When 15 year-old Noach Weinberg’s father tragically passed away in 1945, his family was thrown into financial straits. Determined to help, young Noach dedicated his summers to peddling dry goods. As he travelled the country, he met many Jews who were proud to be Jewish but had little understanding of their faith.
Realizing that these parents would be unable to meaningfully pass on their Jewish heritage to their children, Rav Noach dedicated himself to revitalizing the Jewish world through timeless Torah wisdom.
Rav Noach zt”l recruited five backpackers and founded Aish HaTorah opposite the Western Wall in 1974. With his beaming smile, sharp wit and abundant love, Jews looked to Rav Noach, discovering profound depth, beauty, and significance through a personal relationship with the Almighty. Before long, these newly inspired Jews were out in the world igniting other souls with the passion for Jewish life.
Rav Noach’s legacy lives on through the Aish campus in Jerusalem’s Old City, 35 branches worldwide, hundreds of missions to Israel, and vast online learning opportunities. Today, Rav Noach’s call to action is more urgent than ever.
Aish Hatorah strives to show all Jews, regardless of background, that Judaism is meaningful. Our Jewish pride is based on a deep intellectual understanding of the Almighty’s continuous love, the Divine origin and purpose of the world, the appreciation of Torah as the ultimate source of timeless wisdom, and experiencing first hand (because living is believing) the joy, beauty and genuine sense of fulfillment in modern life with Jewish ideals. We strongly focus on innovation and leadership development to constantly be at the cutting edge of the changing landscape, doing whatever it takes to make Judaism come alive, sparking passion through intellectual and experiential learning.
At Aish, we do not base Jewish values on defensiveness, nor on guilt. We believe in going much deeper, down to the core and revealing the innate beauty of our glorious heritage and highlighting the depth of timeless Torah to inspire and make a long lasting impact.
“Congratulations to Aish HaTorah and to its founder, Rabbi Noah Weinberg, for success in educating Jews about the power of their history and strength of their tradition.”
“Thank you Aish HaTorah for the good work you do, and the message you put out. I could have used you in my life about 25 years ago.”
“I want to acknowledge the Jerusalem Fellowships of Aish HaTorah for the outstanding job it does in bringing Jewish youth to Israel to learn about their history and heritage.”
“I entered into a partnership with Aish HaTorah to educate all who come here of the meaning of this sacred site, [the Western Wall]. Together we can make a difference.”
“Aish HaTorah means to me the passion of Torah, the passion of teaching, the passion of learning. The study of the Torah, the source of Jewish values, is the way to Jewish survival.”
“Aish HaTorah enables young Jews to visit their heritage, to become immersed in it, to understand the fount of inspiration that drives Jewish history, to become better Jews, prouder Jews and more secure Jews. I congratulate Aish HaTorah for what they’re doing, where they’re doing it, and for whom they’re doing it.”
“Making a donation in support of the Aish Center in Jerusalem has given us great satisfaction. We are excited about helping Aish advance its mission of making Judaism relevant and actionable in everyday life for Jews throughout the world.”
Addressing Aish HaTorah students: “I know that your visit will strengthen and enhance your activities – not only as Americans, but as Jews.”
“Aish HaTorah helps us appreciate how tradition can enhance the present and serve as a guide for the future.”
“The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah has made tremendous strides in highlighting the key contributions of Jewish heritage to Western civilization. Keep up your excellent educational endeavors.”
“Aish HaTorah’s Hasbara Fellowships program provides the knowledge, the training and most importantly, the motivation to student leaders to defend Israel where she most needs it: on the campuses.”
“Aish HaTorah’s leadership and followers certainly indicate a solid stable organization which is bound to grow and expand.”
“I praise the Jerusalem Fund for strengthening the values based on which the Jewish people and the Jewish state have revived in modern times.”
“You can’t jam Judaism down somebody’s throat and say, ‘You’re Jewish, you have to be like this.’ Aish HaTorah doesn’t do that. They say, “Here’s what we know. Let us try and convey it to you in a meaningful way.”
“Quality time is the value here. Spending quality time with a Torah scholar who not only know the Torah, but knows the how it relates to everyday concerns and issues. The interaction with these [Aish rabbis] is extremely enriching.”
“I sensed that Jewish morality, Jewish ethics, Judaism, was the right thing. That there was something there. I wanted to explore it and exploit it.”
“Location, location, location! What better location could there be for an institution single-mindedly dedicated to reaching and teaching Jews their heritage? Recognizing Aish HaTorah’s unique role, the government of Israel has transferred to Aish HaTorah the prime parcels of land opposite the Western Wall.”
“In relation to the teachings that Aish HaTorah is reflecting, I believe all of us have something to learn.”
“Aish HaTorah has become a remarkably energetic and effective force for the transmission of the Jewish heritage.”
“Aish HaTorah represents the voice of calm Torah reason in an all-too confused and polarized world. It has made historic contributions to Israeli society and world Jewry and it is my pleasure to identify with this splendid center of scholarship and communal involvement.”
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AISH WORLD CENTER
One Western Wall Plaza
POB 14149
Old City Jerusalem, 9114101
Phone: +972-2-628-5666
US Phone: +1-347-271-8076
Email: info@aish.com
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