkins University