From PSG Star to Yeshiva Head: Rabbi Moshe Cohen's Transformative Journey
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Rabbi Moshe Cohen, a former Paris Saint-Germain youth player turned educator, uses unconventional methods to connect with at-risk youth, many of whom are children of "baalei teshuva." He highlights the crisis of the second generation of religiously observant families, where parental intensity leads to youth alienation and dropout from traditional schools. Cohen advocates for parental love and understanding, asserting that most alienated youth still value religious principles and will return to observance if approached with support rather than pressure.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Moshe Cohen, ex-PSG player, leads institutions for at-risk youth, many children of "baalei teshuva."
- Cohen uses unconventional methods like soccer to connect with and engage troubled youth.
- He attributes the crisis to intense parental religious fervor creating disconnect and alienation.
- Surveys show these youths value religious principles but reject strict Haredi institutions.
- Cohen calls for parental love and support, stating most youth eventually return to observance.
Rabbi Moshe Cohen, formerly a promising young footballer for Paris Saint-Germain, now heads educational institutions for at-risk youth and shared his unconventional approach in a recent interview. He described his first day as a director, deciding to enter the classroom in a suit and tie, holding a soccer ball. He immediately began juggling, performing 270 kicks before challenging the students to a soccer tournament where the winners would receive two days off. This anecdote highlights his philosophy of connecting with troubled youth through shared experiences and understanding.
Cohen's own life path was tumultuous, beginning with his childhood in Paris as a "shaliach" (emissary) and his acceptance into the prestigious Paris Saint-Germain academy, despite being told he wouldn't make it unless he was as good as Maradona. He faced antisemitism in the locker room before moving to play for Beitar Jerusalem. His military service in the elite Sayeret Matkal (Shayetet 13) was cut short by a severe abdominal injury during a grueling exercise, requiring multiple surgeries.
After his military service, Cohen moved to the United States, working various jobs including in a diamond store in a dangerous Baltimore neighborhood. A chance encounter with a Gemara class led by Rabbi Dr. Aharon Weisberg, a veterinarian with spiritual depth, sparked his profound spiritual awakening. He found himself captivated by the depth of Torah study, leading him to pursue studies at the Ner Yisrael and Or Yisrael yeshivas.
Cohen revealed a startling statistic: nearly all the at-risk youth in his educational institutions are children of "baalei teshuva" (individuals who returned to religious observance). He attributes this crisis to the intense spiritual fervor of newly religious parents, who often impose absolute stringency and high expectations on their children, creating a disconnect. This pressure leads many youths to drop out of traditional Haredi educational systems by seventh or eighth grade.
Contrary to the assumption that these youths reject religion, internal surveys show that almost all of them value Shabbat observance and respect for rabbinic leadership. However, they express a strong aversion to sending their own children to Haredi institutions. Rabbi A. L. Steinman and Rabbi Uri Zohar are quoted as calling these youths "anusiim" (coerced), suggesting they lack genuine free choice due to their upbringing and environmental pressures. Cohen emphasizes that the key lies with the parents, urging them to approach their children with unconditional love, listening, and support rather than judgment or pressure. He believes that by removing the burdens and allowing youth to grow organically, most will eventually return to a committed religious life.