Aish HaTorah Center opposite the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Aish HaTorah ("Fire of the Torah") is an Orthodox Jewish outreach organization and yeshiva. The organization's stated mission is "providing opportunities for Jews of all backgrounds to discover their heritage." Its headquarters are in the Old City of Jerusalem. The government of Israel awarded it a piece of land facing the Western Wall. A public snapshot of Aish HaTorah Yeshiva building nearing completion at Westerm Wall Plaza opposite the Western Wall in Jerusalem File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A public snapshot of Aish HaTorah Yeshiva building nearing completion at Westerm Wall Plaza opposite the Western Wall in Jerusalem File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Western Wall by night “Wailing Wall” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Western Wall by night “Wailing Wall” redirects here. ...

The organization has "branches" or franchises in many cities around the world which contain large populations of Jews. Each branch has independent governance and funding. Look up franchise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

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. Areas of study include Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Jewish history, Jewish philosophy and Hebrew language ulpan. A US-accredited college, the yeshiva offers degrees to college and university age students. This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... Tanakh (Hebrew: ‎) (also Tanach, IPA: or , or Tenak, is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... Jewish history is the history of the Jewish people, faith, and culture. ... Jewish philosophy refers to the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish theology. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... Institute or school for intensive study of Hebrew. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ...

The rabbinic ordination program combines classical Talmudic training with intensive instruction in outreach and leadership skills. Over 200 men have graduated from its rabbinic program, assuming leadership and religious roles in many Jewish communities around the world. Rabbi, in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’, or more literally, ‘great one’. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word , rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ‘great’ or ‘distinguished (in knowledge)’. Sephardic and Yemenite Jews pronounce this word ribbī; the modern Israeli pronunciation rabbī is derived from a... Semicha (Hebrew: ‎, leaning [of the hands]), also semichut (Hebrew: ‎, ordination), or semicha lerabbanut (Hebrew: ‎, rabbinical ordination) is derived from a Hebrew word which means to rely on or to be authorized. It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ...

History

Aish HaTorah was established in Jerusalem by Rabbi Noah Weinberg in 1974, after he broke away from the Ohr Somayach yeshiva which he had previously co-founded. Rabbi Noah Weinberg is a Haredi rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Aish HaTorah yeshiva in Jerusalem and controls its worldwide network of rabbis and its propgrams and activities. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Ohr Somayach (also Or Samayach or Ohr Somayach International) was founded in 1970. ...

Philosophically, Aish HaTorah follows the traditions of the Ashekenazi Lithuanian yeshivas, as compared to Hasidic Judaism. Languages Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, English Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Sephardi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, and other Jewish ethnic divisions Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (Standard Hebrew: sing. ... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc. ...

Aish HaTorah's educational philosophy

Rabbi Noah Weinberg

• Judaism is not "all or nothing"; it is a journey where every step counts, to be pursued according to one's own pace and interest.
• Every Jew and human being is worthy of profound respect, no matter their level of observance, knowledge or affiliation. No one knows who is a better Jew or human being.
• Mitzvos ("commandments") are not mere rituals, but opportunities for one's personal growth, to be studied and understood.
• Torah is the "wisdom for living", teaching people how to maximize their potential and pleasure in life.
• The Jewish people's history and destiny is to serve as a light unto the nations.
• The Torah’s ideas have civilized the world and can continue to do so, if the Jewish people as a nation continue to accept the challenge.

Image File history File links Noah. ... Image File history File links Noah. ... Rabbi Noah Weinberg is a Haredi rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Aish HaTorah yeshiva in Jerusalem and controls its worldwide network of rabbis and its propgrams and activities. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Main article: Mitzvah 613 Mitzvot or 613 Commandments (Hebrew: ‎ transliterated as Taryag mitzvot; TaRYaG is the acronym for the numeric value of 613) are a list of commandments from God in the Torah. ... “Tora” redirects here. ... Jewish history is the history of the Jewish people, faith, and culture. ... In Judaism, chosenness is the belief that the Jews are a chosen people: chosen to be in a covenant with God. ...

Meaning of Name

The name Aish HaTorah, literally "Fire [of] the Torah", was inspired by the Talmudic story of Rabbi Akiva, the once illiterate 40-year-old shepherd who subsequently became the most famous sage of the Mishnah. One day he came across a stone that had been hollowed out by a constant drip of water. He concluded, "If something as soft as water could carve a hole in solid rock, then how much more so can Torah — which is compared to fire — make an indelible impression on my heart." [While the comparison to fire is reflected in the yeshiva's name ("aish" means fire), the simile in this story is that of water and the Torah, which is frequent in the Talmud).] Rabbi Akiva committed himself to study the Torah. The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... Akiba ben Joseph (or Rabbi Akiva, Rebbi Akiva, c. ... The Mishnah (Hebrew משנה, repetition) is a major source of rabbinic Judaisms religious texts. ... “Tora” redirects here. ... Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaisms religious texts, for the purpose of the mitzvah (commandment) of Torah study itself, meaning study for religious (as opposed to academic) purposes. ...

