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Aish HaTorah

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Aish/Aish HaTorah
אש התורה‎
NicknameAish
Established1974
FounderRabbi Noach Weinberg
TypeNonprofit
PurposeJewish education
HeadquartersJerusalem, Israel
ServicesOnline educational content, Yeshiva, classes, seminars
Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits
Rabbi Steven Burg
Key people
  • Noach Weinberg
  • Steven Burg
  • Yitzchak Berkovitz
  • Dov Ber Cohen
  • Daniel Rowe
  • Jamie Geller
AffiliationsOrthodox Judaism
Websiteaish.com

Aish formerly known as Aish HaTorah (Hebrew: אש התורה, lit. "Fire of the Torah"), is a Jewish educational organization. The focus of Aish is to spread traditional teachings to Jews around the globe utilizing a massive online presence made up of its website Aish.com and various social media channels. In addition to the educational organization there is also a yeshiva and women's seminary as well as several other in-person programs that make up the organization's main campus in Jerusalem.

History

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Aish was established in Jerusalem in 1974 by Rabbi Noah Weinberg, after he left the Ohr Somayach yeshiva, which he had previously co-founded.[1] The organization worked to educate young Jewish students, often travelers and volunteers, in the history and traditions of Orthodox Judaism.[2] It later expanded worldwide, and established 30 branches, each is currently run as its own separate entity. Aish continues to promote an extensive array of education classes, [2] as well as online educational content.[3] After Noah Weinberg died in February 2009, his son Rabbi Hillel Weinberg served as interim dean for a few years.[4] In 2015 Rabbi Steven Burg was named the CEO of the organization,[5] and in 2019 Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits was named Rosh Yeshiva [6] and continues to lead the Jerusalem Yeshiva to this day.

Philosophy

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Aish’s mission is to inspire people to lead more thoughtful, spiritual, and impactful lives by sharing timeless Jewish wisdom. Aish aims to create a better Jewish future for all Jews, and through that help make a better world for everyone. Aish is driven by a deep commitment to ensuring a vibrant and inclusive Jewish future for all, with a strong emphasis on inspiring unaffiliated Jews across the Americas.

Study in the Yeshiva blends the traditions of the Lithuanian yeshivas with the doctrines of Hasidism.[citation needed] Weinberg himself was a product of Lithuanian schools but he was also a grandson of the Slonimer Rebbe. His teachings reflect influences of both schools as well as certain facets of the Kabbalah of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Vilna Gaon and others.[citation needed]

Aish describes itself as pro-Israel and encourages Jewish people to visit Israel and connect to the land and its history. The organization's stated mission is "providing opportunities for Jews of all backgrounds to discover their heritage."

The organization is politically conservative and its officials have stated they oppose a full hand over of the West Bank to the Palestinians.[7]

Programs

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Aish HaTorah operates about 30 full-time branches on five continents, providing seminars, singles events, executive learning groups, Shabbat and Jewish holiday programs, and community building.

Aish.com

Aish has an interactive-online website at Aish.com[8] which hosts a wealth of articles on almost every topic in Judaism. Additionally, the website hosts live chat sessions with Rabbis[9] who are available to answer any question. Aish has an online community of over 3 million followers across multiple social media platforms.[10]

Branches

There are 30 full-time branches on five continents,[11] providing seminars, singles events, executive learning groups, Shabbat and Jewish holiday programs, educational classes, and community building. These branches are all their own separate entities and serve their own communities, but they operate under the same banner and share a similar history.

The Dan Family Aish World Center

The Jerusalem headquarters includes a high-tech main campus and outreach center, that features a rooftop vista overlooking the Temple Mount.[12] The campus houses the Kirk Douglas Theater, which hosts a dramatic film presentation of the Jewish contribution to humanity. The Aish World Center is also home to the staff behind the online innovations and educational programming that has made Aish a leader of Jewish education in the 21st century. Via several social media channels which combined have more than 1 million video views per day, and its website which is frequented by 1.1 million visitors per month.[13] The informative educational content is curated to share inspiring wisdom from Jewish sources, both ancient and modern, as well as provide a Jewish perspective on current events.

