Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen is back in the hot seat, taking on your toughest questions with zero filter. This episode: what actually qualifies someone to be called a rabbi (and the difference between a rabbi and a cult leader), the deeper meaning behind payot, whether a gay person can be part of an Orthodox community, what teshuva (repentance) really means, why God cares about small everyday actions, the true story behind the Binding of Isaac, and how being a good parent shapes your relationship with God. No question is off-limits.

Got a question of your own? Drop it in the comments and it might be answered on the next episode.

0:00 Intro

0:05 What makes a rabbi a rabbi, and how do you become one?

2:16 What is the meaning behind payot?

5:08 Can a gay person be part of an Orthodox community?

6:50 What is teshuva (repentance)?

10:43 Why does God care about small actions?

12:31 Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son?

15:11 Does being a good parent make you a better child to God?

18:07 Outro

To listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

It's almost Rosh Hashana, so pour a cup of coffee, put this on in the background, and let's get your heart ready. In this special unplugged episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen sits down with his friend, musician Akiva Chai, for an evening of stories, niggunim, and real talk about what Rosh Hashana is actually about — not fear of judgment, but a yearning to come back into relationship with Hashem. Between an acoustic guitar and a bongo drum, they explore the deeper meaning behind teshuva, simcha on the Day of Judgment, bitachon, and what it means to crown Hashem as King with joy instead of dread. Whether you're setting the table, wrapping up last-minute errands, or just need a few minutes to get in the right headspace before the chag, let these niggunim and stories carry you into Rosh Hashana. Shana Tova u'Metuka!

00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Akiva Chai

00:42 – The Premature Baby & the Breath of Life

02:21 – Niggun: Setting the Mood for Rosh Hashana

04:11 – What Judgment on Rosh Hashana Really Means

06:06 – Introducing "Achalah" – A Song of Yearning

07:04 – Niggun: Achalah

19:41 – Trusting Hashem with Everything (Bitachon)

20:05 – Niggun: In Your Hands

26:04 – Jealousy, Joy & the Book of Life

30:37 – Niggun: Crowning the King

34:37 – We Are One Nation

35:12 – Closing: Love Every Jew

To listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

This Hot Rabbi in Rabbi in the Hot Seat tackles a rapid-fire round of listener questions on Jewish law, identity, and ethics. Topics include why observant Jews wear a kippah (and why women traditionally don't), the difference between honoring photos of rabbis versus Buddha statues or necklaces, the moral status of consensual wife swapping, the true origin of the term "Jew" beyond the tribe of Judah, the spiritual logic behind animal sacrifice, wearing symbols like the Star of David and Chai necklace, and the Kabbalistic meaning behind grounding and going barefoot.Chapters:00:00:00 — Intro00:00:20 — Why Wear a Kippah? The Meaning of Being Observant00:01:55 — Why Men Cover Their Heads and Women Don't00:02:44 — Photos of Rabbis vs. Buddha Statues00:04:09 — Is Consensual Wife Swapping Morally Wrong?00:05:45 — Where Do the Other Jewish Tribes Come From?00:06:57 — Why Does God Need Animal Sacrifice?00:09:05 — Can I Wear a Buddha Necklace for Meditation?00:09:48 — The Meaning of the Star of David and Chai Necklace00:10:35 — Grounding, Bare Feet, and Kabbalah00:11:52 — Recap and Sign-OffTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, no topic is off-limits. We tackle the genocide accusation against Israel head-on with population data, explore why treating your life like a video game can make you more focused and disciplined, ask whether it's ever okay to bend the truth, dig into the true purpose of human existence, unpack the difference between pain and suffering (and how to reduce both), and take a deep dive into consciousness — where Judaism, quantum physics, and the nature of reality collide. Honest, direct answers to help you gain clarity and live a better life.0:00 – Intro & Welcome0:25 – "Do You Support Genocide?" (Israel vs. Gaza Population Debate)1:56 – Is Life Just a Video Game?3:49 – Is It Ever OK to Lie? Truth vs. Facts5:10 – What's Our Ultimate Purpose in Life?5:27 – Pain vs. Suffering: How to Stop Suffering8:04 – Connecting to God: Mitzvahs vs. Art9:57 – Consciousness, Judaism & the Nature of Reality14:36 – Closing Thoughts & Sign-OffTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

When this Rabbi says he’ll answer ALL questions…. He means it. Is it okay to take shrooms or ayahuasca for spiritual growth? Why does the world even need non-Jews if it was made for the Jewish people? Why can't you just pray in your own words instead of the siddur? What age are you actually allowed to start learning Kabbalah? Is smoking cigarettes forbidden in Jewish law? And should you trust that gut feeling when you're anxious, or is it lying to you? No filter, no dodging, just real answers to real questions on this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat.

Send in your questions, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!

0:00 – Intro

0:27 – Welcome to Rabbi in the Hot Seat

0:45 – Was the World Created for the Jews?

1:48 – What Does God Want From Me? (Defining a Tzaddik)

3:03 – Why Pray From a Siddur Instead of My Own Words?

