Is L.A. big enough for two Baruch Cohons? By: Rabbi Baruch Cohon ("I thought I was looking into a mirror!")

Civil trial attorney Baruch C. Cohen, son of Samuel Cohen, with Baruch Cohon, son of Samuel Cohon, at the Stand With Us event at the Jewish Federation

One evening recently, I got a phone call: “Is this Baruch Cohon?” I said yes.

 “This is not a gag,” said the caller. “But this is Baruch Cohen.”

 “It is, eh?”

 “Furthermore,” he said, “ I also have smicha (rabbinical ordination), and my father’s name is Samuel.”

I was suitably impressed.

 “We seem to have a good deal in common.”

 “Yes, I thought we ought to meet.”

I agreed that this sounded like a good idea, and wondered how he came to call me.

This was the opening to an unlikely but true story.

It seems that a woman called him and thought she was talking to me. He, the “other Baruch Cohen,” is a high-powered civil trial attorney. I am a cantor. The woman asked if she was addressing Rabbi Baruch Cohen, and he acknowledged that she was, although he doesn’t usually use the title. She then inquired when he would be giving a concert. This question surprised him, and he said he doesn’t give concerts.

 “Don’t tell me that, “she said, “Is this really Baruch Cohon?”

 “Yes, but . . . “

 “And is your father’s name Samuel?”

 “How did you know?”

 “Then you have a great voice when are you giving a concert?”

 “Lady, I’m tone deaf!”

Well, obviously, they both figured what was going on, and he determined to get in touch with me. And here we are, now firmly convinced that the Los Angeles Jewish community is indeed big enough for two Baruch Cohens (or Cohons as the case may be.)

His father is Rabbi Dr. Samuel I. Cohen of the Jewish National Fund, a well-known national Figure. My father, alav hashalom, was Rabbi Samuel S. Cohon, theologian and author of many books on Judaism. We share a commitment to Yiddishkeit, to klal Yisroel and to our families--and a feeling of fun about our mutual identity.

I guess there are only so many names in the world. Just one caution to HERITAGE readers, you may or may not want to call him about music, but whatever you do, don’t call me about legal advice!

http://cantorabbi.com/
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Baruch Cohen’s note:
I was at a kosher restaurant on Pico Boulevard one night when I heard someone saying: “There is Rabbi Cantor Baruch Cohon!” I stopped my meal to turn around and I introduced myself to him, as the other Baruch Cohen who spoke to him on the phone. We looked at each other, and not looking at all alike, I told him that this scene reminded me of the scene from the movie Twins with Arnold Schwartzeneger and Danny Devito when they met in prison for the first time:

• I'm looking for Vincent Benedict.
• You got him.
• I have rowed halfway across the world...
• Wrong, I just rowed a day...
• I've been looking forward to this moment my whole life. I've been on my island, I'm telling you. This is incredible that... I have looked for...
• You've gotta talk into the phone, Bozo.
• Vincent.
• Yes, Vincent...
• I know you don't know who I am. But believe me, I came...
• Whoa, whoa, whoa! I've got another six hours to pay the money back. Tell the Klane brothers that harassing a man already in the slammer... is beneath even them, all right?
• I don't know any Klane brothers. I'm your brother, Julius.
• Huh? Come again?
• My name is Julius, and I'm your twin brother.
• Oh, obviously.
• The moment I sat down, I thought I was looking into a mirror.