International Report Pictured: Original glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly, in the atrium of the Aish World Center / Dan Family of Canada Building. The Jerusalem Post called it "one of the most significant works of glass art to be permanently exhibited in Jerusalem." The sculpture, entitled "Fire and Water," represents the talmudic story of Rebbe Akiva, from which Aish HaTorah gets its name. The stories that propel Aish... toward our 40th year and beyond. Inside: Prime Markets Jerusalem Core Aish Classics
Transcript
International Report
Pictured: Original glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly, in the atrium of the Aish World Center / Dan Family of Canada Building.
The Jerusalem Post called it "one of the most significant works of glass art to be permanently exhibited in Jerusalem." The sculpture, entitled "Fire and Water," represents the talmudic story of Rebbe Akiva, from which Aish HaTorah gets its name.
The stories that propel Aish... toward our 40th year and beyond.
Inside:Prime Markets
Jerusalem Core
Aish Classics
The Aish story begins with one man who, in the face of others’ doubts, built a movement
to connect Jews to their heritage and to each other.
Forty years later, Aish is the story of thousands of dedicated people – rabbis, lay leaders and students – taking
responsibility to solve the spiritual and physical challenges facing the Jewish people.
Aish is the story of millions of Jews connecting with the passion of Jewish life.
It is the story of young professionals exploring their roots, their land, and the wisdom of ancient books.
It is the story of college students overcoming anti-Israel sentiment on campus and standing proud for their people.
And Aish is the story of parents infusing their homes with Jewish values for the next generation.
Rabbi Noah Weinberg built Aish’s first 40 years, and we are now moving boldly forward into the next 40 years. Our objective is to introduce strategic projects that ensure long-term stability for the organization, while fostering an exciting
new era of expansion that impacts Jews throughout the world.
Please join us.The Aish story is told through Facebook photos of visits to the Aish Center at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. It is told through meaningful, timely articles and films on Aish.com. It is told through inspiring Torah study sessions held everywhere from living rooms to board rooms, and at 30 Aish centers on 6 continents.
These stories emerge from our commitment to take responsibility, each in our unique way, for the future of the Jewish people.
Into the future, these stories deepen as we sit around the Shabbat table with our children and grandchildren, sharing warmth and wisdom in unparalleled connection.
Aish is a story like the Jewish people themselves – exciting, innovative, eternal. It is fueled by a diverse group of dedicated partners who give of their time, expertise and money, contributing to our goal of nothing less than a Jewish renaissance.
About Aish
Aish is our story.
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Rabbi Noah Weinberg Founder of Aish HaTorah 1930-2009
Aish annual participants 3
Young professionals atAish event in London
Branches Unique Participants
U.K. 30,000
New York – Connections 7,100
Toronto 4,000
Los Angeles 3,100
New York – Manhattan 3,000
Denver 1,500
Tel Aviv 1,000
Mexico City 1,000
Boston 1,000
Philadelphia 800
South Florida 700
Johannesburg 700
Australia 610
St. Louis 570
Cleveland 550
Detroit 500
Washington 500
Chile 500
Brazil 350
Costa Rica 320
Minnesota 250
Total: 58,050
Programs Unique Participants
Project Chazon (U.S.) 29,000
Hasbara Fellowships 20,600
Project Inspire 8,000
Campus Programs 7,000
Discovery USA 1,100
JWRP (affiliate) 900
Bliss Seminars 300
Justifi 100
Total: 67,000
Jerusalem Unique Participants
Israeli Outreach 10,650
Aish Events 8,900
Student Groups 3,560
Discovery-Israel 3,140
Western Wall Experience
2,380
Fellowships 1,920
Essentials 1,480
ELC & Missions 1,100
Outreach Training 760
Project Chazon 350
Yeshiva 260
Jewel 150
Eyaht 80
Total: 34,730
Digital Subscribers
Aish.com 274,000*
Aish.co.il (Hebrew) 82,000
AishLatino (Spanish) 29,000
AishAudio 25,000
Aish.fr (French) 1,000
HonestReporting (affiliate)
139,000
FreeMiddleEast.com 36,000
Kiruv.com 35,000
Total: 621,000
Figures for 2012
*plus 10 million visits Annual Total 780,780
SUMMARY
Aish Branches 58,050
Programs 67,000
Digital 621,000
Jerusalem 34,730
Annual Total 780,780
Students – energetic, educated and collectively inspired to turn their dreams into
reality – have always served as the prime manpower of the great social movements.
That is why Aish has undertaken a major campus initiative – establishing 9 branches servicing North American universities,
giving us direct access to 300,000 Jewish students.
NW6 Birthright “Brings Israel Home”
Hundreds of thousands of young Jews have visited Israel on Birthright. Yet the challenge has always been to engage them afterward – to ensure that the impact doesn’t dissipate,
but grows.