5:39 – Why Prayer Is a Team Sport

6:15 – Is There an Age Restriction on Learning Kabbalah?

8:46 – Are Shrooms, Ayahuasca & Psychedelics Allowed in Judaism?

12:27 – Does Judaism Say Anything About Smoking?

13:49 – Should I Trust My Gut Feelings When I'm Stressed?1

15:24 – Closing Thoughts

To listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

Are all humans reincarnated souls? Is it really a mitzvah to stay in a friendship that's dragging you down? And how could the Torah command the destruction of an entire nation?In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen takes on your questions; from gilgul and Holocaust-era souls returning, to why visiting a grave may not do what you think it does, to the near-impossible bar the Torah sets before a death penalty is ever carried out. Plus: what makes someone a lion, and why aliens don't get a mention.Literally NO QUESTIONS OFF LIMITS!Send in your questions - every one is open for the hot seat.0:00 – Intro 1:03 – Welcome & Episode 1:15 – Is Everyone a Reincarnated Soul? 3:21 – Why Do Jews Visit Graves? 5:06 – Should You Stay Friends with Toxic People? 6:20 – The Command to Destroy Amalek, Explained 8:20 – Is the Torah's Death Penalty Too Extreme? 10:30 – Favorite Age Group to Teach 11:05 – How Do You Become a "Lion"? 12:44 – Why Aren't Aliens or the World to Come in the Torah? 14:57 – OutroTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

Rabbi in the Hot Seat is back, taking on your toughest questions. This week: prenups and whether they show a lack of trust, the meaning behind tzitzit and the mystery of the blue thread, exploring Judaism after a surprise ancestry result, whether suffering and physical disability get in the way of growth, whether Jews should only befriend other Jews, whether wanting intimacy is a good enough reason to marry, and what Jewish law says about contraception. Send in your questions and they might be answered in the next episode.Chapters00:00 Intro 00:11 Should you sign a prenup? 01:25 Why do we wear tzitzit? 04:19 Exploring Judaism through an ancestry test 06:20 Does suffering make you stronger? 07:55 Should Jews only befriend other Jews? 08:53 Is intimacy a reason to marry? 10:31 What contraception is allowed? 12:36 Closing thoughtsTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

For the first time EVER - Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen shares the full, unfiltered story of how he met and married his wife. From a missed flight in South Africa to a dream shared a year before they'd even met. Along the way there's a disapproving rabbi, lots of dreaming, and a bus ride confession that nearly ended it all. Rabbi Dov Ber closes with the five things he believes actually make a marriage work, and an invite to the world's biggest Jewish speed dating event, run by Aish and 70 other organisations.Sign up here: tubav2026.com/aishrdbc00:00 – Finding your other half00:27 – The girl who missed her flight01:42 – Why religious dating works03:52 – The rabbi who called it off05:14 – The bus ride scare05:48 – The five keys to a lasting marriageTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

A special Tisha B'Av edition of Rabbi in the Hot Seat. This isn't the usual Q&A format, it's a raw, personal reflection on the pain of Jewish division and what the fast day is really mourning. From the meaning behind sinat chinam to a personal story about a father's shiva, a reform bar mitzvah and a painful encounter afterwards, this episode makes the case that redemption starts with understanding the Jews we disagree with most, not agreeing with them. Two practical steps, a story about starfish on a beach, and an honest admission of struggling to stay hopeful.00:00 Intro: A Special Tisha B'Av Edition 00:50 Why We Fast: The Real Hunger 02:02 The Root of Our Brokenness 03:05 Rabbi Akiva's Students and a Second Chance 04:04 A Dream: Protester, Soldier, Policeman, Kibbutznik Together 05:08 Fire and Water: Understanding Without Agreeing 06:27 A Father's Shiva in a Reform Synagogue 09:53 Returning for a Bar Mitzvah, and a Painful Comment 11:34 Loving Without Agreeing 12:27 Losing Hope, and Finding It Again 13:08 The Starfish on the Beach 14:18 Two Practical Steps 15:19 Closing MessageTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen is back and taking on your toughest questions about responsibility, victimhood and freedom. Can you be a genuine victim and still be responsible for your future? Where's the line between compassion and enabling someone? If God controls everything, what are we actually accountable for? Plus: a true story about stealing from a pub, and why real freedom might be the opposite of what you think it is.00:00 Intro01:03 Is being a victim the same as taking control of your life?02:14 What's the difference between compassion and enabling?03:00 How do you deal with guilt over past sexual promiscuity?05:58 Is taking responsibility the key to freedom?07:04 Why do we avoid taking responsibility?07:50 Is God in control of everything, including our choices?09:52 Does everyone want to be the hero of their own story?11:08 Should parents apologise to their children?12:06 What's the simplest way to stop blaming others?14:13 OutroTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat🔔 Subscribe and turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out on any wisdom!✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Rabbi Dov Ber Wisdom 💫IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/rabbidovberofficial/https://www.instagram.com/aishTik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial #SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen