Totally Booked with Zibby – "Running a Jewish Media Company with Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen"

Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen (CEO, The Algemeiner; author of We’re Almost There and Together Again)
Date: January 29, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, Zibby Owens sits down with Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen—spiritual leader, author, and CEO of The Algemeiner—to discuss his books, his journey from law to the rabbinate to media leadership, and what it means to be Jewish in the current climate. The conversation covers lessons in resilience, the power of reframing setbacks, bridging connections in community, and the crucial role of Jewish media in tumultuous times. The episode balances personal narratives with broader socio-cultural insights, offering a window into contemporary Jewish identity and leadership.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introducing Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen & His Background

(03:00–04:40)

• Zibby introduces Rabbi Cohen, highlighting his books We’re Almost There and Together Again, his multi-faceted career, and his empathetic approach.
• Rabbi Cohen expresses excitement about discussing his books, something he hasn’t done recently.

2. Life Lessons from Raising a Child with Special Needs

(05:20–12:17)

• Zibby reads a moving excerpt from We’re Almost There on the birth of Cohen’s firstborn son, Yedidya, who has Down syndrome.
• Rabbi Cohen explains the name “Yedidya" means "friend of God," reflecting his son's spiritual presence.

  “There’s a lot in Jewish thought about the elevated soul of individuals who have physical disabilities, but they have a greater spiritual side to them.” (06:12)

• They discuss the challenge of unexpected life events, the grieving of “shattered expectations,” and the journey from fear and loss to gratitude for unanticipated blessings.
• Rabbi Cohen shares anecdotes and the way his son has become central to their family, noting how initial devastation often gives way to deeper appreciation and resilience as events unfold.

  “A lot of times when things happen to us in that moment, we just can’t fathom what the future is going to bring... but as time goes on and things stabilize... we began to appreciate the tremendous blessing that we had.” (08:54)

• Zibby and Cohen agree on the importance of being grateful for “boring” or uneventful days, shifting the perspective from dreading disruption to appreciating stability.

3. Career Path: From Law to the Rabbinate to Media

(12:30–18:31)

• Cohen’s parents encouraged him towards law for financial security; he also had familial rabbinic lineage.
• As a young adult, he found himself drawn to spiritual leadership and communication, but career transitions came with difficulties, such as challenging congregational politics and delayed marriage.
• He describes lessons learned: the need for a good “fit” (shidduch), managing expectations, and learning from repeated mistakes.

  “No matter how talented you are, if you’re put in the wrong framework... you’re not going to succeed.” (15:29)

4. Leading The Algemeiner: Vision and Motivation

(18:31–21:58)

• Cohen details his unplanned path to media. Previously involved in informal media (podcasts, writing), he was recruited for The Algemeiner, a storied outlet with deep Jewish roots.
• The 2023 Hamas attack on Israel (October 7) was a pivotal event shifting his focus toward Jewish communal defense and advocacy in media.
• Cohen describes The Algemeiner’s mission: originally a Yiddish newspaper for post-Holocaust Jews, now an English online outlet striving for global reach.

  “We get guided in life to places we don’t expect... Even if it wasn’t a natural fit, I felt my cumulative life experience... could be helpful at this critical time for our people.” (19:54)

• He shares enthusiasm and vision for strengthening The Algemeiner’s voice and reach in the near future.

5. The J100 Gala: Honoring Jewish Movers and Shakers

(22:01–25:14)

• Cohen previews their upcoming major event—the J100 Gala—celebrating influential figures in Jewish and broader communities.
• Notable honorees include Argentina’s President Javier Milei, rock musician David Draiman, and financier Boaz Weinstein.

  “It’s a list of people who are movers and shakers in the Jewish world... making an incredible impact. Some of them are Jewish, some are not.” (23:24)

• Zibby recalls being named to last year’s J100 list.
• The gala’s purpose: foster an expanding, impactful community recognizing both Jewish and non-Jewish allies.

6. Jewish Identity in a Tumultuous Era

(25:14–28:32)

• Zibby asks about what it means to be Jewish now, touching on shifting landscapes since October 7.
• Rabbi Cohen notes the extraordinary position American Jews have held historically but warns against complacency, referencing patterns in Jewish history.

  “We’ve gotten very comfortable in this aspect of our exile... but there is always going to be a certain enmity... That is manifesting itself much more now than ever before.” (25:43)

• Cohen advocates for using media to defend the Jewish position and suggests that moving to Israel, the Jewish homeland, should be an aspiration for more Jews, though not an immediate plan for all.
• Emphasizes gratitude, awareness of shifting times, and balancing optimism with vigilance.

7. Future Projects and The Importance of Connection

(28:32–33:15)

• On writing another book: Cohen isn’t planning one at present, focusing instead on amplifying The Algemeiner’s impact.
• Shares a dream project: a book combining Torah wisdom and golf, structured around the 18 holes of a historic course.
• Cohen notes the difficulty of getting meaningful content read in today’s media landscape.
• Touches on his second book, Together Again, written during COVID, about re-forging relationships after isolation. He reinforces the value of real-life community and in-person connection, especially post-pandemic.

  “Zoom is great... but it’s not the same as being together in person. Together Again was written with that in mind—how do we reconnect after being separated?” (31:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On naming his son Yedidya:
  “The name actually means a friend of God... we felt that sense of his closeness to God.” — Rabbi Cohen (06:12)

• On loss and expectations:
  “On some level, sudden loss is about shattered expectations and feeling intense vulnerability, realizing that life will now move in a different direction from what we expected...” — Zibby Owens, reading from Rabbi Cohen's book (07:19)

• On Jewish resilience:
  “To be rooted even in prior experiences like that (raising a special needs child) and to know that we’re going to get through it... everything is but a moment in time and we can regroup and we can recover from most things.” — Rabbi Cohen (08:54)

• On the need for “fit” in leadership:
  “You need a good partnership... If you’re put in the wrong framework, you’re not going to succeed.” — Rabbi Cohen (15:29)

• On media’s role:
  “We need to speak out, we need to defend our position... We need to use the media effectively and cleverly to communicate the rightfulness and the justness of Israel and the Jewish people and our positions.” — Rabbi Cohen (27:00)

• On real-world connection:
  “Zoom is great… but it’s not the same as being together in person… we can come together in person, touch the flesh of other people, and kind of be united around something they care about and they’re passionate about.” — Rabbi Cohen (31:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Rabbi Cohen’s background and introduction: 03:00–04:40
• Raising a child with Down syndrome / excerpt from We’re Almost There: 05:20–12:17
• Career journey—law, rabbinic work, challenges: 12:30–18:31
• The Algemeiner: origins, mission, and vision: 18:31–21:58
• J100 Gala and Jewish influence: 22:01–25:14
• Being Jewish in America post-October 7: 25:14–28:32
• Future books, Together Again, and the importance of in-person bonds: 28:32–33:15

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, honest, and thoughtful, balancing high-level analysis with personal storytelling. Both host and guest share openly with sincerity and introspection while retaining a spirit of optimism and resilience.

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers both an intimate and communal lens on Jewish life today: from the personal journey of resilience in the face of familial adversity, to the broader task of Jewish leadership and communal defense amid unprecedented challenges. Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen emerges as a voice both for tradition and responsive adaptation, using new platforms to support, connect, and advocate for Jewish people everywhere. His stories, and Zibby’s probing, make the episode a meaningful listen for those interested in leadership, faith, and the power of media in shaping identity.