Now, Aish New York has broken through with an amazing online innovation called Bring Israel Home.
We set up a “virtual gaming platform” for our 10 Birthright busloads (400 students) to compete against each other in Jewish and Israel-related challenges. The grand prize was a spectacular reunion weekend in New York along with the Israeli soldiers who accompanied them on their trip.
The success rate is astounding: Our most recent group had 100% participation – staying connected to Israel, to Judaism, and to each other.
In recognition of this success, the Reform movement is now asking Aish to follow up with 40 busloads of their Birthright students.
Aish is trailblazing the use of new media to reach the new generation.In 2011, my husband Seth and I went to lead the Aish Campus initiative at Indiana University. Our goal was to implement Aish’s movement-building philosophy by recruiting and building student leaders, while becoming a hub of Jewish life on campus.
We’re amazed at how Aish has caught on. Today our Shabbat meals average 80 students. I love hosting and connecting with so many students. This semester, 35 students signed up for weekly one-on-one Torah study sessions – on everything from “Essentials of Judaism” to “Exploration of the Talmud.”
Thank God, we continue to beat our metrics. This summer alone, Aish at Indiana University is sending 15 students to Israel for full-time learning programs, and another 40 students to Israel on Birthright and second-stage 2.0 trips.
As for the Jewish energy on campus, we can see the tide turning in our favor. Go Hoosiers!
Lisa Cook Aish Campus – Indiana University
Aish CampusOn the front lines
Lisa’s Story
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Aish Birthright group on the rooftop of the Aish World Center (In the background: Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives)
Young professionals are often the Jewish community’s “missing demographic,”
typically at a low ebb of affiliation. Yet Aish prioritizes this vital market, since it is the stage when
young Jews are choosing partners and setting lifetime directions.
Even more, young professionals have the maturity, resources and freedom to take responsibility and become leaders of Aish’s
burgeoning social movement to restore Jewish values and pride.
Aish is creating a number of innovative strategies to ignite young professionals with the fire of Torah – ensuring a future of healthy Jewish families, and educated leaders
taking responsibility for the Jewish people.
NW6In 2012, Aish UK forged unique strategic partnerships with two major synagogues in the
Hampstead neighborhood of London, a hub for young Jewish professionals.
Two Aish Rabbis, Moshe Mayerfeld and Shlomo Stilerman, moved into the area. With the benefit of established synagogue facilities, Aish is providing young professionals with attractive Shabbat programming, learning opportunities, and social events.
Utilizing these existing communal frameworks has proven a visionary and cost-effective method.
Aish UK is now applying the same model to Jewish day schools – sending educators to impart Aish’s unique, highly-engaging content.
In Los Angeles, we conceived of Morry’s Fireplace as a modern and comfortable place that would become a hub for young Jewish professionals. We built the Fireplace just a few storefronts down from Aish LA’s main center – and stocked it with food, sofas, and of course a fireplace.
The formula worked. Hundreds of Jewish singles now meet at Morry’s for social events, Shabbat and holiday experiences, and dynamic self-development seminars. “Aish” means “fire” and we have created a warm, vibrant community that brings Jews together and ignites Jewish pride.
Rabbi Yitz Jacobs Aish Los Angeles
Young Professionals Igniting the next generation
Yitz’s Story
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AISH STATSMORI, England’s largest independent research company, surveyed 1,400 graduates of Aish UK’s 3-week Israel trip, finding that:
97% have married Jewish partners, compared to the 50% national average
69% are continuing their Jewish studies
60% are actively involved in the Jewish community
10% are pursuing careers in Jewish leadership
Aish UK young professionals meeting with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain
In partnership with Aish and 62 other organizations throughout the world, the Jewish
Women's Renaissance Project (JWRP) continues to experience incredible growth, bringing over 2,500 women to
Israel, featuring classes at the Aish World Center / Dan Family of Canada Building.
This 9-day subsidized trip is a high-impact dose of learning and touring that informs, inspires and builds a deep bond of sisterhood – empowering
today's Jewish woman.
But that's just the beginning. The ultimate success of these trips depends on follow-up, where in dozens of cities around the world, these women tap into a broad
network of peers and mentors from Aish and other partnering organizations – and then undertake responsibility for inspiring themselves, their families, and the broader Jewish
community.
This exciting social movement is gaining traction, and 2012 featured the first annual JWRP Leadership Conference. Together,
we are activating thousands of women and making a lasting impact on Jewish homes and the Jewish world.