Elie Weisel said, "Aish HaTorah means to me the passion of teaching, the passion of learning. The study of Torah, the source of Jewish values, is the way to Jewish survival." ^[1] Elie Wiesel Eliezer Wiesel (born September 30, 1928) is a Holocaust survivor, a world-renowned author, and a political activist. ...

Organizational goals

Aish HaTorah's self-declared objective is to revitalize the Jewish people by providing opportunities for Jews of all backgrounds to discover their heritage in an atmosphere of open inquiry and mutual respect. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Worldwide, Aish HaTorah operates about 35 full-time branches on five continents, providing seminars, singles events, executive learning groups, Shabbat and holiday programs, and community building. This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. ...

In Jerusalem, it has built a high-tech main campus and outreach center that features a rooftop vista overlooking the Temple Mount, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre, which houses a dramatic film presentation of the Jewish contribution to humanity. Scheduled to open in 2007, the outreach center anticipates one million visitors annually. The Temple Mount as it appears today. ... Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch Demsky December 9, 1916) is an American actor and film producer known for his gravelly voice and his recurring roles as the kinds of characters Douglas himself once described as sons of bitches. He is also father to Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas. ... Film is a term that encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. ... Jewish history is the history of the Jewish people, faith, and culture. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Global activities

Internet presence

Screen shot of the website, Aish.com

Aish HaTorah's website, Aish.com, features articles and audio segments on spirituality, parenting, dating, weekly Torah portion, Holocaust studies, an "Ask the Rabbi" service, and political articles. Image File history File links Aishcom. ... Image File history File links Aishcom. ... In Jewish services, a Parsha or Parshah or Parashah, פרשה, meaning Portion in Hebrew, is the weekly Torah reading text selection. ... “Shoah” redirects here. ... Rabbi, in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’, or more literally, ‘great one’. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word , rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ‘great’ or ‘distinguished (in knowledge)’. Sephardic and Yemenite Jews pronounce this word ribbī; the modern Israeli pronunciation rabbī is derived from a...

The site operates a 24-hour live webcam that faces the Western Wall, which has registered 20 million visits. There are also spin-off sites in Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Russian. It also has an Aish Audio site with recordings of classes and lectures about Judaism. A Creative webcam A web camera (or webcam, real camera) is a real-time camera (usually, though not always, a video camera) whose images can be accessed using the World Wide Web, instant messaging, or a PC video calling application. ... Western Wall by night “Wailing Wall” redirects here. ...

Seminars

A key Aish HaTorah program is the Discovery Seminar, which uses purportedly scientific methods, such as the Bible Code, to explore the authenticity of Judaism and its relevance to modern times. The Discovery Seminar alleges that the divinity of the Torah is proved by the Bible Code. The Discovery Seminar was developed in 1985 by a team of Israeli scientists. ... Bible codes, also known as Torah codes, are words, phrases and clusters of words and phrases that some people believe are meaningful and exist intentionally in coded form in the text of the Bible. ... Bible codes, also known as Torah codes, are words, phrases and clusters of words and phrases that some people believe are meaningful and exist intentionally in coded form in the text of the Bible. ...

A peer reviewed article was published in favor of the codes by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. The IMS has since published an article refuting the codes and saying that the original article was simply published as an interesting puzzle to challenge the readership. A review by four leading statisticians provided a rebuttal of these codes ([1]).

The four-hour seminar presents an overview of the entire gamut of Jewish history, philosophy, and attempts to answers questions such as, "Why Be Jewish?" "Does God Exist?" and "Is Torah True?" Jewish history is the history of the Jewish people, faith, and culture. ... Jewish philosophy refers to the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish theology. ... At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form יהוה (YHVH), the name of God. ... “Tora” redirects here. ...

The seminar has been given in hundreds of cities throughout the world, at university campuses, Jewish Community Centers, and Reform, Conservative and Orthodox synagogues. A Jewish Community Center is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization serving the Jewish community in a number of cities. ... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A synagogue (from ancient Greek: , transliterated synagogē, assembly; Hebrew: beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: , shul; Ladino: , esnoga) is a Jewish house of worship. ...

