Inspiring people to maximize every moment while leading a life of impact and legacy.
Signature Keynote & Seminar Offerings
Engaging in hundreds of end-of-life conversations and delivering thousands of eulogies provide him with a unique perspective on the essence of a meaningful life. Rabbi Cohen’s most requested presentations appear below. He can customize any program to meet your company or organization's needs whether as a keynote presentation or seminar. Rabbi Cohen also offers Legacy Retreats based on his new initiative The Legacy Academy.
Give one of Rabbi Cohen’s books as a gift for your program – click here to bulk order What Will They Say When You’re Gone and click here to bulk order The Secret of the Light.
Contact Rabbi Cohen to discuss optimizing your event with autographed copies.
Leading a Life of Legacy: Reverse Engineer Your Life
Live the Life Now for How You Want to Be Remembered
Flagship Keynote | 45–75 minutes
A powerful and inspiring keynote that invites audiences to step back from the pace of life and ask a defining question:
How do I want to be remembered—and how do I begin living that life now?
Through storytelling, reflection, and practical frameworks, Rabbi Daniel Cohen helps participants align daily decisions with enduring values, deepen relationships, and live with intention rather than default.
Ideal for:
Federations · Synagogues · Conferences · Community-wide events
Courageous Living
Choosing Conviction Over Convenience in Challenging Times
Values & Leadership Keynote | 30-40 minutes
A timely and galvanizing talk on what it means to live with moral courage when the cost of speaking up, standing firm, or acting ethically feels high.
This keynote explores how courage is not a personality trait—it is a daily practice, expressed in decisions large and small. Participants are challenged to clarify their non-negotiables and develop the inner strength to act with integrity, even when it is uncomfortable or countercultural.
Core themes
Courage as faith in action
Conviction vs. convenience
Moral clarity in moments of pressure
Becoming a source of strength for others
Ideal for:
Leadership groups · Executives · Educators · Community forums · Scholar-in-Residence weekends
Creating Memories: The Secret to Eternity
Why We Don’t Remember Days—We Remember Moments
Interactive Seminar | 30-45 minutes
A deeply moving and participatory experience exploring how presence, love, and intentionality transform fleeting moments into memories that shape identity and legacy across generations.
Participants reflect on:
the memories that shaped who they are
the memories they hope to create
how small acts of presence echo far beyond the moment
Ideal for:
Endowments, Donor Appreciation, Family programs · Adult education · Retreats · Legacy Academy cohorts
Unlocking the Secret of the Light
Revealing Meaning, Purpose, and God’s Presence in Everyday Life
Spiritual Keynote / Shabbat Program | 30–60 minutes
Drawing on Jewish mysticism and lived experience, this talk explores the idea that hidden light exists in every person and every moment—and our task is to reveal it.
A message of hope, responsibility, and wholeness in an uncertain world.
Ideal for:
Shabbat weekends · Faith-based audiences ·Scholar-in-Residence programs
Discovering Your Elijah Moment
Change One Life. Change the World.
Inspiring Talk | 30–45 minutes
A compelling exploration of the unexpected moments when we are called to act. Through stories of everyday encounters, participants learn how awareness, compassion, and speed turn ordinary moments into defining acts of purpose.
Core takeaway: You never know when a moment becomes a mission.
Ideal for:
Morning programs · Volunteer gatherings · Social action initiatives · Leadership events
From Crisis to Calling
How Life’s Interruptions Awaken Our Purpose
Resilience & Meaning Keynote | 30-45 minutes
A hopeful and grounding talk that reframes illness, loss, disruption, and uncertainty as moments that can awaken clarity, gratitude, and calling.
Participants leave with tools to move forward with meaning rather than fear—and to help others do the same.
Ideal for:
JFS · Healthcare-adjacent audiences · Community resilience initiatives
Watch Rabbi Cohen
“One of the best hours I’ve spent in ages! Amazing how much significance can be said in a short time.”
– Susan, NY
Rabbi Cohen’s Unique Expertise:
Engaging in hundreds of end-of-life conversations and delivering thousands of eulogies provide Rabbi Cohen with a unique perspective on the essence of a meaningful life.
