Moshe Weinberger - Biography

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger is an Orthodox rabbi who is the founder and current rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, New York.

He is a lecturer, author. Some regard him as a posek ("decisor" of Jewish law) and a Jewish leader who is actively involved in Jewish Outreach.

Background and education

Rabbi Weinberger's grandparents were Belz Hasidim. He dropped out of law school to study Judaism in order to become a rabbi.

Rabbi Weinberger attended Yeshiva University and was a student of Rabbi Dovid Lifshitz. He holds a MA in Jewish philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University and an MS in educational administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Rabbi Weinberger was ordained by the RIETS rabbinical school of Yeshiva University and has since has adopted the style of a Hasidic rebbe.

A modern Hasidic rebbe

Rabbi Weinberger adopted Hasidic attire (a Hasidic-style black hat during the week, and a shtreimel on Shabbat) and Payos ("side locks") while emphasising and spreading Hasidic thought. His teachings included Torah from Chabad, Breslov, Izbica, and others. In addition he began teaching works that were previously not easily available to the English-speaking public such as Rav Kook and the seforim of Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh.

Teaching career

He has been a career educator. For over twenty years, Weinberger was a teacher ("rebbe") at Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school in Queens and prior to that he taught at a local yeshiva in Far Rockaway.

He encourages spiritual growth in many Jews. And is a founder of an English speaking Yeshiva.

He is a sought-after lecturer in all kinds of Jewish communal gatherings serving as scholar-in-residence in synagogues all over the United States. Also as an invited inspirational speaker for the youth in Jewish High Schools.

He also gives various lectures on different topics in many synagogues on a regular basis., he has developed a library of more than 1900 MP3s.

Works

He is the author of a book called Jewish Outreach - a Halachic Perspective, KTAV publishing, (1990) ISBN 0881253553, 168 pages. It was published in conjunction with the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals, this book examines the halakhic issues related to Jewish outreach. Among the specific questions the author examines are: What is the nature of the obligation to attract Jews back to Torah observance? Are Baal teshuva yeshivas obligated to teach Torah to all Jews who seek religious guidance? May halakhic concessions be made in synagogue services to attract ba'alei teshuvah?

Weinberger is a frequent contributor to such publications as Rabbi Jacob Joseph School's Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society:

• Teaching Torah to Women, Spring 5745.
• The Baal Teshuva and the Jewish Community: Re-entry Problems, Fall 5747.

And also to the OU's Jewish Action magazine:

• Keeping up with the Katz's, (Rosh haShana 5749) (1988), pp. 10–19
• Prayer: Neglected Paths and Forgotten Longings, Fall 5750.
• Beyond the River, Fall 5756.
• Rav Tzaddok the Kohen, Fall 5757.
• A Modern Experiment in Chassidus, Fall 5760.

External links

• Aish Kodesh Homepage
• Inspired Parenting, By Rabbi Moshe Weinberger. thejewisheye.com.
• Shiurim on Shavuos By Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, thejewisheye.com.
• Shiurim For Women By Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, thejewisheye.com.
• Audio lecture Spirituality in the New Age by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, at Orthodox Union West Coast Convention in 5757, 613.org.
• Audio lecture of Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Making Everything You Do A Mitzvah YU Torah Online.
• Audio lecture of Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Zechus of Our Matriarch, YU Torah Online.
• Yom Kippur Shmooze (mp3 download)by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, 613.org.
• More than 1900 MP3 of his lectures available online.
• Course "Insights into the Chassidic Masters" at Naaleh.com