Follow-up surveys conducted one year after a JWRP trip showed that:
89% of participants increased their Jewish study
83% of participants increased financial support to their local Jewish community
97% of participants encouraged family and friends to visit Israel
Along with 200 women, I had the privilege of visiting Israel with Aish Cleveland and JWRP. The trip was indescribable in its intellectual and emotional impact. Though we came from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs, for 9 days we shared the passion of Jewish wisdom and Jewish living.
By the end of the trip, we yearned to take our new-found inspiration home, to strengthen Jewish values in our homes and community, and to connect Jewish women of all backgrounds. We knew that for great things to happen in Jewish life, it would fall upon us women to take responsibility and make it happen.
We named our organization Aish’s Chayil and held our kick-off event at a local restaurant. It was an amazing success that brought together over 100 women from all streams of Jewish life. One woman from the Jewish Federation said: “I’ve been involved for decades and have never before seen such a breaking down of barriers, with all types of Jews coming together to bond and to grow together Jewishly.”
We now meet monthly to socialize, bake challah, engage in community service projects, and hear powerful speakers. In doing so, we have a framework to welcome energetic and idealistic Jewish women into our ever-widening circle.
Aish’s Chayil is now expanding into a Sunday program for teens – another way we can affect families in a meaningful, value-driven way. In Cleveland, the Jewish movement is truly happening!
Lauren Sonkin
WomenInstilling Jewish values at home
Lauren’s Story
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JWRP Participants
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
300
600
900800
1200
amidst the Gaza War
sold out in 10 days
JWRP participants on the roof of the Aish World Center, overlooking the Western Wall
All streams of Judaism come together at Aish’s Chayil –the Cleveland Jewish Women’s Movement
Executive LearningOur busy world leaves precious little time for personal
and spiritual development. Yet hundreds of busy executives around the world prioritize a weekly study session in their office
with an Aish rabbi – bringing “Jewish clarity” to an often chaotic business environment.
In the corridors of Silicon Valley, Mexico City, London and Wall Street, Torah wisdom is enhancing lives.
Retreat to IsraelIn Jerusalem, Aish produces spiritual retreats for visiting individuals, families and small
groups, enabling them to immerse in the unparalleled experience of private study with Jerusalem’s top educators - while overlooking the Western Wall.
Whether for a day, a week, or a month, these retreats are game-changers for those ready to invest some vacation time in developing themselves personally and spiritually,
while achieving a quantum leap in their Hebrew/Jewish textual skills.
This impact extends not only to participants, but also to their families, friends, colleagues, and communities to which they return.
I was one of Aish’s first students back in 1974 and later became the founder of Aish Detroit. Rabbi Weinberg zt”l always emphasized that Torah study in Jerusalem is incomparable to anywhere else.
This year, we at Aish Detroit decided to give five of our long-standing partners a Jewish experience that would go beyond what could be achieved at home.
With all the logistics handled by Aish Jerusalem, we custom-designed a one-week immersive Torah study experience.
We arrived at the Aish Center each morning at 9 a.m. and nobody wanted to leave till 9 p.m. The brilliant teachers gave everything they had and our participants soaked it right up, asking question after question and challenging them every step of the way.
Our people received individual attention and felt connected to the inner sanctum. Studying in a room directly overlooking the Western Wall didn’t hurt, either.
It’s incredible to see what can be achieved when people are fully focused. Our participants returned to Detroit as true partners, with a whole new level of commitment and enthusiasm for Judaism and for Aish.
Rabbi Alon Tolwin Aish Detroit
ExecutivesTorah study and spiritual retreats
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Alon’s Story
“Learning with ELC for over 15 years has been key to my personal growth. No one else offers such an incredible combination of custom-made learning, convenience, and the best teachers in the Jewish world.”
Sample schedule: 9:00 Judaism & the Afterlife Rabbi Asher Resnick 10:00 Wonders of Jewish History Rabbi Motty Berger 11:00 God & Science Dr. Gerald Schroeder 12:00 Jewish Ethics Rabbi Gavriel Friedman
Dr. Stuart Hytman Real estate investor, Toronto Aish International Board Member
Louis Mayberg Co-Founder of ProShares LLC Aish International Board Member
“ELC is always intellectually stimulating and spiritually uplifting. The private study sessions with Aish Rabbis allow me to discover the depth and beauty of Judaism – at my own level and pace.”
Aish tour guide extraordinaire Rabbi Ken Spiro (left) with the group from Aish Detroit
Millions of Jews from all walks of life visit the Western Wall. Some approach
with confidence; others hang back, wondering what it all means. For some the Wall is just another
archeological site. For others it is too overwhelming to fully appreciate.
This is, tragically, often an opportunity lost.
To address this urgent need, Aish conceived of the Western Wall Experience – a “must-see” destination which communicates
the spiritual and strategic importance of Jerusalem, inspires a vision of Jewish destiny, and strengthens Jewish identity.