Promise: Inspire Living Life at the Highest Frequency and Not as a Highlight Film
Return on Investment:
1. Transform Fleeting Encounters and Transactional Relationships into Eternal Ones.
2. Ignite an Environment of Collaboration, Growth, and Renewed Purpose and Energy
3. Harness your Gifts to Realize your Unique Potential.
4. Develop Moral Fortitude to Make Courageous Choices.
5. Anticipate Opportunities for Impact
6. Slow Down Time and Increase Mindfulness
2020-2023 Speaking Events
June 6 2023
Life and Legacy| West Hartford, CT
May 3 2023
Life and Legacy| Jewish Nevada, Las Vegas
April 28-29, 2023
Legacy Weekend, Thousand Oaks, Calif
March 22 2023
Solomon Society, Associated| Baltimore
January 22 2023
Beth Jacob Endowment| Atlanta
January 19 2023
JFS Financial| Los Angeles
January 10 2023
Life and Legacy| Boca Raton
April 6 2022
Life and Legacy| Palm Beach
November 17, 2021
Life and Legacy| San Antonio
October 24, 2021
Life and Legacy | Jewish Ann Arbor
June 9, 2021
Life and Legacy|Jewish Columbus
May 27, 2021
UJA Federation NY - Legacy Event
May 13, 2021
Life and Legacy | Jewish Nevada
May 3, 2021
Cleveland Federation Donor Appreciation Event
March 13, 2021
Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York
February 11, 2021
Temple Beth Israel | Longboat Key, Fla.
January 21, 2021
Leading a Life of Legacy, UJA Federation New York
January 14, 2021
TOP Foundation | Tampa, Fla.
January 12, 2021
Houston JCF | Houston, TX
December 7, 2020
Rose Foundation | Denver, CO
December 1, 2020
AssetMark Investment Services
November 19, 2020
Jewish United Fund | Chicago, Illinois
November 12, 2021
Life and Legacy Celebration | Sarasota, Fla.
September 23, 2020
Alliance Bernstein
August 27, 2020
JCF Greater Kansas City
August 25, 2020
Memphis, TN | Jewish Federation Annual Meeting Keynote
August 19, 2020
Jewish Community Foundation | Los Angeles
June 28, 2020
Minneapolis MN | National ATID Conference Keynote
April 2, 2020
Sarasota, FL | Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Life and Legacy Celebration Keynote
March 19, 2020
Greenwich, CT| Greenwich Federation
February 2, 2020
Palm Beach, FL | Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY Major Donor Celebration Keynote
Testimonials
“I've just finished your book...it was impactful to me at age 81! I would have done many things differently in my life had I read this 60 years ago but realize I have a lot of life left to live purposely and share with my grandchildren. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom and insight...you're making the world a better place.” - Lawrence Katz, senior
“Our attendees loved your session and still talk about it to this day. You even moved some of the most skeptical when it comes to inspirational speakers or topics.” - Megan Tallman, Financial Planning Association
“What a tremendous speaker you are! It was truly from the heart, inspiring and thought provoking. I honestly think this was one of the best speeches I have heard.I want you to know that today was my last day with the foundation and it truly was my best day. I can’t thank you enough.” - Leslie Aronoff, Jewish Columbus, Planned Giving Coordinator
“As a Roman Catholic, I find Rabbi Cohen’s sincerity, insight and message transcends age, disposition or faith. Most importantly, there has never been a better moment in time for this type of reflection and dialogue. His writing will provide a small sample of the man himself, and it will change your life.”
- Alfred G. Wilton, web designer
“There isn’t a time that I walk away from either speaking with Rabbi Cohen in-person or reading his blog or watching his videos, when I don’t feel fuller from the experience. Rabbi Cohen is my first exposure to a Jewish Rabbi and not only am I captivated by his thoughts, I have never felt alienated by virtue of what I believe or by what he has to share. His message is universally uplifting. I feel blessed to have the great fortune of having learned and grown through this man.” - Nicole Williams, bestselling author, career expert for LinkedIn
“Rabbi Daniel Cohen’s inspirational voice is like a lighthouse that leads us home and gently encourages us to remember what we’ve already learned, as well as find a new lens to help us examine our lives and spiritual selves.”
- Elissa Stein, psychotherapist
“I have found Rabbi Cohen to be a magical mix of thoughtful educator, empathetic counselor and gifted spiritual advisor. In a noisy and cluttered world, our conversations elegantly point me to a moral true north…time and again. More than anything, I’ve appreciated his wisdom shared without judgment, born of kindness and experience.” - Rich Vogel, CEO Loeb Enterprises and President Stamford JCC
“Your presentation at the Financial Planning Association conference was the highlight of the entire 3 day conference. I was inspired and stirred in my faith. Your discussions about blessings, gratitude, and Elijah moments impacted me. I thought it was pretty cool when you had everyone take out their phones right at that moment and reach out to someone. I messaged an old college friend of mine in London who I've been thinking about for a long time. He immediately messaged back and now we are planning a time to reconnect. Thank you for your faith, boldness and willingness to come to Minneapolis last week to share with us! Blessings to you!” – A VP Private Wealth at US Bank