Aish HaTorah

Aish HaTorah (Hebrew: אש התורה‎, lit. "Fire of the Torah") is an Orthodox Jewish educational organization and yeshiva.

Aish HaTorah
אש התורה‎
Aish HaTorah World Center in Jerusalem
NicknameAish
Established1974
FounderRabbi Noach Weinberg
TypeNonprofit
PurposeOrthodox Jewish outreach
HeadquartersJerusalem, Israel
ServicesYeshiva, classes, seminars
Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits
AffiliationsOrthodox Judaism
Websitewww.aishglobal.com

History

Aish HaTorah was established in Jerusalem in 1974 by Rabbi Noah Weinberg, after he left the Ohr Somayach yeshiva, which he had previously co-founded. The organization worked to educate young Jewish travelers and volunteers in favor of Orthodox Judaism.[1] It later expanded worldwide, and continues promotes its extensive adult education classes.[1] After Noah Weinberg died in February 2009, his son Rabbi Hillel Weinberg served as interim dean for a few years.[2] In 2019, Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits was named rosh yeshiva.[3]

Philosophy

Aish HaTorah describes itself as blending the traditions of the Lithuanian yeshivas with the doctrines of Hasidism. 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.

Aish HaTorah 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.[4]

Programs

Aish HaTorah operates about 35 full-time branches on five continents, providing seminars, singles events, executive learning groups, Shabbat and Jewish holiday programs, and community building.

Jerusalem

In Jerusalem, the Aish HaTorah 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. See Yeshiva#Curriculum. The offering extends through a 2-year semikhah (rabbinic ordination) program; participants are tested by the posek Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. [5] [6]

Discovery Seminar

The Jerusalem yeshiva includes a high-tech main campus and outreach center, that features a rooftop vista overlooking the Temple Mount. The campus houses the Kirk Douglas Theatre, which houses a dramatic film presentation of the Jewish contribution to humanity.

Aish HaTorah runs the Discovery Seminar. The four-hour seminar reviews Jewish history, Jewish philosophy, and Jewish philosophy questions.[7]

Films

In 2005 Aish HaTorah produced a documentary film, Inspired which chronicles the lives of selected baalei teshuvah ("returnees to Jewish observance"). Aish HaTorah believes that the high rate of intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews has diluted the Jewish people's vitality. Inspired was produced to encourage more observant Jews to share their positive Jewish religious experiences of Jewish life with non-observant Jews, as a way to strengthen the baal teshuva movement and revitalize Jewish life.

In 2007 Aish released a sequel, Inspired Too. These films paved the way for Project Inspire, the grassroots organization that helps inspire Orthodox Jews to reach out to non-affiliated Jews to teach them about their heritage. Once an offshoot of Aish HaTorah, Project Inspire is now an independent organization under the umbrella of Aish Global.[8]

In 2008, the Clarion Project, an organization that formerly shared staff, fundraising sources and an address with Aish HaTorah, and has been linked in media reports with Aish HaTorah,[4][9][10] distributed its film, Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West. The film had been criticized for being unfair in its portrayal of Muslims as violent.[9] The film was sent to more than 28 million people in the United States in anticipation of the United States presidential election.[11][9] Aish HaTorah denied any connection to the film.[9] The Council on American–Islamic Relations filed a complaint about the film with the Federal Election Commission.[9]

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.

The Israel-Diaspora Initiative

In August 2016, the Israeli government announced an Israel-Diaspora outreach program called The Israel-Diaspora Initiative. The program partners were announced as Chabad and Olami Worldwide, an organization that works closely with Aish.[1][12]

Aish Gesher

Aish Gesher is an English speaking Yeshiva for young men with a solid basis in Gemara and Halacha. It is also integrated with Aish Discovery and Essentials classes.[13]

Embezzlement case

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.[14]

Notable faculty

References
  1. Goldberg, J.J. (2016-08-16). "Is Israel Trying To Turn American Jews Into Orthodox Right-Wingers?". The Forward. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  2. 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.
  3. Simmons, Shraga (August 14, 2019). "Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits to be Inaugurated as Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah". Aish.com. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  4. 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.
  5. (2 February 2017) "Aish Hatorah's Amazing Semicha Program", theyeshivaworld.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  6. "About Aish Smicha", israel.aish.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020
  7. Simmons, Shraga. "Premier Educational Programs Amidst an Architectural Marvel". News article. Aish.com. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  8. "Inspire Yourself to Inspire Others". Project Inspire. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  9. Laughlin, Meg (2008-09-26). "Senders of Islam movie 'Obsession' tied to Jewish charity". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2016-09-10. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  10. Goldberg, J.J. "Islamophobic Film and Its Jewish Backers". The Forward. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  11. Goldberg, Jeffrey. "The Jewish Extremists Behind "Obsession"". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  12. "Orthodox Groups to Lead Israel's New Bid to 'Strengthen Jewish Identity' of Diaspora Youth – Israel News – Haaretz". www.haaretz.com. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  13. "Aish Gesher - Your Life. Your Judaism. Your Future". Aish Gesher. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  14. Nathan-Kazis, Josh (26 June 2015). "$20M Charity Embezzlement Case Shows Power of Rabbinic Courts". The Forward. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  15. Landesman, Shmuel (5 December 2019). "Rabbi Chaim Malinowitz, Artscroll Editor And Rav, 67". Jewish Press. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
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