At the centerpiece is the Kirk Douglas Theater, where visitors view a giant-screen presentation on the power and relevance of the Western Wall. Using cutting-edge
technology, visitors are actually inserted into the film, making it a truly personalized experience for each tour group.
Next stop is Aish’s magnificent rooftop panorama, seven stories above the Western Wall Plaza, where visitors not only hear about their Jewish heritage, but experience it
directly with their senses. As the dramatic program concludes, visitors exit the Aish building directly onto the Western Wall Plaza.
Foreign dignitaries, celebrities, and a broad spectrum of tourists all include the Aish World Center in their Jerusalem itinerary.
We recently presented the Western Wall Experience to a group of Israelis studying to become tour guides. This was a unique and influential mix of young and old, men and women, Jews and Muslims.
After our presentation, the course director – an old-time tour guide with decades of experience – stood up and said:
“The Israeli government has to see this. I have never seen anything so well-crafted... This message must be heard by everyone.”
Then, as they turned to leave, one of the Muslim students stopped me and said: “This is the way it should be.”
Seth Clyman Director of Guest Services, Aish World Center
8Western Wall Experience Location &inspiration
Seth’s Story
Jerusalem Core
Photo: Kirk Douglas and Rabbi Noah Weinberg celebrating construction of the Kirk Douglas Theater at the Aish World Center / Dan Family of Canada Building in Jerusalem.
Kirk says he "entered into a partnership with Aish" to ensure that when visitors to the Western Wall are inspired to ask life’s most important questions, Aish is there to provide inspiring answers.
The Explorium
Visitors in the Kirk Douglas Theater
This is just the beginning. Aish is now collaborating with a team of world-class museum designers to develop one of Israel’s premier tourist attractions: The Western Wall Explorium.
This 50-minute experience is a tour guide’s dream come true. Using highly-interactive technology, visitors will be transported back 4,000 years to the time of Abraham, to explore the epic saga of the Jewish people – “the greatest story ever told.”
Visitors will then journey back to today, amidst a tapestry of ideas and inspiration that places each Jew at the forefront of Jewish destiny.
Visitors – projected at 300,000 annually – will be encouraged to sign up for Aish.com and attend follow-up programs in their hometowns.
Aish is now launching a major fundraising initiative for the Explorium, and construction is slated to begin in the near future.
Aish hosts Jeannette Kagame, First Lady of Rwanda
In Israel today, socio-political trends are leading millions of Jews to search with open, questioning
hearts about their history and heritage.
At the same time, there are many misconceptions and barriers.
With decades of programming experience, and the nation’s preeminent facility facing the Western Wall, Aish is
uniquely positioned to connect secular Israelis with Torah ideals that are so close, and yet so far.
Initial success has exceeded all expectations. Everyone from IDF officers to hi-tech CEOs, from college students to kibbutz families, are
converging on the Aish Center to partake of programming that presents Judaism in new and inspiring ways.
• reached 2,500 Israelis with our Chanukah Program
• reached 4,500 Israelis with our High Holiday Program
• hosted hundreds of Israeli police officers to celebrate their children’s’ Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and for police graduation ceremonies
• Aish Tel Aviv, in addition to our beachfront center, opened a new location in the prestigious Azrieli Tower.
We are witnessing first-hand the thirst in Israeli society for authentic, meaningful, relevant Jewish education. 30% of our participants request follow-up programming – and Aish is there to deliver it from the heart of Jerusalem.
• aims to deliver programming for 30,000 people at our Center facing the Western Wall
• will be launching a Teudat Zehut (“National Identity”) program in Israeli high schools
• will be adapting for the Israeli market the successful U.S. programs of Project Inspire and Project Chazon
Aish Israel is forging a new wave of Jewish unity – breaking down barriers and building bridges between religious and secular Israelis.
A young woman from Rishon came to the Aish Center, along with 2,500 other Israelis, for our famed Chanukah program.
We began with music – spiritual, moving and inspiring. Performance artists then broke down barriers with a dramatic Chanukah story that brought the audience to tears of joy and laughter.
A family then stepped up to light the menorah and a hush fell over the crowd. As they began to slowly sing the blessing “L’hadlik ner shel Chanukah,” something profound touched that young woman. She told me:
“I’ve traveled around the world – the Far East, Europe, South America – and whenever I see another Jew, I feel a sense of connection. But until experiencing the Aish program, I’d never before felt this way in Israel – that sense of unity, of being part of the Jewish nation. For me, something has now changed.
Efi Bibi Aish student and Tel Aviv media personality
9Aish IsraelReaching out to Israelis
Efi’s Story
Jerusalem Core
Last year, Aish Israel
Next year, Aish Israel
On the Aish rooftop, IDF soldiers learn about the significance of the Western Wall
For thousands of Jews, the first steps of coming closer to their heritage takes place
at Aish branches around the world.
