Rabbi Cohen is a Philadelphia native going back three generations. His grandfather and grandmother immigrated from Europe in the late 30's, and promptly settled themselves in South Philadelphia with the rest of the immigrants. He sports a proper south Philly accent, and never bothered to try to rid himself of it, even despite his role as a public speaker. Perhaps especially because of his role as a public speaker. He sounds like the community he serves.
He is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School with a Doctorate in Divinity from Hebrew Union College. His mixed focus on politics, activism, and congregational duties has kept him in an Associate Rabbi role for years. While he genuinely enjoys leading services, the responsibility of leading an entire congregation would devour his time and keep him away from his work within the community and at City Hall. The access this gives the congregations he associates with is more than enough incentive to keep him on staff; he has an uncanny ability to Get Things Done.
In the early 2010s, he first came across the young men and women behind the Plain Blog. He was among their first supporters, and after a year or two, one of their first students. Despite the irreligious tenets of the Plain, he instantly latched onto the group for their literal embodiment of the principle of Tikkun Olam; healing the world. Since becoming one of The Plain himself, he has placed himself body and soul into social justice causes. His work with Kol Tzedek and his outreach into Philly's LGBT community has found him marching in the annual Trans Pride March, speaking passionately for LGBT inclusion in civil society. He's tried to push for causes as various and vital as safe injection sites for intravenous drug users, early childhood education programs, firearm buyback programs, and even an ill-fated gang outreach which he found himself woefully ill-equipped to spearhead. But he tries.
In early May of 2020 something seems to have snapped in Aaron. He was caught on video at a counter-protest against the Proud Boys, responding to the beating of an Imam by charging the police, bodily hurling himself into their line, knocking one of them out cold with a single punch, and then withstanding repeated baton clubbings, attempts to restrain him by medical first responders, and eventually being knocked unconscious by a bean bag shotgun blast to the face.
After being cleared of his charges, Aaron fell out of public life, resurfacing after nearly two years a thoroughly changed man. Ridiculously fit, and in top mental form. He's now enrolled in Law School at Villanova, because what he needs is more degrees.
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Education: Aaron works with the Hebrew School students at Rodeph Sholom
Government: Aaron used to work in the Office of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs at City Hall.
Freshly Minted: Aaron is the newest Paragon trained by Master Yoshitsune, a full Talon preparing to stake out a name and place for himself within the Consilium.
Religion: Aaron once served as an Associate Rabbi at Rodeph Sholom in Philadelphia, and now serves as the full time rabbi at Kol Tzedek.
Fame/Crime: Aaron punched out a cop trying to save the Imam Ibram Kahn from a police beating in March of 2020. Quite despite himself, the guy has an entirely unearned reputation as a violent cop hater.
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- 30th March, 2020: Lux Obscura Fashion Show - Interior
- 2nd April, 2020: A Debriefing And A Chat
- 17th April, 2020: Work Ethic and Ethical Non-Monogamy
- 1st May, 2020: Supernal Foreshadowing Intensifies
- 7th May, 2020: Pacifisticuffs
- 7th May, 2020: Pacifisticuffs Broadcasts
- 8th May, 2020: A Radiant Date
- 10th May, 2020: The Welcoming Committee
- 11th May, 2020: Tea And (No) Healing
- 12th May, 2020: Operation Smuggle Kugel
- 24th May, 2020: A Feast for New Arrivals
- 9th June, 2020: Making Plans
- 14th July, 2020: A Little Jewish Meet Cute
- 16th July, 2020: Not So Proud Now
- 17th July, 2020: The Bones On Which Their Body Rests
- 19th July, 2020: Wag My Tail and Be Happy
- 19th July, 2020: Some Mother's Son
- 23rd July, 2020: Going To The Museum
- 24th July, 2020: Oaths and Hospitality Over Waffles
- 5th August, 2020: A Little More Self-Aware Than I Was
- 6th August, 2020: A Family Picnic (With Hats)
- 8th August, 2020: Self-Defense For Fae
- 20th August, 2020: More Communication's Always Better
- 6th November, 2020: Meeting Alex
- 15th November, 2020: Sushi, Sobriety, Sunlight
- 29th November, 2020: American Ninjawn Warrior Day Two
- 30th November, 2020: American Ninjawn Warrior Finals
- 15th December, 2020: Having Faith
- 18th December, 2020: City Lights & City Darkness
- 14th February, 2021: Snowed In
- 30th October, 2022: The Matter Of Mercury
- 24th December, 2022: Gut Shabbos
- 30th December, 2022: Wrestling Bears
- 30th December, 2022: Dreams Of Light
- 2nd January, 2023: Nakkam vs Tzedek pt 1
- 30th January, 2023: Incorrect Ideas About Gay Sex
- 3rd June, 2023: Awakening Aftermath
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Rabbi Aaron Cohen
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Talon Yisra'el
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"So whatever your tradition, never stop wrestling
With precedent and privilege, never stop wrestling
With flags and divinity, never stop wrestling
With love for your enemies, never stop wrestling
With faith and community, never stop wrestling
With every god you worship, never stop wrestling
Tryin' to be perfect but love who you are
And divine your true purpose."
-Flobots
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"But don't think, don't talk about it
Wait, don't sing, don't tell nobody
Wait, don't drink, don't fail your body
Wait, don't scream, no, fucking shout it
See, these voices in my head are the fucking loudest
So belligerent, so fucking rowdy
And my tunnel vision's so fucking clouded
And I don't really have a motherfucking outlet."
-Angel Haze
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"Put the Book away, we fight today,
and the fires burn with brighter flames.
There's a balm in Gilead.
There's a bomb in Gilead."
- Flobots
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Played By: AdHocAvenger
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