Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen's path to the rabbinate took him through working as a DJ in London, meditation temples in India, martial arts training in Asia and six years studying to become a Buddhist monk. Today, the London-born educator is launching a new podcast that reflects his unconventional journey, one that invites people to ask anything.
Rabbi in the Hot Seat, which debuted this past week, turns traditional Jewish education on its head. Rather than lecturing on predetermined topics, Cohen responds to questions submitted via social media from followers of all backgrounds, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
The first episode tackles subjects that rarely make it into mainstream Jewish discourse: sex, drugs, spirituality, guilt, identity, war, forgiveness and finding meaning in life.
"Too many educators follow the philosophy of 'Here, this is what I want to teach you,'" Cohen explained in an interview. "They're not focused on what's actually happening in people's lives or what's really relevant to their audience."
Cohen's background makes him uniquely positioned to bridge different worldviews. Originally Bradley Cohen, he left university and spent six years across Asia, volunteering in orphanages in Sri Lanka and Laos, participating in silent meditation retreats in India and training in extreme martial arts in China and Korea. He earned black belts in Taekwondo and Aikido while immersing himself in Buddhist and Hindu philosophy.
When he stopped in Israel in 2008, originally planning to continue to the Amazon, something shifted. "I discovered that the spiritual wisdom I'd been seeking across Asia was rooted in my own tradition all along," he said.
Now a senior lecturer at Aish in Jerusalem, where he teaches both long-term students as well as daily drop-in classes, and founder of Living in Tune: Authentic Jewish Mindfulness, Cohen has become one of the organization's most sought-after educators. In 2024, he was featured in a viral video by content creator Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily) about Judaism, which reached millions of viewers globally.
The podcast format reflects Cohen's philosophy of meeting people where they are and is open to all audiences. "I wanted to open up the platform and allow people to ask anything they're struggling with about life, Judaism, or whatever else concerns them," he said. "The goal is to give real, honest, authentic and deep answers to those struggling with questions and their own growth so listeners can feel more engaged in their Jewish identity and generally more empowered in life."
The bi-weekly series (releasing twice monthly) is available on major podcast platforms.
- Rabbi Cohen is the author of Mastering Life: A Unique Guidebook to Jewish Enlightenment and continues to teach mindfulness and meditation through a Jewish lens. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children.