For those fortunate enough to visit Jerusalem, Aish’s introductory program provides a quantum leap in
connecting them to the wisdom and relevance of Judaism.
Essentials is reaching new milestones of growth at its new, highly-accessible location in the Aish World Center / Fahari Family classroom.
Since relocating, Essentials has increased three-fold – from 500 unique annual participants to 1,500.
Beyond this, Essentials has become a key resource for other Jewish organizations who utilize Essentials classes and teachers for their educational component.
Whether dropping in for an hour, a day or a few weeks, Aish Essentials provides students with the excitement and inspiration that sparks a lifetime of Jewish learning and commitment.
The influence of the Jewish woman runs through our national story like a powerful chain connecting one generation to the next.
Jewel, our one-month introductory program, is where university and professional women ages 19-30 can attain a foundation in Jewish philosophy, Hebrew, holidays, prayer, self-fulfillment and more.
Jewel generates an energy that informs life choices, flowing back into the home, campus and workplace – and bringing the light of Judaism to future generations.
In 2012, registration at Jewel increased 66% over the previous year – giving Jewish women the tools to thrive in the 21st century.
I always felt proud to be Jewish, but I didn’t know why. So when I left college and entered the working world, I wanted to explore Judaism as a personal choice, rather than something from my parents.
I heard about Essentials and it sounded like just what I was looking for – a low-pressure environment where I could ask tons of questions and get a fresh perspective.
My month at Essentials was incredible. The rabbis showed me how Judaism is profoundly relevant to today’s world. I made great new friends and explored exciting new places – both in Israel and inside myself.
After Essentials, I decided to stay for Aish’s pre-Intermediate course, to learn more nuts and bolts of Judaism. In only five weeks I developed a whole new understanding and commitment for what it means to live as a Jew. It’s as though I’d re-paved a foundation for life.
When I returned to New York, my local rabbi had me speak about my experiences in front of the entire congregation during Shabbat services.
It feels so good to be connected to my heritage, and to have the confidence to share the beauty of Judaism with others. Thanks, Aish!
Adam Greenberg
10Essentials & Jewel An inspiring start
Adam’s Story
Jerusalem Core
Adam Greenberg (right) at Aish Jerusalem with his brother, visiting on a Birthright trip
WISDOM FOR
LIVINGIS AISH’S CORE
COMPETENCY
NOBODY DOESIT BETTER
Essentials
Jewel
Gain tools to clarify their life goals
Explore the mystical and rational underpinnings of Judaism
Connect to the depth and beauty of Jewish life
Explore the Land of Israel
Develop life-long bonds with peers and mentors
Aish introductory students
With windows overlooking the Western Wall, Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser teaches his popular “Practical Spirituality” class at Essentials
Aish has been described as a “billion-dollar asset to the Jewish community.”
One of our premier accomplishments is developing hundreds of Jewish leaders – rabbis, educators, administrators
– who are undertaking leadership roles in over 100 Jewish communities around the world. In England alone, 140 Aish alumni
have dedicated their professional careers to improving Jewish life.
The nucleus of our manpower development is the Rabbinical Program in
Jerusalem, which turns raw talent into effective leaders who infuse new programs and communities with the potent Aish brand.
As a frontline outreach facility, Aish Jerusalem is like a “spiritual teaching hospital” – providing our rabbinic students with hands-on opportunities to put into practice the lessons learned
in the classroom.
Underlying every part of the training process is our goal of awakening the latent idealism within students, and empowering them to dedicate their lives to helping the Jewish people.
On my first trip to Israel with Aish’s Jerusalem Fellowships, I clearly remember the penetrating words of Rabbi Moshe Mayerfeld of Aish UK:
“You can’t rely on anyone else to do it. If you want a Jewish future for your children, you must take responsibility, and take it now.”
Those words had a profound affect on me. I spent the next seven years learning at Aish Jerusalem and graduated the Rabbinical Program in 2006.
As I stepped into my first position at University of California in Santa Barbara, I felt the same excitement, drive and passion as I’d felt years ago from my own rabbi – except this time the tables were turned and now I was the rabbi.
Five years later, in 2012, I watched my own UC Santa Barbara student, David Hoffman, graduate from Aish’s Rabbinical Program. At age 30, I’ve already witnessed three generations of Aish rabbis – out in the field and multiplying our impact on the Jewish world.
