Rabbi In The Hot Seat with Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen

In Episode 16 of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen tackles the big questions head-on, from how Judaism conceptualizes God (hint: it's emotional), to the big “is the Lubavitcher Rebbe the Messiah?” debate, to whether you should move to Israel, how to balance Torah values at a prestigious law firm, handle a pushy matchmaker, and finally see the true beauty of Shabbat…. In other words, it’s a PACKED episode!Perhaps the biggest takeaway of this episode? Your values. What you stand for, what you refuse to compromise on, and how that shapes every major decision in your life, who you marry, where you live, and how you work. Whether you're a longtime Torah learner or just starting to explore your Jewish identity, this episode is packed with wisdom, honesty, and a few surprises.📩 Submit your questions for future episodes by dropping a comment below!0:00 Welcome back to Rabbi in the Hot Seat0:33 How Are Jews Supposed to Conceptualise God?1:21 Does Torah Accept the Lubavitcher Rebbe as Messiah?2:11 Thinking About Moving to Israel? Ask Yourself This one Question First4:41 Balancing Torah Values with a Prestigious Law Career5:37 How to Respond When a Matchmaker Calls You Picky8:06 What Effort Do You Really Need to Put In to Find a Spouse?9:20 How Can I See the Beauty of Shabbat?10:39 So what was this episode really about?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

Every year we ask the same questions at the Seder – but do we actually know the answers?In this special Pesach edition of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, we go deep on the questions that matter most: Why are Jews obsessed with Egypt? What does real freedom look like in 2026? Is there archaeological evidence for the Exodus? And what does chametz actually have to do with your ego?Plus – the most beautiful and moving Pesach rabbi story you've ever heard.Whether you're hosting your first Seder or your fiftieth, these ideas will transform the way you experience Passover – and yourself.

00:00 – Welcome & Why Jews Are Obsessed With Egypt

01:20 – The Most Important Message of Passover: Unconditional Love

02:32 – If Pesach Is About Freedom, Why So Many Rules? 03:48 – Your Personal Egypt: Slavery in 2026

05:08 – Doubts at the Seder Table – Is That Okay?

06:09 – Chametz, Ego & the Difference Between Arrogance and Self-Worth

08:34 – The Plagues, Free Will, Pharaoh & Archaeological Evidence

21:09 – The Skulener Rebbe's Matzah: A True Story

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

From social media and negative speech to why it feels so hard to get out of bed, this conversation cuts straight to the root of how we think, how we live, and why so many people feel stuck even when they are doing everything right.

Rabbi Cohen breaks down what Judaism actually says about happiness, discipline, purpose, and self worth. He explains why your mindset shapes your entire experience of life, how your thoughts may be blocking your natural state of happiness, and what it really takes to build a meaningful and fulfilling life.

The conversation also explores deeper ideas around free will, good and bad actions, alcohol and consciousness, and one of the most compelling arguments for the Torah’s divine origin.

This is not surface level advice. It is a direct look at how to take responsibility for your life, your mind, and your growth.

Rabbi Dov Ber brings Torah, humor, life experience, and a lot of heart to every answer, reminding us that growth is a journey, every step counts, and the goal is to move through Judaism with sincerity, joy, and trust in Hashem.

💬 Comment your questions for future episodes

00:00 Intro

00:37 Social media and evil speech

02:29 Why you struggle to wake up in the morning

04:38 Do good deeds cancel out bad ones

06:28 Alcohol, weed, and consciousness

08:09 The real secret to happiness

12:23 Proof the Torah is divine

17:36 Spinoza and where he got it wrong

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!

In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen responds to some of the most difficult and unexpected questions people send in.

Why do the same challenges keep appearing in our lives? Where was God during tragedy and suffering? Can you hold a grudge? How should someone deal with stress? And what does Judaism actually say about difficult topics like sexuality, compassion, and personal struggle?

Rabbi Dov Ber brings Torah, humor, life experience, and a lot of heart to every answer, reminding us that growth is a journey, every step counts, and the goal is to move through Judaism with sincerity, joy, and trust in Hashem.

💬 Comment your questions for future episodes

00:21 Why the same challenges keep returning

01:22 Where was God on October 7?

04:02 Is a hot dog a sandwich?

04:30 Can you hold a grudge

05:13 Stress and why it’s not helping you

06:24 Judaism and homosexuality

11:32 What gives the rabbi hope

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/aish

Tik Tok: ➡︎

https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial

✅Donate now! https://donate.aish.com/masteringlife

There are questions about Judaism and life that people think about all the time but often don’t know where to turn for clear, honest answers.

In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen answers them directly.

Rabbi Dov Ber brings Torah, humor, life experience, and a lot of heart to every answer, reminding us that growth is a journey, every step counts, and the goal is to move through Judaism with sincerity, joy, and trust in Hashem.

0:00 Why Judaism takes speech and language so seriously

1:38 Jews for Jesus and whether there is evidence for Christianity

4:08 Why Judaism refers to God as “He”

6:42 Should Jews study other religions like the Quran?

