Rav of Aish Kodesh to join YU faculty

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger will be joining the faculty of Yeshiva University at the beginning of the coming school year in September 2013, in addition to continuing as the Rav of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere.

His new position, according to an email sent out to the membership of Aish Kodesh, is as a Mashgiach at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University beginning in the Elul zman (session) 5773.

“We have an appreciation of the talents he has to offer,” explained Rabbi Yona Reiss, the dean of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) in Manhattan. “We had a pattern of inviting him to speak over the past few years and, during a recent visit, we had a conversation that we want someone like him to have a presence in the yeshiva. It developed and now we have the current arrangement. We began the conversation and had a relationship that evolved to a point and we brought him in as one of the personalities to offer hashgacha at the yeshiva.”

Rabbi Reiss said that Rabbi Weinberger will be part of the “mashgiach team at the yeshiva” and that they are “very excited.” He noted that Rabbi Weinberger is an “amazing edition to the yeshiva environment.” Rabbi Reiss said that they are considering using the title of “mashpia” (to influence) for Rabbi Weinberger and the “main thing is that it is exciting to bring in a person of his caliber and inspiration. The details will crystallize between now and next year.” His role will involve “interacting and interfacing with the students, offering guidance and mentorship and inspiration.” He will be working in the yeshiva campus in Washington Heights. “Yeshiva University includes talmidim (students) in different programs,” said Reiss. “We hope he will interact with as many as possible and offer his unique ability to connect and be a positive force in their lives.”

The email sent by Aish Kodesh, President Elliot Blumenthal, and Chairman, Board of Trustees Avi Feinberg, after a membership meeting, was very positive. “It is with great pride and love that we wish our mora d’asra, HaRav Moshe Weinberger, Shlita, much hatzlacha and bracha in his new additional role…. We are certain that this partnership between our Rebbe, the Yeshiva and Aish Kodesh will be beneficial to all. We know that the bnei hayeshiva will love and appreciate Rebbe’s divrei Torah and divrei chizuk, and that the wonderful example of midos tovos and avodas Hashem that Rebbe embodies will lift the Yeshiva to new heights as it has done for us over the past twenty years.

“We look forward to many more years together with our Rav and with our new friends from the Yeshiva and look forward to the day when we will all be together in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh, bimheira b’yameinu.”

Rabbi Reiss pointed out that Rabbi Weinberger is an alumnus of Yeshiva College, a musmach (received Rabbinic Ordination) of RIETS and has a Masters of Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University. Concluded Reiss, “We are excited to bring him back home to Yeshiva.”