Rabbi Mitch Goldstein Project Inspire, Toronto
11LeadershipDevelopmentEmpowering young Jews to takeresponsibility
Mitch’s Story
Jerusalem Core
In 2012, Aish graduates stepped into leadership roles on four continents:
R’ Ari Green Kiruv Programming in Modiin, Israel
R’ Avi Schwartz Aish Birmingham (UK)
R’ Avner Engel JAM – Kiruv in Los Angeles
R’ Danny Wolfe Aish @ SUNY Albany
R’ Doron Lazarus Front-line Outreach in Philadelphia
R’ Elchonon Schoff Associate Rosh Kollel of LINK Los Angeles
R’ Etiel Goldwicht Aish Israel
R’ Mordechai Teller Aish LA
R’ Ori Murray Aish Manchester (UK)
R’ Shea Berkowitz Front-line Outreach in USA
R’ Yaakov Tzvi Kirshbaum Campus Kiruv in Austin, Texas
R’ Yanki Schor Aish @ SUNY Albany
R’ Yigal Meirovich Front-line Outreach in Chile
R’ Yisrael Majeski Kiruv Programming in Los Angeles
For women interested in a quality Jewish education taught by a gifted and dedicated staff, no school can rival Eyaht, Aish HaTorah's women’s college founded by Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg.
Due to demand, Eyaht is in the completion stage of a new five-story campus building in Jerusalem. The facility accommodates 350 students, and features a state-of-the-art lecture hall and rooftop panorama of Jerusalem.
This is a real game-changer, finally giving Eyaht a beautiful campus to mirror its outstanding program. Eyaht continues to inspire the next generation of young women from around the world – to build beautiful Jewish homes and become leaders of the Jewish community.
Eyaht’s new five-story facility in Jerusalem
EYAHT
Rabbi Mitch Goldstein (back row, with necktie) hosting an Aish event for AEPi fraternity.
Aish alumni are:
CaringCreativeOrganized
DrivenIdealisticDynamic
Responsible
Rabbinic Ordination
Aish holds some of the most valuable real estate in Jerusalem, enabling us to maximize this
location not only in terms of educational programming, but also for our many donors.
Aish donors are “partners” in every sense of the word. By hosting donors’ weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other events in our stunning Aish
World Center / Dan Family of Canada Building, we have the opportunity to demonstrate how truly valuable that partnership is.
Hospitality and guest services have always been an Aish tradition. Hosting events at the Aish World Center gives our donors the opportunity to share life
changing moments with their families and friends.
So many people are being inspired in so many different ways. One man, a French Jew, was drifting away from Judaism and on the verge of assimilating. Years later, after
becoming engaged to a Jewish woman, he was in Israel looking for a location for his wedding. He visited the Aish World Center and was overwhelmed by the sense of energy
and optimism. He held the wedding ceremony at Aish, and today is a valued Aish partner, passionate about helping the Jewish people. .
When it comes to once-in-a-lifetime events, Aish is fast becoming the destination of choice for Jews from across the spectrum looking for an incomparable, first-class, memorable experience.
• facilitated 30 new relationships with major donors
Wedding on the Weinberg Rooftop overlooking the Western Wall. Israel's
most popular newspaper, Yediot Ahronot, selected the Aish World Center
as one of the top 20 most beautiful sites in Israel.
Aish Events has
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrates the bris of his grandson at the Aish World Center. Right: Shira Plotkin, Director of Aish Events.
As the son of Rabbi Noah Weinberg zt”l, I grew up in the Aish HaTorah family, amongst great people whose love and loyalty for the Jewish people was unparalleled. From a young age, I knew that my father was a magnificent gift: a leader who acted with extraordinary vision, strength, courage, wisdom and love.
That special Aish spirit – to strengthen Jewish values by connecting Jews to Judaism – has always defined my heart and my life.
My father used to say: “Aish HaTorah has done so much for the Jewish people, but we still have a long way to go.”
Today, with our amazing facility across from the Kotel, the Almighty has given us an unprecedented opportunity to expand our vision moving forward. We need to harness the core energy that drives Aish and inspire others to build proud Jewish homes, families and communities.
In doing so, we can make a formidable impact on the world at large.
I pray that I can foreshadow my father’s footsteps, to be even a small inspiration to those I meet. This was his final request of me: to work with dedication and unity, so that with the help of the Almighty, we will get the job done!
Rabbi Yehuda Weinberg
Yehuda’s Story
Aish.com is one of the largest Judaism websites in the world, reaching the masses with
high-caliber, creative content that addresses the pivotal life issues relevant to every Jew – relationships,
career, and personal growth. And when something significant happens in the world, Aish.com is there with timely,
compelling insights filtered through the lens of Jewish wisdom.
Aish.com’s mix of 20,000 articles and videos features some the best writers and speakers in the Jewish world. Our presentation of Judaism as
rational and upbeat is a paradigm shift – a complete revamping of people’s prior perception of Torah as “antiquated and irrational.” Ynet, the number one
source for Israeli news, hailed Aish.com as “Judaism that speaks to everyone.”
