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From the CEO

From the desk of Rabbi Steven Burg, AISH CEO

From left to right: Daniel Greenblatt, Noah Krup, Jared Stern, Rabbi Steven Burg, Manny Nagel, Jordy Chowaiki, Jack Meyer.
Rabbi Burg

The Election

This has been a historic election as there are now six Orthodox elected officials serving in New York State. So many Jews are more prominently involving themselves to serve across America to better the country.

Aish staff with IDF soldiers
Rabbi Burg

Time to Come Home

At this point in history, the right place for Jews is to be back home in Israel. I don’t say these words lightly and I take my responsibilities as a Jewish leader very seriously. These words that I write now come straight from my heart.

Rabbi Burg

How can we Dance this Simchas Torah?

This week Aish had the honor of hosting the celebration of the completion of three Torahs written in memory of members of the security forces who fell defending our people on October 7.

Rabbi Burg with Aish students at the Nova festival grounds
Rabbi Burg

Love Never Dies

Yesterday I joined our Yeshiva at the site of the Nova Festival memorial where the Erber family finished and donated multiple Sifrei Torah. These scrolls have been written over the last year, in a tent at the Nova Festival site, in memory of the heroes that gave their lives on October 7th.

Rabbi Burg

The Tweet Heard Around The World

I do think we have an obligation to every Jew in the world to embrace and love them, even Jews who have been brainwashed into fighting against their own people. In so many ways our community has failed these Jews by not searching for them earlier and not educating them in the truth about Judaism and Israel.

Rabbi Burg

Standing Strong ~ Shana Tova

Last year so many of us gathered in synagogues to pray on Rosh HaShana for a sweet, healthy new year. Little did we know that a few short weeks later we would be facing the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Rabbi Burg

Crucial Conversations

Inviting General Tibon to Aish, I did not know what to expect. The General identifies as a secular Israeli Jew and I was unsure of how many values we might share. I found a warm hearted Jew and a new friend who inspired me completely. It was the same with the Imam and the Minister.

Rabbi Steven Burg, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
Rabbi Burg

Reaffirming Our Commitments

One of the reasons that the Jewish people have survived and thrived for so long has been our ability to stay committed. This past Tuesday night, I saw this commitment firsthand as I ran back and forth between events in the Old City.

Rabbi Burg

Holy Weddings

September is wedding season. I have been to many weddings over the last few weeks and all of them have been beautiful and moving. There has been one constant to all the weddings that I have attended.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin eulogizing her son Hersh.
Rabbi Burg

Storming the Gates of Heaven

It is hard to remember a week that has been this difficult. The entire Jewish people feel broken. I feel broken. The brutal murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lonanov, and Carmel Gat has affected all of us.

Rabbi Steven Burg with Aish Yeshiva Student, Jared Stern.
Rabbi Burg

The Leaders of Tomorrow

One of my favorite tasks at Aish is meeting with our students to hear their ideas about how to change the world. Many times they have become so passionate because our current Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, shlit’a, is constantly telling them that they must take responsibility for the world around them.

Rabbi Steven and Rachel Burg at Mauthausen.
Rabbi Burg

From Austria, With Love

I am writing to you from Austria where I have had the honor of being the scholar in residence for an amazing Jewish heritage tour in Western Europe. There are so many lessons to be learned when walking in the footsteps of our forefathers.

Jamie Geller interviewing Iris Haim.
Rabbi Burg

The Secrets of Jewish Longevity and Survival

I was so proud of our Aish team for producing the groundbreaking documentary “Voices of Pain, Hope, and Heroism.” It details the events of October 7th from the perspective of five Israeli families.

Rabbi Steven Burg and Gilad Erdan
Rabbi Burg

A Nation of Heroes

We are a Nation of heroes. From Ambassador Gilad Erdan to the Aish students we all must step forward and work together to strengthen our Nation.

Rabbi Steven Burg and Sheikh Muafak Tarif
Rabbi Burg

We Are All Druze

I was particularly crushed by the horrific slaughter of the 12 young Druze adolescents murdered by Hezbollah while playing soccer. I had met the leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Muafak Tarif recently at a World Zionist Organization event. I immediately sent him condolences on behalf of the Aish global community.