More than 100,000 people worldwide have attended the seminars, including guest hosts Ed Asner, Kirk Douglas, Elliot Gould, Joel Grey and Jason Alexander. Edward Asner (born November 15, 1929) is an American actor known for his Emmy-winning role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and later continued in a spinoff series, Lou Grant. ... Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch Demsky December 9, 1916) is an American actor and film producer known for his gravelly voice and his recurring roles as the kinds of characters Douglas himself once described as sons of bitches. He is also father to Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas. ... Elliott Gould (born August 29, 1938), born Elliott Goldstein, was one of the most prominent American film actors in the early 70s, best known for playing Trapper John in the satirical 1970 film M*A*S*H. Time magazine put him on its cover in 1970, when he was at... Joel Grey (born Joel Katz on April 11, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American stage and screen actor, who graduated from Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California in 1950. ... Jason Alexander (born Jason Scott Greenspan on September 23, 1959) is a Jewish American television, cinema and musical theatre actor, best known for his role as George Costanza on the hit television series Seinfeld. ...

The seminar has been adapted for presentation to Jewish day schools, yeshivas, and Beth Jacob schools as "Project Chazon." A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of day school meaning a school that the students attend for an entire... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... Bais Yaakov (בית יעקב or Beit Yaakov or Beth Jacob -- literally House [of] Jacob in Hebrew) is a loosely organized group of Orthodox (mostly Haredi) full-time Jewish schools throughout the world for young Jewish females from religious families. ...

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. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Interreligious marriage, traditionally (especially in the Catholic Church) called mixed marriage, is marriage (either religious or civil) between partners professing different religions. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Dating

Designed to help Jewish singles meet each other, Aish HaTorah's SpeedDating is popular in North America. Speed dating is a formalized matchmaking process or dating system whose purpose is to encourage people to meet a large number of new people. ...

Audio Center

The Aish HaTorah Audio Center is a collection of recorded Jewish lectures, with over 5,000 titles on every subject in Judaism. Hundreds of Torah tape lending libraries have been established in cities with large Jewish populations, with MP3 downloads available online at Aish Audio's website. [2] Many of Aish Audio's Jewish classes are also available as mp3 downloads at the Classic Sinai website. [3] “Tora” redirects here. ... Typical 60-minute Compact Cassette. ... Julio Pérez Ferrero Library - Cúcuta, Colombia A modern-style library in Chambéry A library is a collection of information, sources, resources and services, organized for use, and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. ...

Conferences

Aish HaTorah stresses volunteer leadership involvement, and thousands of active partners teach, organize, promote and fundraise. Its annual Partners Conference attracts hundreds of lay leaders who come together to exchange ideas and glean inspiration for expanding activities. The annual "Power of One Award" honors an Aish HaTorah partner who, it claims, personifies the goal of realizing his or her potential in the service of the Jewish people. Fundraising is the process of soliciting and gathering money or other gifts in-kind, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. ...

Learning programs

Aish HaTorah's Executive Learning Program is geared towards successful Jewish men and women of all ages to participate in individually-designed personal study programs.

With limited free time, and often with limited background in Judaism, professionals like Morris Smith (former manager of Fidelity Magellan Fund), Michael Goldstein (CEO of Toys "R" Us), actor Elliott Gould, Michael Minkes (Treasurer of Bear Stearns), and hundreds of busy executives make time to fit Torah or Talmud study into their schedules. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ... Toys Я Us NYSE: TOY is a toy store chain based in the United States. ... Elliot Gould on the cover page of TIME magazine. ... The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ...

Philanthropic fund

The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah has brought important political, business and entertainment leaders on private missions to Israel to increase their support for the Jewish state. The Theodor Herzl Mission, co-sponsored by the Mayor of Jerusalem, has brought international leaders to Israel such as Lady Margaret Thatcher, U.S. Senator John Kerry, Jeanne Kirkpatrick and Elie Weisel. However, the independent charity research organization Charity Navigator has awarded the Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah zero stars on its scale.[4] Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC (born October 13, 1925), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in office from 1979 to 1990. ... Al Gore (born December 11, 1943) is a Vietnam Veteran and the junior United States Senator from Massachusetts. ... Jeane Jordan Kirkpatrick (born November 19, 1926) is an American conservative political scientist and member of the neoconservative movement. ... Elie Wiesel Eliezer Wiesel (born September 30, 1928) is a Holocaust survivor, a world-renowned author, and a political activist. ... Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. ...

Israel programs

Jewish students at the Jerusalem Fellowships

Image File history File links Jerusalem. ... Image File history File links Jerusalem. ...