A few examples of our global reach: Rabbis of all denominations frequently cite Aish.com from the pulpit. Teachers at both Jewish and public schools use our
Holocaust section as their high school curriculum. At the synagogue in Mumbai, India, Aish.com articles are distributed and used as the basis for
discussion at Shabbat services.
With technical sophistication, sleek graphic design, social media integration, and multi-language offerings, Aish is registering over a million user sessions every month... and impacting Jews everywhere.
13Aish.com Educating and inspiring millions online
Aish Classics
• 75% say that Aish.com has led them to increased synagogue attendance and/or Jewish affiliation
• 86% say that Aish.com has inspired them to more Torah study
Key Facts• Nearly 400,000 people receive Aish content emails
• Aish has 100,000 Facebook friends
• Affiliate sites in Hebrew, Spanish and French are leading websites in their respective languages
• Aish.com’s Western Wall camera has drawn 33 million visitors
• Our “Ask the Rabbi” service answers thousands of readers’ questions
• Our viral videos “Google Exodus” and “Rosh Hashanah Rock Anthem” each registered 2.5 million views, featured in the Washington Post, NBC’s Today Show and Jewish film festivals
I was born and raised in the small town of Chop in western Ukraine. My mother always told me that I’m Jewish, but I knew next-to-nothing about it, and there were no other Jews in town.
A friend at university subscribed me to Aish.com. At first I read it out of curiosity. Then I found the Lori Palatnik videos, speaking about the importance of the Jewish home, respecting your parents, and seeing God in your life.
I now read Aish.com every day – in the morning before classes, again in the afternoon, and once more at bedtime.
In 2011 I visited Israel with JWRP, and in 2013 I became engaged to a wonderful Jewish man, who will join me in building a home filled with beautiful Jewish things like kosher and Shabbat.
Aish.com has had such a huge influence in connecting me to the Judaism I never knew!
Karina Grigorjeva
Karina’s Story
Reader Survey
Increasingly, universities today are bastions of the most virulent anti-Israel and anti-
Semitic activities.
In 2001, the Israel Foreign Ministry articulated a challenge: “Israel is losing the PR battle on campus. Aish are the education
experts. Come up with a program and we’ll be your partners.”
The result was Hasbara Fellowships, which brings North American college students to Israel for an intensive 2-week training program in pro-Israel
activism.
To date, over 2,000 students from 250 campuses are Hasbara Fellows, making it the largest network of trained student-leaders in
North America.
In 2012, Hasbara Fellowships deepened its partnership with the “Binyan” program of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, giving us powerful credibility and a
larger budget to dramatically increase the numbers of students.
But it doesn’t stop there. Hasbara Fellowships has on-the-ground regional coordinators across North America, guiding our Fellows to implement grassroots
pro-Israel campaigns on 80 college campuses.
This year• Hasbara Fellows organized over 400 pro-Israel events on 90 campuses across North America.
• Hasbara Fellows organized “Israel Peace Week” on 78 campuses.
• Over 100 events were co-sponsored by non-Jewish organizations, thanks to the Hasbara Fellowships “Milstein Coalition Building Grant.”
My school, UC Berkeley, is so steeped in anti-Israel sentiment that in 2012, the U.S. Department of Education investigated whether Jewish students on our campus are victims of a “pervasive hostile environment.”
I was thrilled to be selected as a Hasbara Fellow. In Israel, we toured strategic sites, met with top journalists and politicians, and got infused with the passion of pro-Israel advocacy. We had training workshops in the nuts and bolts of activism, we engaged in debates and role-playing sessions, and we learned media and marketing skills.
Then it was back to Berkeley to put it all into practice. With Hasbara Fellowships guiding me – providing information, campaigns, speakers, funding, and motivation – I’ve implemented campus initiatives like Israel Peace Week and a social media campaign highlighting Israel’s efforts in the peace process. I also organized a prominent liberal Congressman to speak on campus about his support for Israel – a great way to directly engage the political majority at my school.
My goal is to reach the 99% of students who don’t know enough about Israel to form an educated opinion. Thanks to Hasbara Fellowships, we’re getting there!
David Sverdlov
14HasbaraFellowships Pro-Israel activism on campus
Aish is determined to open the door for each Jew to explore Judaism at his/her own pace.
The success of our mission requires not only a team of professional outreach experts, but also a grassroots movement
that energizes the entire community and brings Jewish outreach into vogue.
Since its founding in 2006, Project Inspire has guided individuals, families and synagogues around North America to take up the mission –
spawning tens of thousands of meaningful interactions with less-affiliated neighbors, friends and co-workers. One woman has inspired a dozen people to
accept Shabbos observance, while another has brought more than 100 women to learn in Israel. After attending a Project Inspire event several years ago, the “Traveling
Chassidim” now visit communities across North America, sharing the beauty of Shabbos with Jews of all backgrounds.