The Jerusalem Yeshiva

Further information: Yeshiva § Curriculum

In Jerusalem, the Aish yeshiva offers both beginners' "drop-in classes" and full-time, intensive study programs for Jewish men and women of all backgrounds and levels of knowledge. The offering extends through a 4-year semikhah (rabbinic ordination) program; previously, participants were tested by the posek Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.[14] [15]

Discovery Seminar

Aish HaTorah runs the Discovery Seminar. The four-hour seminar reviews Jewish history, Jewish philosophy, and Jewish philosophy questions.[16] The Discovery Seminar aims to imbue participants with a newfound connection to Judaism, discovering its depth, beauty, and practical significance in their daily lives.

Essentials Program

Essentials classes is a series of ongoing drop-in classes that explore critical topics such as God, religion, relationships, Jewish history, and philosophy. With world-renowned teachers and sought-after educators, each session offers diverse perspectives that will challenge and inspire participants. These classes are offered at the Aish World Center in Jerusalem.[17]

Aish Destiny

The Aish Destiny program brings families on a customized educational and experiential trip throughout Israel with the goal of inspiring people to gain a new love and understanding of the Jewish State, its history, and its people.

Hasbara Fellowships

Main article: Hasbara Fellowships

When the Israeli Foreign Ministry sought to combat anti-Israel ideas on college campuses, it worked with Aish HaTorah to develop the Hasbara Fellowships. This program has flown hundreds of student leaders to Israel for intensive training in pro-Israel activism training. In North America, Hasbara Fellowships guides and funds pro-Israel activities on over 100 college campuses.

EFG@AISH

EFG@aish, which stands for Erber Family Gesher program is an English speaking men’s and women’s post-high school Yeshiva and seminary gap year program. with a solid basis in Talmud and Jewish Law. It is also integrated with Aish Discovery and Essentials classes.

Embezzlement case

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In December 2013, Aish HaTorah of New York filed suit against its former chief financial officer Jacob Fetman to enforce a Beth Din of America ruling that Fetman had stolen $20 million in funds from the organization.[18]

Notable faculty

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References

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  1. ^ Andrew Friedman (February 11, 2009). "The Fire Within: The {assion, Vision, and Teacity That Was Rav Noach Weimnerg ztz"l". Mishpacha. pp. 16–24.
  2. ^ a b Goldberg, J.J. (2016-08-16). "Is Israel Trying To Turn American Jews Into Orthodox Right-Wingers?". The Forward. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  3. ^ Nas Daily (2024-07-08). I had a conversation with a Jewish Rabbi. Retrieved 2024-07-11 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Kahana, Shaul (May 21, 2019). "משגיח הישיבה התארס עם הרבנית מעפולה" [Yeshiva's Mashgiach Engaged to a Rebbetzin from Afula]. Kikar HaShabbat (in Hebrew). Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  5. ^ Yudelson, Larry (June 18, 2015). "his place in jerusalem". Jewish Standard. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Simmons, Shraga (August 14, 2019). "Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits to be Inaugurated as Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah". Aish.com. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Powell, Michael (2012-01-23). "In Police Training, a Dark Film on U.S. Muslims". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  8. ^ "The Jewish Website". Aish.com. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  9. ^ "DMing my rabbi: Aish's live chats see spike 300% post-Oct. 7, antisemitism surge". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  10. ^ Wire, Aish/Jewlish (June 14, 2022). "Aish and Jewlish enter into a strategic partnership, making Aish the #1 global Jewish food media brand". Jewish News Syndicate.
  11. ^ "Branches". Aish. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  12. ^ Staff, JLNJ (2022-02-17). "US Ambassador To Israel Visits Aish". The Jewish Link. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  13. ^ Burg, Rabbi (2024-03-03). "Shattered Hearts and Heartfelt Hugs". Aish. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  14. ^ (2 February 2017) "Aish Hatorah's Amazing Semicha Program", theyeshivaworld.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. ^ "About Aish Smicha", israel.aish.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020
  16. ^ Simmons, Shraga (29 November 2009). "Premier Educational Programs Amidst an Architectural Marvel". News article. Aish.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  17. ^ Coopersmith, Nehemiah (July 11, 2024). "Aish Essentials". Aish.com. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  18. ^ Nathan-Kazis, Josh (26 June 2015). "$20M Charity Embezzlement Case Shows Power of Rabbinic Courts". The Forward. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  19. ^ Landesman, Shmuel (5 December 2019). "Rabbi Chaim Malinowitz, Artscroll Editor And Rav, 67". Jewish Press. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
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