Rabbi In The Hot Seat with Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen

Aish Studios
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Got burning questions about Judaism, life, or faith? Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen is ready with answers. In each dynamic episode, Rabbi Dov Ber tackles the most compelling questions submitted to Aish by Jews from around the world and all walks of life. No topic is off limits—from ancient traditions to modern dilemmas, from matters of faith to everyday struggles. Real questions. Real answers. Real fast.

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    Porn, Astrology, Suicide & Judaism

    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

    8 min

  2. FEB 11

    “Sex Through a Sheet,” Superstition, and Who’s Considered Jewish

    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

    13 min

  3. FEB 4

    Are your Dreams Secret Messages from God?

    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

    14 min

  4. JAN 28

    What Makes Someone Jewish - And Should Religion Feel So Hard?

    Who gets to define who is Jewish? Why does Orthodox Judaism not recognize Reform conversion? What makes Shabbat so special? Do we really have to keep all the mitzvot? And when religion feels overwhelming, where does mental health fit in? In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen tackles questions of identity, practice, tradition, emotional wellbeing, and modern life with honesty, clarity, and zero scripts. 0:00 Introduction 0:25 What makes someone Jewish? 1:22 Why isn’t a Reform convert considered Jewish by Orthodox standards? 4:15 What is so special about Shabbat? 5:40 There are too many mitzvot, do we have to keep them all? 8:05 What does kickboxing have to do with Judaism? 9:22 “Religion makes me miserable…” 10:43 Have rabbis replaced the role of therapists? 12:24 Should children use phones? 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.com/ Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidovberofficial ✅Donate now! https://donate.aish.com/masteringlife

    14 min

  5. JAN 21

    What Judaism says about Sex, Doubt and Desire

    Nothing is off-limits in this Ask Me Anything episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat.Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen tackles raw, personal, and often uncomfortable questions about desire, doubt, discipline, Jewish law, charity, intimacy, and why God feels distant with honesty and clarity, not clichés.From whether Judaism is more than a religion, to touching before marriage, self-pleasure, evolving Jewish law, and fighting your inner voice, this is a real conversation about living a Jewish life in the modern world.0:00 Introduction - Ask Me Anything0:38 Is Judaism just a religion?2:27 Should Jews donate to non-Jewish charities?3:19 Does Jewish law ever evolve?4:20 What’s harder: fighting another person or your inner voice?5:25 Can you touch at all before marriage?6:35 Are you allowed to pleasure yourself?8:22 What’s your favorite rabbi story?9:54 Is it okay to doubt yourself?10:55 Why is God hidden from us?11:55 What matters more: discipline or inspiration?🔔 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 ✅Donate now! https://donate.aish.com/masteringlife

    13 min

  6. JAN 15

    What Are You Willing to Die For? Answering ALL Your Questions

    What are we really afraid of? What gives life meaning?And how do you climb out when you’ve hit rock bottom?In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen takes on the biggest human questions: fear, death, purpose, parenting, faith, and rebuilding.From misconceptions about G-d, to raising distracted teenagers, to finding purpose, overcoming fear, and asking what’s truly worth living or dying for, this is an unfiltered conversation about what it means to live with depth in a chaotic world.0:00 Introduction0:56 What’s the biggest misconception Jews have about God?1:35 How do we overcome fear?4:15 Why is Judaism focused on the next world?5:13 How do we connect with distracted teenage kids?6:15 Is education a teacher’s or a parent’s responsibility?7:29 How do we find purpose in life?9:23 Why are there so many sects in Judaism?10:46 What are you willing to die for?11:55 How do you climb out of rock bottom?💬 Comment your questions, and we will answer them in future episodes🔔 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 ✅Donate now! https://donate.aish.com/masteringlife#SelfHelp #LifeAdvice #MasteringLife #Shorts #RabbiDovBerCohen

    13 min

  7. JAN 7

    What Judaism says about Weed, Animal Sacrifice & even how to Dress

    What happens when the questions people actually want to ask finally get asked out loud?In this episode of Rabbi in the Hot Seat, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen takes on some of the most uncomfortable and misunderstood topics in Judaism: identity, dress code, sacrifice, women, individuality, and weed, with honesty and zero clichés. 0:00 Introduction 0:40 Is being a Rabbi just a Phase for Rabbi Dov Ber?3:53 Does God need us to Sacrifice Animals?5:06 Why is Judaism obsessed with how Women Dress?7:21 Is there room for individuality in how Jews Dress?9:34 What does Judaism say about Weed? To listen to Rabbi In The Hot Seat on your favorite podcast platform: https://pods.link/rabbiinthehotseat

    12 min

  8. 12/31/2025

    Chosen People, Messiah, and Hell — A Rabbi Answers the Big Questions

    Speaking from Jerusalem, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen returns to the hot seat to answer the big theological and emotional questions you have asked. From mental health and self-mastery to questioning G-d, revenge, Hell, Mashiach, and why Judaism cares about daily choices like what we eat — this conversation explores faith as something lived, not inherited. 0:00 Introduction 0:27 Are Jews the Chosen People? 0:58 Why is everyone struggling with mental health today? 1:30 What is self-mastery? 2:04 Is it okay to question G-d? 2:27 Can you be spiritual without being religious? 3:04 From monk to rabbi — are Buddhism and Judaism similar? 4:12 Is revenge ever justified? 4:38 Do Jews believe in Hell? 6:09 How do we know Mashiach is coming? 8:01 Why does G-d care what we eat? 🔔 Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/@Aishdotcom and turn on post notifications so stay updated on all the latest content! ✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Jewish Wisdom 💫 IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/aish.com/ Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@aishjewish/ | https://www.tiktok.com/@aishwisdom Facebook: ➡︎ http://www.facebook.com/aishdotcom #Jewish #JewishWisdom #JewishLearning #Aish #Shorts

    11 min

  9. 12/24/2025

    Sex, Drugs and Martial Arts — A Rabbi Answers the Hard Questions

    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. 00:00 Meet the Rabbi 00:58 How can Jews value peace and still learn to fight? 2:06 Why do observant Jews drink, smoke, or take drugs? 5:37 Does G-d care who we sleep with? 9:54 Is Judaism about guilt — or growth? 14:10 Should Jews forgive the Nazis? 💬 Comment your questions for future episodes 🔔 Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/@Aishdotcom and turn on post notifications so stay updated on all the latest content! ✡️ For more Jewish inspiration visit https://www.aish.com – the world's leading Judaism website. 👉🏼 Connect and follow for more Jewish Wisdom 💫 IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/aish.com/ Tik Tok: ➡︎ https://www.tiktok.com/@aishjewish/ | https://www.tiktok.com/@aishwisdom Facebook: ➡︎ http://www.facebook.com/aishdotcom #Jewish #JewishWisdom #JewishLearning #Aish #Shorts

    16 min
  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Got burning questions about Judaism, life, or faith? Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen is ready with answers. In each dynamic episode, Rabbi Dov Ber tackles the most compelling questions submitted to Aish by Jews from around the world and all walks of life. No topic is off limits—from ancient traditions to modern dilemmas, from matters of faith to everyday struggles. Real questions. Real answers. Real fast.

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