Aish mission visiting injured soldiers
Rabbi Burg

Family

The hate we are encountering is unprecedented in our lifetime. Yet, if we stand together united by the bonds of family we will emerge stronger, joined by the unbreakable bond of love. The love that I saw last week among the couples on our Aish Mission. The love that I saw in Tel HaShomer Hospital. The love that I saw between Dvir and Shalev.

Aish couples mission
Rabbi Burg

I am My Brother’s Keeper

We have a dynamic couples Aish Destiny mission which has come to spend time in Israel connecting with each other and the Almighty. I was asked to speak during the visit to the holy field where so many young Jews were slaughtered by terrorists.

Rabbi Burg

Building a Movement in Ashdod

This past week the executive team of Aish, together with many members of the senior leadership team, gathered in Ashdod for our Annual Strategic Realignment Meetings.

Rabbi Steven Burg and Daniel Abramoff meet with MK Yitzchak Pindrus in the Knesset.
Rabbi Burg

The Importance of Being Eternally Optimistic

I had the honor of spending time in the Knesset this week. I spoke with my longtime friend, MK Yitzhak Pindrus. As we spoke about some of the many different challenges facing Israel he stated simply that normal rules don’t apply to the Jews. Everyone constantly predicts our demise and we always beat the odds.

The 'Va'ad' of Aish meeting in New York.
Rabbi Burg

Humility and the Path to the Jewish Future

This past week we met in person to talk about how to bring more partners into our circle in an official way. It was a day filled with much discussion on the makeup of who might fit the criteria. We were joined by Aish COO Hillel Scheinfeld and Aish Executive Director Rabbi Ben Gonsher.

Yaakov Gade being honored for his service at the concert.
Rabbi Burg

Addressing Young Heroes and Future Leaders

October 7th has redefined us as a people. Our Aish Rabbis on campus have had to retool and deal with issues of anti-Jewish hate that we never could have imagined. At the concert, the Israelis in attendance were strengthened by knowing that American Jews are standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

Rabbi Steven Burg addressing students at Michlalah Jerusalem College.
Press Room

The Next CEO of Aish is…

Between the thousands of young Jews dancing in the Kotel plaza this week and the thousands of young Jews studying in yeshivas and seminaries across Israel I am proud to report that the Jewish people have a bright future ahead of us. The next generation is ready to fight for Jewish values.

Israel Entrepreneur trip in NYC
Rabbi Burg

The Crucial Role of Love

Aish Israel has been bringing groups of Israeli entrepreneurial millennials to the United States for the past few years. Fresh from their service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) these young Israelis spend time getting to know leaders of American Jewry.

Ezra Friedlander with Rabbi Steven Burg in Washington
Rabbi Burg

Inspiration from Washington

My day in Washington was truly a day of love. It was a day of focus on how to inculcate the love of the Almighty in young Jews. It was a day of receiving love and support from Senators in Washington. It was a day of hearing about a Catholic and former Marine’s love for Israel and the Jewish people.

Nuseir Yassin with Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen on the roof of the Dan Family Aish World Center
Rabbi Burg

An unexpected partner in bittersweet times

Nas came to film at Aish and featured Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen giving pearls of wisdom throughout the 11-minute video. My favorite part was the focus on how Jews argue when they study Torah.

Rabbi Steven Burg together with Bari Erber at the U.S. National Holocaust Museum
Rabbi Burg

Never Again

This past week the entire Jewish world commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day, also known as Yom HaShoah. For so many years the Jewish community has focused on this date to remember our six million murdered brothers and sisters.

Western Wall
Rabbi Burg

This is not the end of our story

This is not the end of our story. This is a challenge to be sure, but the Jewish people are resilient. We will find our way through these difficult times and will emerge stronger than ever. We must continue our efforts to stand by one another.

Article quoting Rabbi Steven Burg on Fox news
Rabbi Burg

Thank You, Almighty

While I have been doing this for years, one of the media articles from this past week moved me tremendously. I was asked by Greg Wehner of Fox News to join a conversation regarding the attack on Israel by Iran.

The Election

The Election

This has been a historic election as there are now six Orthodox elected officials serving in New York State. So…
Time to Come Home

Time to Come Home

At this point in history, the right place for Jews is to be back home in Israel. I don’t say…
How can we Dance this Simchas Torah?

How can we Dance this Simchas Torah?