Essentials program

The "Essentials" introductory program, for Jewish men ages 18-29, offers an understanding of the core concepts of Jewish thought. The educational goals of "Essentials" are to examine the relevance of being Jewish in today's world, define major tenets of Jewish thought from a rational perspective, and explore major themes and practices in Jewish spirituality. Students can participate for one class, a day, a week, or a month. Students live and study in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City.

Women's programs

Aish HaTorah also operates two women’s programs in Jerusalem, "Jewel" and "EYAHT", which offer comprehensive, multi-level study programs for university and professional women from all backgrounds. EYAHT is headed by Rebbetzin Dena Weinberg. Due to increased demand from post-college Jewish women, the program is set to complete and move into a new modern seminary building of classrooms and dormitories by the summer of 2006. Rebbetzin (in Yiddish, or Rabbanit in Hebrew) is the title used for the wife of (usually) an Orthodox, or Haredi, and Hasidic rabbi. ...

Jerusalem Fellowships

Aish HaTorah operates the Jerusalem Fellowships program, which brings "twenty-something" Jews to Israel for a three-week program that strengthens commitment to Judaism through an exploration of Jewish philosophy, history and Israeli politics. Politics of Israel takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Israel is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ...

Touring excursions are designed to build a bond to the land of Israel. Trips are heavily subsidized, and the fellowships have been called the precursor of the Birthright Israel program. Kingdom of Israel: Early ancient historical Israel — land in pink is the approximate area under direct central royal administration during the United Monarchy. ... The official logo of Taglit-Birthright Israel Birthright Israel, also known as Taglit-Birthright Israel (whose logo is trademarked with lowercase b and i) is a Zionist organization dedicated to helping Jews who have never been to Israel on an organized trip to travel there. ...

Thousands have participated in the fellowships since the program's founding in 1980. The Fellowships also sponsors get-away trips to London, New York and Chile. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... NY redirects here. ...

Jerusalem Fellowships groups have met with Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon, Yitzchak Rabin, Binyamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Shamir, and other prominent leaders from across the political spectrum. The Prime Minister of Israel (Hebrew: ראש הממשלה, Rosh HaMemshala, lit. ...   (Hebrew: , also known by his diminutive Arik אָרִיק) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... Yitzhak Rabin Yitzhak Rabin (יצחק רבין) (March 1, 1922–November 4, 1995) was an Israeli politician and military general. ... Benjamin Netanyahu (also Binyamin, and in Israel commonly Bibi) (Hebrew: בנימין נתניהו) (born October 21, 1949, Tel Aviv) was the 9th Prime Minister of Israel. ...   (Hebrew: , born Szymon Perski on August 2, 1923 in eastern Poland) is a senior Israeli statesman with a political career spanning more than 65 years. ...   (Hebrew יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר) (born October 15, 1915) was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992. ...

Hasbara Fellowships

Main article: Hasbara Fellowships

When the Israeli Foreign Ministry sought to combat anti-Israel ideas on college campuses, it called on 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 80 college campuses. Hasbara Fellowships is a pro-Israel organization based in New York. ... Hasbara Fellowships is a pro-Israel organization based in New York. ...

Jerusalem Road Trips

Aish Hatorah partnered with the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity to run an official Israel trip for their undergraduate members. This three week trip combines Jewish education and touring Israel along with adventurous activities. Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ or AEPi) is currently the only international Jewish college fraternity in North America, with chapters in the United States and Canada. ... The terms fraternity and sorority (from the Latin words and , meaning brother and sister respectively) may be used to describe many social and charitable organizations, for example the Lions Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Rotary International, Optimist International, or the Shriners. ...

Honest Reporting

Main article: Honest Reporting

HonestReporting.com was founded by Aish HaTorah, and now exists as an independent organization. It is the largest organization^{[citation needed]} in the world fighting what it describes as anti-Israel media bias. HonestReporting scrutinizes news agencies worldwide, and then alerts its 150,000 subscribers to respond to the media directly. Honest Reporting (also HonestReporting or honestreporting. ... Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionism, the movement for a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel. ...

Controversy

Aish HaTorah's methodology and impact on some people has led to comparisons to the New Religious Movements (sometimes referred to as cults).^[2] See also "Playing With Fire", an article in the Jewish Socialist. [5]. A new religious movement or NRM is a term used to refer to a religious faith, or an ethical, spiritual or philosophical movement of recent origin that isnt part of an established denomination, church, or religious body. ... This article does not discuss cult in its original sense of religious practice; for that usage see Cult (religious practice). ...

External links

• Aish.com
• Western Wall Camera
• Aish Audio Center
• Hasbara Fellowships
• HonestReporting
• Relentless
• Partners Conference