Highly respected rabbis in America have concluded that the most effective way to do
“synagogue inreach” – i.e. to keep their members inspired – is to get them involved in outreach. By seeing
the incredible affect that one Shabbat dinner can have on a less-affiliated Jew, children and adults alike gain greater appreciation for their own Judaism.
With laypeople volunteering much of the work, the entire enterprise is highly cost-effective. Outreach communities in Brooklyn, Queens, the Five Towns, Monsey, Teaneck and Toronto exist with little overhead.
Our “Easy Outreach Packages” combine an inspirational message with Rosh Hashanah honey, Chanukah candles or Purim treats. Significantly, the per-unit cost of producing such items decreases as more people get involved.
Project Inspire exemplifies the self-generating spirit of grassroots empowerment so central to the Aish mission.
Key Facts• The 2012 Project Inspire Annual Conference sold out at 1,100 people, energizing them to transmit their Jewish enthusiasm to others.
• 50,000+ people have seen our Tisha B’Av films promoting outreach.
• 7,500 people have attended Project Inspire Training Seminars, learning how to answer common questions.
• Project Inspire has distributed 10,000 “easy outreach packages” to unaffiliated Jews.
I’m an attorney and family man who always tries to reach out to our fellow Jews, especially those who may not have been exposed to the beauty and joys of Judaism. I’ve been involved with Project Inspire almost since its inception, and find it an invaluable resource for outreach efforts.
Here in my neighborhood of Kew Gardens Hills, we organized a “Shabbat of Unity” with the cooperation of virtually every shul in the area – bringing together Jews from various backgrounds for an unforgettable Shabbat of friendship, warmth, prayer and meals, climaxed by an emotional Havdalah ceremony and concert. The camaraderie, shared Jewish bond, great food and song, and pure joy of the Shabbat forged long-lasting relationships.
Another project that’s a great source of pride is the so-called “Shabbos Queens” – a group of local women who bake challahs and other Shabbat treats, and distribute them to Jewish businesspeople at the Queens Center Mall.
We are grateful to Project Inspire for providing the tools, structure and support to maximize the outreach efforts of everyday Jews like us in Queens, and throughout North America.
Ephraim Berger
15Project InspireEmpowering more Jews to reach out
Ephraim’s Story
Aish Classics
At the Project Inspire Convention: Ephraim Berger with
Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
Students and staff of the Aish Yeshiva in Jerusalem
17Aish CoreValues
Responsibility“The world is created for me” – each
of us is responsible to get the job done. At the same time we must empower others to
also take responsibility. Solving the Jewish people’s problems is a key to solving the world’s problems, and
is therefore our first priority.
TorahWe strive to know all of Torah – the Almighty’s “instructions for living.” We incorporate Torah wisdom and ideals into our daily life. And we share the Torah that we know, each on our own level, exponentially increasing its impact.
UnityAll Jews are bound together. Our power as a people and as an organization lies within our unity. Unified, no goal is beyond our reach; splintered, almost no goal is attainable. We learn from the success of others, and share with them our success. Our priorities are what is best for the Jewish people, not for personal advancement.
GodWe internalize that God is the only power. He loves us and wants us to come close to Him by doing His will. We persevere in the face of obstacles with the knowledge that by acting altruistically, the Almighty will help us succeed.
HumanityEvery human being is created “in the image of God” and therefore has infinite potential. We value responsibility and commitment over talent, and view people as our greatest resource. Through the power of free will, every individual can change the world.
ClarityTorah is the guide to clarify our convictions. We live by what we know to be true, even in the face of societal pressure and our own subjective desires. We are open to criticism, and have the humility to admit when we don’t know.
UrgencyThe Jewish people are facing existential spiritual and physical threats. We act with a sense of urgency, moving beyond our comfort zone to strategize and implement the most effective ways to fight these crises.
Aish International Board of Directorsalphabetical Jake Aronov Rabbi Eric Coopersmith Marc Goldman Richard Horowitz – International President Andrea Dan Hytman Dr. Stuart Hytman Gavriel Kleinerman Jerry Lieberman Louis Mayberg Boruch Rabinowitz Sandra Schiff Dr. Harlan Weisman
BranchesBoston Cleveland Costa Rica Denver Detroit Johannesburg, SA London, UK Los Angeles Manchester, UK Melbourne, Australia Mexico City Minnesota New York – Connections New York – Manhattan Philadelphia Santiago, Chile Sao Paulo, Brazil South Florida St. Louis Tel Aviv Toronto Washington DC
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