Aish HaTorah

History

Aish, founded in Jerusalem in 1974 by Rabbi Noah Weinberg after leaving the Ohr Somayach yeshiva, which he had co-founded, aimed to educate young Jewish students, particularly travellers and volunteers, in the history and traditions of Orthodox Judaism. It later expanded worldwide and established 30 branches; each is currently run as its own entity. Aish continues to promote an extensive array of relevant in-person courses and online educational material. After Weinberg died in February 2009, his son, Rabbi Hillel Weinberg, served as interim dean for a few years. In 2015, Rabbi Steven Burg was named CEO of the organization, and, in 2019, Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits was named rosh yeshiva.

Politics

The organization is ideologically conservative. Its officials have stated they oppose a full hand-over of the West Bank to the Palestinians. In 2012, Aish HaTorah officials were linked to the Clarion Fund, publishers of the controversial film The Third Jihad, alleging a Muslim strategy to infiltrate and dominate America.

Activities

Aish operates roughly 30 full-time branches on five continents, providing seminars, singles events, executive learning groups, Shabbat and Jewish holiday programs, and community-building. Its Jerusalem headquarters includes a high-tech main campus and outreach center featuring a rooftop vista overlooking the Temple Mount.

The organization operates a website at Aish.com that attracts a global audience. Among the services offered are live chat sessions with Rabbis who are available to answer questions.

In the late 1998, Rabbi Yaakov Deyo, then Educational Director of the Los Angeles branch of Aish, invented the speed dating concept. Speed dating events under the auspices of Aish have continued to the present, designed to promote marriages between Jewish partners and thus continue the Jewish tradition.

In 2001, the Israeli Foreign Ministry worked with Aish HaTorah to create the Hasbara Fellowships, an initiative designed to combat anti-Israel ideas on North American college campuses.

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

Notable faculty

• Noah Weinberg (1930 – 2009), founder
• Chaim Malinowitz (1952 – 2019)
• Rabbi Steven Burg, CEO
• Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, Rosh Yeshiva

References

References

1. Stub, Zev. (2024-12-31). "From posters to protests, pro-Israel US campus leaders take varying paths to shared goal". The Times of Israel.
2. Andrew Friedman. (February 11, 2009). "The Fire Within: The Passion, Vision, and Teacity That Was Rav Noach Weimnerg ztz"l".
3. Goldberg, J.J.. (2016-08-16). "Is Israel Trying To Turn American Jews Into Orthodox Right-Wingers?".
4. Nas Daily. (2024-07-08). "I had a conversation with a Jewish Rabbi".
5. Kahana, Shaul. (May 21, 2019). "משגיח הישיבה התארס עם הרבנית מעפולה". [[Kikar HaShabbat (website).
6. Yudelson, Larry. (June 18, 2015). "his place in jerusalem". Jewish Standard.
7. Simmons, Shraga. (August 14, 2019). "Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits to be Inaugurated as Rosh Yeshiva of Aish HaTorah". Aish.com.
8. Powell, Michael. (2012-01-23). "In Police Training, a Dark Film on U.S. Muslims". The New York Times.
9. Staff, JLNJ. (2022-02-17). "US Ambassador To Israel Visits Aish".
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. (2024-06-19). "DMing my rabbi: Aish's live chats see spike 300% post-Oct. 7, antisemitism surge".
12. Greenwald, Toby Klein. (2021-10-18). "Torah Live Breathes New Life into Education".
13. Kennedy, Pagan. (2013-09-27). "Who Made Speed Dating? (Published 2013)". [[The New York Times Magazine]].
14. Staff. (2025-08-05). "Largest-ever Jewish virtual dating event timed to holiday of Tu B’Av".
15. Nathan-Kazis, Josh. (26 June 2015). "$20M Charity Embezzlement Case Shows Power of Rabbinic Courts".
16. Landesman, Shmuel. (5 December 2019). "Rabbi Chaim Malinowitz, Artscroll Editor And Rav, 67". Jewish Press.