8:00 Are Midrash stories meant to be taken literally?

10:00 Dating someone who says they will become observant later

11:05 Why men say the blessing “thank you for not making me a woman”

💬 Comment your questions for future episodes

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/aish

Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial

✅Donate now! https://donate.aish.com/masteringlife

If you’ve ever felt stuck between belief and reality, truth and effort, or meaning and pain, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen tackles the questions people ask when life doesn’t make sense anymore: trauma, numbness, faith, intimacy, and the pressure to find meaning too fast.

00:32 – Why you don’t tell someone in trauma “everything happens for a reason”

00:56 – What trauma actually is: fight, flight, freeze

01:44 – Pain vs suffering in Judaism

03:35 – “I feel nothing when I do mitzvot”

04:46 – If Judaism is true, why don’t more people observe it?

06:00 – Is Judaism all or nothing?

07:33 – Sex, restraint, and emotional intimacy in Jewish marriage

09:00 – When limits create deeper connection

Rabbi Dov Ber brings Torah, humor, life experience, and a lot of heart to every answer, reminding us that growth is a journey, every step counts, and the goal is to move through Judaism with sincerity, joy, and trust in Hashem.

These are questions people live with for years.

In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen takes on real questions about God, identity, ambition, sex, death, and the meaning behind Jewish practice. Thoughtful, direct, and grounded in Jewish wisdom without shortcuts.

Rabbi Dov Ber brings Torah, humor, life experience, and a lot of heart to every answer, reminding us that growth is a journey, every step counts, and the goal is to move through Judaism with sincerity, joy, and trust in Hashem.

💬 Comment your questions for future episodes

0:12 – Is God actually good?

2:15 – The difference between ambition and ego

2:58 – Is there a Jewish view of sacred sex?

6:05 – Can Jews be cremated?

8:00 – Why burial matters in Judaism

8:52 – Can Judaism exist without Israel?

10:25 – Why Israel is the spiritual center of Jewish life

To listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat

What happens when people stop whispering their questions about Judaism and start asking them out loud?

In this episode, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen answers questions that people usually keep to themselves. What happens if someone takes their own life? Is pornography ever okay in a Jewish marriage? And do Jews believe in horoscopes? Can Jews own pets?

Rabbi Dov Ber brings Torah, humor, life experience, and a lot of heart to every answer, reminding us that growth is a journey, every step counts, and the goal is to move through Judaism with sincerity, joy, and trust in Hashem.

💬 Comment your questions for future episodes

0:00 – Welcome

0:23 – Do Jews believe in horoscopes and astrology?

0:56 – Free will vs the stars: Abraham and going “above” astrology

1:05 – Can Jews own pets? Responsibility, compassion, and Shabbat

1:49 – Muslim father, Jewish mother: What am I according to Judaism?

2:15 – Pornography, intimacy, and marriage: a hard no and why

3:26 – Why sex therapy can actually strengthen a marriage

4:21 – Why do Orthodox Jews dress in black and white?

6:10 – Suicide, mental illness, and Jewish burial

7:35 – Final thoughts: asking hard questions makes better people

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/aish

Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial

✅Donate now! https://donate.aish.com/masteringlife

What happens when a former DJ, martial artist, and world traveler becomes a rabbi?Speaking from Jerusalem, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen sits in the hot seat to answer the real questions people are actually asking — about sex, drugs, spirituality, guilt, identity, and what Judaism really says about living a meaningful life. Rabbi Dov Ber brings Torah, humor, life experience, and a lot of heart to every answer, reminding us that growth is a journey, every step counts, and the goal is to move through Judaism with sincerity, joy, and trust in Hashem.0:00 Introduction0:37 My husband won’t keep Shabbat — can our marriage still work?2:31 Does Judaism condone Polygamy?3:58 Does Judaism believe in superstition?5:52 Dybbuks, golems, and “monsters” — what’s real?6:42 I felt nothing at the Western Wall… does that mean something?8:11 Why does Judaism follow the mother (and do patrilineal Jews matter)?10:11 Do Jews have sex through a sheet?11:02 Is happiness only possible through pain?11:53 – Closing + what this episode was really aboutTo listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat

In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen takes on some of the most curious, unexpected, and misunderstood questions in Judaism — with clarity, humor, and zero fluff.

From sleep and dreams, tattoos, Kiddush wine, circumcision, Kabbalah, money myths, and even marrying your cousin, this episode shows how Judaism approaches everyday life, symbolism, and reality — not superstition.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 Welcome back

0:20 Why did God create the need for sleep?

1:23 Should I act on messages in my dreams?

2:18 Can I tattoo a Star of David on my skin?

4:17 Can you make Kiddush on non-kosher wine?

6:43 What’s the point of circumcision?

8:58 Is chicken soup actually healing?

9:25 Why are Jews stereotyped as rich?

11:36 Can non-Jews learn Kabbalah?

12:29 Can you marry your cousin?

12:58 How to contact the rabbi

To listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat