Mendel Weinbach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mendel Weinbach |
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Rabbi Mendel Weinbach in 2010
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| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox Judaism |
| Alma mater | Yeshiva Torah Vodaas |
| Personal | |
| Born | Chona Menachem Mendel Weinbach September 24, 1933 Kańczuga, Galicia |
| Died | December 11, 2012 (aged 79) Jerusalem, Israel |
| Spouse | Sylvie (Shaindel) Lamm |
| Children | 6 sons 6 daughters |
| Parents | Yechezkel Shraga and Tshezye Genendel Weinbach |
| Position | Rosh yeshiva |
| Yeshiva | Ohr Somayach |
| Began | 1970 |
| Ended | 2012 |
| Yahrtzeit | 27 Kislev, 5773 |
| Buried | Har HaMenuchot |
| Residence | Kiryat Mattersdorf |
| Semicha | Yeshiva Torah Vodaas |
Rabbi Mendel Weinbach (born September 24, 1933 – died December 11, 2012) was an important Jewish leader. He was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, a teacher, a writer, and a speaker. He helped start Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem, a special school for Jewish men who wanted to learn more about their religion. He is known for helping many Jewish people connect with their faith.
Contents
Rabbi Mendel Weinbach's Life
Early Years and Learning
Chona Menachem Mendel Weinbach was born in Kańczuga, a place called Galicia. When he was four years old, his family moved to America and settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
At age 12, he left home to study at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. This was a special school where he learned from famous rabbis like Yaakov Kamenetsky and Gedalia Schorr. He later received his rabbinic ordination there, which means he became a rabbi.
In 1953, Rabbi Weinbach was one of ten students chosen to help start a study hall in Los Angeles. This was to encourage parents to send their children to a new Jewish high school. After that summer, he continued his studies at Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey, New York.
Moving to Israel
In 1960, he married Sylvie Lamm. She was a Belgian war orphan who came to New York when she was five. She was raised by her uncle and aunt in New York City.
In 1962, Rabbi Weinbach and Sylvie decided to move to Israel. They were among the first American Orthodox Jewish families to settle there. They lived in a new neighborhood in Jerusalem called Kiryat Mattersdorf. There, they raised their 12 children.
Helping Others Learn
When he first moved to Israel, Rabbi Weinbach continued his studies at the Mir yeshiva. He also started a kollel, which is a place for married men to study Jewish texts. He also helped open other Jewish schools in different cities in Israel.
Around 1965, Rabbi Weinbach had an idea to open a special school for baal teshuva students. These were Jewish people who were becoming more religious. He worked with Rabbi Meir Schuster to start this school in Jerusalem. However, the school had to close because of the Six-Day War in 1967.
Starting Ohr Somayach
In 1972, Rabbi Weinbach, along with Rabbis Nota Schiller, Noah Weinberg, and Yaakov Rosenberg, started a new school. It was called Shema Yisrael Yeshiva. Their goal was to teach young, English-speaking Jewish men who didn't know much about Jewish studies.
After a few years, Rabbi Weinberg left to start his own school, Aish HaTorah. Shema Yisrael then changed its name to Ohr Somayach. This new name came from a famous Jewish book. Rabbi Weinbach and Rabbi Schiller continued to lead the school. They helped students learn the Talmud and become part of Orthodox Jewish communities.
Growing the Yeshiva
Rabbi Weinbach helped Ohr Somayach grow a lot. They opened new branches in Israel in 1984. Later, more branches were opened in the United States, Canada, England, South Africa, and Ukraine.
He also helped create programs to help Jewish people connect with their heritage. These included a summer learning course for young men from other countries. Another program trained teachers, and one brought American Jews to Israel to learn more about Judaism. Rabbi Weinbach taught at Ohr Somayach from its beginning in 1970 until he passed away in 2012.
Sharing Jewish Wisdom
Rabbi Weinbach gave many talks and lessons. He gave a long lesson every Tisha B'Av, a Jewish day of mourning. He also spoke at events for women, like the annual rally about Shmiras Halashon (guarding one's speech). He also helped start a high school and seminary for girls in Geula.
In the 1970s, he wrote articles for The Jewish Press using a different name. He also wrote for important people like the Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin. Later, he wrote books in English about Israel, Jewish prayer, and the teachings of the Chofetz Chaim, a famous rabbi. Before he died, he finished a big project called The Essential Malbim on Chumash and Nach.
In his last years, Rabbi Weinbach taught a daily lesson called Daf Yomi in Kiryat Mattersdorf.
Rabbi Weinbach was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. Even though he was getting medical treatment, he kept teaching, speaking, and writing. His health became worse a few months before he died. He passed away on December 11, 2012. He was buried in Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.
