One of the most important accomplishments of the past decade has been strengthening AISH’s ability to bring Jewish wisdom to every Jew, everywhere.
For more than fifty years, Rabbi Noah Weinberg, zt’l, taught a revolutionary idea: every Jewish person, regardless of background, upbringing, or level of observance, deserves direct access to the beauty and depth of Torah. Jewish wisdom was never meant to belong to a select few. It belongs to all of us.
That vision has guided AISH since its founding.
Throughout our history, thousands of women have participated in AISH programs around the world and have been profoundly impacted by their experiences. In recent years, however, we have been privileged to create something truly transformative: the Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Aish Institute for Women’s Education.
This remarkable seminary has welcomed thousands of young women who have come seeking meaning, purpose, connection, and spiritual growth. Their journeys have enriched not only their own lives, but the entire AISH family. For decades, AISH’s presence in Jerusalem centered around our historic old city campus. Today, young women from around the world have a dedicated home for learning and growth in the heart of Jerusalem.
The impact has been extraordinary.
This achievement builds upon a foundation laid by Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg, zt’l, Rabbi Noah Weinberg’s wife and partner, whose pioneering work inspired generations of women. Her EYAHT seminary touched countless lives, and many of us still remember meeting young women whose Jewish futures were forever changed by that experience.
Today, programs such as the Erber Family Gesher Program (efg@Aish) for post-high school students and Aish Aspire, our program for young women with little or no Jewish background, continue that legacy. They are places where young women discover their strengths, deepen their Jewish identity, and build lasting connections to Torah and the Jewish people.
One of the beautiful truths about Jewish education is that when you plant seeds of growth, those seeds spread far beyond the original classroom.
That realization led us to ask an important question: How could we bring this experience to women of all ages around the world?
The result was Aish Ignite, or what I like to call ‘Mominary’, a transformative seminary experience for women in their second or third stage of life, many of whom are mothers. The program is designed to bring the power of immersive Torah learning to women, no matter what stage of life.
Just as thousands of young women have found inspiration through the Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Aish Institute for Women’s Education, Mominary was created to offer that same transformative experience to mothers seeking deeper connection, meaning, and growth.
Mominary was created for women who wanted their own opportunity to learn, grow, and experience the inspiration their daughters were discovering. Some had daughters attending seminary. Others simply wanted to reconnect with their Jewish heritage in a deeper way.
The concept was simple. Women come to Israel for an immersive week of learning, studying together from Sunday through Thursday in the seminary environment.
The results have been remarkable.
Lives have been changed. Communities have been strengthened. Lifelong friendships have been formed. Most importantly, women have returned home inspired to continue learning and sharing that inspiration with others.
What began as an idea quickly became something much larger.
Associate Director of Aish Rachel Spinner, one of our outstanding staff members, partnered with my wife, Rachel Burg, along with two incredible mothers of AISH students, Shari Alter and Stephanie Pomerantz of Englewood, New Jersey. Together, they built something extraordinary.
Mominary has graduated from a small one-time program and has become its own movement.
Learning communities have emerged across the country. Programs have flourished in Florida, Englewood, and many other locations. Women continue learning together long after returning home from Israel.
That is why I am especially excited about an upcoming Garden Lunch & Learn taking place on July 19 at 11:00 a.m. in Wesley Hills, New York.
This event will be hosted in the home of Edie Gross.
Edie and her husband Isaac share a deep connection to AISH that stretches back decades. Rav Noah frequently stayed in their home when visiting Brooklyn, and a special friendship developed between Rabbi Weinberg and Isaac. It feels particularly meaningful that Edie, who has been deeply involved in Mominary, is opening her home to bring women together once again for learning and inspiration.
We will also have the privilege of honoring Hattie Danziger of Manhattan, whose commitment to Torah growth and personal development has inspired everyone around her. Hattie’s journey reflects exactly what Mominary is all about, and we are thrilled to celebrate her accomplishments.
I would also like to recognize the chairs of this event: Edie Gross, Bari Erber, Stephanie Pomerantz, and Shari Alter, whose leadership and dedication have helped make this gathering possible.
Our Keynote speaker will be Rabbi Daniel Rowe, one of the most gifted educators in the Jewish world today.
Many of you have watched his lectures online. His unique ability to connect Torah, philosophy, comparative religion, history, and contemporary geopolitics has made him a sought-after educator around the world. His scholarship is extraordinary, and his ability to communicate profound ideas with clarity and relevance is truly exceptional.
This movement would not be possible without the extraordinary people who have helped build and nurture it. Rabbi Dovid Rosman, Director of the Aish Educational Institute, Mrs. Michal Dubov, Managing Director of the Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Aish Institute for Women’s Education, Jamie Geller, Aish’s Chief Communications Officer and Global Spokesperson, and the many women who continue to participate and lead have all played an essential role in Mominary’s success. Jamie has been both a participant and a leading voice helping to expand this movement, inspiring women around the world to embrace Jewish learning and growth. Her passion, authenticity, and commitment to sharing the transformative power of Torah have helped bring countless women into the Mominary family.
Watching this community grow has been one of the great privileges of my time at Aish.
I believe deeply that strengthening Jewish women strengthens the entire Jewish future.
We are taught, “Binah yeteirah nitnah ba’ishah,” that women were blessed with a unique depth of understanding and insight. Throughout Jewish history, that wisdom has helped shape our families, communities, and future generations. When women immerse themselves in Torah learning, that natural gift is elevated and refined. The result is not only personal growth, but a ripple effect that reaches children, spouses, friends, and entire communities.
That is what makes Mominary so powerful. It is not merely a learning program. It is an investment in Jewish leadership, Jewish families, and the future of the Jewish people.
Greater Jewish knowledge creates greater confidence. Greater confidence creates stronger homes, stronger families, and stronger communities.
This past Shavuot, as in previous years, I had the privilege of speaking to our seminary students at 3:30 in the morning. Looking out at those young women, filled with energy, purpose, and passion for Judaism, reminded me once again why this work matters so much. Their commitment to growth is inspiring. Their love for Judaism is contagious. They are returning to communities around the world and making a profound difference.
The same is true for the women of Mominary. They return home energized, empowered, and connected. They become catalysts for learning in their communities and role models for their families. They remind us that Jewish growth does not belong to any one stage of life. It is a lifelong journey.
That is exactly what Jewish learning is supposed to do.
I encourage every woman who can attend this special gathering to join us. Come with friends. Bring your daughters. Be part of something larger than yourself.
Let us celebrate women’s Torah learning.
Let us celebrate the builders of Jewish homes and Jewish communities.
Let us celebrate the remarkable growth taking place throughout the AISH family.
Our mission remains the same as it was more than fifty years ago: to bring Jewish wisdom to every single Jew.
Seeing that vision come alive through the women of Mominary fills me with tremendous hope and excitement for the future.
