| Aish/Aish HaTorah | |
| Native Name Lang: | he |
| Nickname: | Aish |
| Established: | 1974 |
| Founder: | Rabbi Noah Weinberg |
| Type: | Nonprofit |
| Purpose: | Jewish education |
| Headquarters: | Jerusalem, Israel |
| Services: | Online educational content, Yeshiva, classes, seminars |
| Leader Title: | Rosh Yeshiva |
| Leader Name: | Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits |
| Leader Title2: | CEO |
| Leader Name2: | Rabbi Steven Burg |
| Key People: |
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| Affiliations: | Orthodox Judaism |
Aish, formerly known as Aish HaTorah (Hebrew: אש התורה, lit. "Fire of the Torah"), is a Jewish educational organization. The focus of Aish is the spread of traditional Jewish religious teachings and culture to Jews around the globe, utilizing a significant online presence made up of its website, Aish.com, and various social media channels. In addition to the educational organization, the organization's main campus in Jerusalem also includes a yeshiva and a women's seminary, as well as several other in-person programs.
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.[1] [2] 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.[3] After 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 CEO of the organization,[5] and, in 2019, Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits was named rosh yeshiva.[6]
Rabbi Weinberg developed the yeshiva’s philosophy by blending Lithuanian Jewish traditions with Hasidic philosophy. Educated in Lithuanian Jewish schools and as the grandson of the Slonimer Rebbe, he incorporated influences from both traditions. Additionally, he drew on various streams of Kabbalah, including those of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and the Vilna Gaon, to enrich the yeshiva’s curriculum.
The organization is ideologically conservative and its officials have stated they oppose a full hand-over of the West Bank to the Palestinians.[7]
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.
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 Jerusalem Yeshiva
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.[13] [14]
Discovery Seminar
Aish HaTorah runs the Discovery Seminar. The four-hour seminar reviews Jewish history, Jewish philosophy, and Jewish philosophy questions.[15] 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 teachers and educators, each session offers diverse perspectives. These classes are offered at the Aish World Center in Jerusalem.[16]
Hasbara Fellowships
See main article: Hasbara Fellowships.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry worked with Aish HaTorah to combat anti-Israel ideas on college campuses via 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.
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.[17]