This week Aish had the honor of hosting the celebration of the completion of three Torahs written in memory of…
Love Never Dies

Love Never Dies

Yesterday I joined our Yeshiva at the site of the Nova Festival memorial where the Erber family finished and donated…
The Tweet Heard Around The World

The Tweet Heard Around The World

I do think we have an obligation to every Jew in the world to embrace and love them, even Jews…
Standing Strong ~ Shana Tova

Standing Strong ~ Shana Tova

Last year so many of us gathered in synagogues to pray on Rosh HaShana for a sweet, healthy new year.…
Crucial Conversations

Crucial Conversations

Inviting General Tibon to Aish, I did not know what to expect. The General identifies as a secular Israeli Jew…
Reaffirming Our Commitments

Reaffirming Our Commitments

One of the reasons that the Jewish people have survived and thrived for so long has been our ability to…
Holy Weddings

Holy Weddings

September is wedding season. I have been to many weddings over the last few weeks and all of them have…
Storming the Gates of Heaven

Storming the Gates of Heaven

It is hard to remember a week that has been this difficult. The entire Jewish people feel broken. I feel…
The Leaders of Tomorrow

The Leaders of Tomorrow

One of my favorite tasks at Aish is meeting with our students to hear their ideas about how to change…
From Austria, With Love

From Austria, With Love

I am writing to you from Austria where I have had the honor of being the scholar in residence for…
The Secrets of Jewish Longevity and Survival

The Secrets of Jewish Longevity and Survival

I was so proud of our Aish team for producing the groundbreaking documentary “Voices of Pain, Hope, and Heroism.” It…
A Nation of Heroes

A Nation of Heroes

We are a Nation of heroes. From Ambassador Gilad Erdan to the Aish students we all must step forward and…
We Are All Druze

We Are All Druze

I was particularly crushed by the horrific slaughter of the 12 young Druze adolescents murdered by Hezbollah while playing soccer.…
Family

Family

The hate we are encountering is unprecedented in our lifetime. Yet, if we stand together united by the bonds of…
I am My Brother’s Keeper

I am My Brother’s Keeper

We have a dynamic couples Aish Destiny mission which has come to spend time in Israel connecting with each other…
DMing my rabbi: Aish's live chats see spike 300% post-Oct. 7, antisemitism surge

DMing my rabbi: Aish's live chats see spike...

Aish.com, post-October 7, saw a 300% surge in live web chat use, aiding Jews worldwide to reconnect with their heritage…
Building a Movement in Ashdod

Building a Movement in Ashdod

This past week the executive team of Aish, together with many members of the senior leadership team, gathered in Ashdod…
The Importance of Being Eternally Optimistic

The Importance of Being Eternally Optimistic

I had the honor of spending time in the Knesset this week. I spoke with my longtime friend, MK Yitzhak…
Humility and the Path to the Jewish Future

Humility and the Path to the Jewish Future

This past week we met in person to talk about how to bring more partners into our circle in an…
Joy and Inspiration on the Home Front

Joy and Inspiration on the Home Front

My wife and I have been blessed to marry off our second child in six months. The experience has been…
Addressing Young Heroes and Future Leaders

Addressing Young Heroes and Future Leaders

October 7th has redefined us as a people. Our Aish Rabbis on campus have had to retool and deal with…
The Next CEO of Aish is…

The Next CEO of Aish is…

Between the thousands of young Jews dancing in the Kotel plaza this week and the thousands of young Jews studying…
The Crucial Role of Love

The Crucial Role of Love

Aish Israel has been bringing groups of Israeli entrepreneurial millennials to the United States for the past few years. Fresh…
Inspiration from Washington

Inspiration from Washington

My day in Washington was truly a day of love. It was a day of focus on how to inculcate…
An unexpected partner in bittersweet times

An unexpected partner in bittersweet times

Nas came to film at Aish and featured Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen giving pearls of wisdom throughout the 11-minute video.…
Never Again

Never Again

This past week the entire Jewish world commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day, also known as Yom HaShoah. For so many years…
This is not the end of our story

This is not the end of our story

This is not the end of our story. This is a challenge to be sure, but the Jewish people are…
Thank You, Almighty

Thank You, Almighty

While I have been doing this for years, one of the media articles from this past week moved me tremendously.…