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Rabbi Moshe Weinberger (born June 1, 1957) is an American Hasidic Judaism rabbi, educator, author, translator, and speaker. He is the founding rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, New York, and former Mashpia/ mashgiach ruchani at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). He has recorded more than 5000 lectures on Hasidic Judaism and philosophy as well as Halakha (Jewish law) and a variety of other topics in Judaism.
The congregation's annual Yom Hillula celebration on the Yahrzeit (death anniversary) of Shapira and on Lag BaOmer, the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, each draw more than 2,000 attendees.
The congregation also hosts multiple events throughout the year such as a Chanukkah Mesiba (party), Simchas Beis HaShoeivah, and Tu BiShvat.
In around 2019, Rabbi Weinberger slowly started shifting out of his role at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) to focus on opening up a kollel ("Emek Hamelech") for training people interested in Rabbi which focused on a combination of intense study of Halakha as well as a serious focus on Kabbalah and chassidus, which, due to a variety of factors never came to fruition.
Rabbi Weinberger has been noted as "one of this generation's leading teachers of Chassidus".Besser, Yisroel. "Breslov Revisited". Mishpacha, May 12, 2010, pp. 30-40. His teachings derive from a wide range of sources across the Hashkafa board of Judaism, including the Baal Shem Tov, Ramchal, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, Chabad, and Izbica, Peshischa as well as from the Vilna Gaon, Tzadok hakohen Zadok HaKohen, and Rabbi Avraham Yitzchok HaKohen Kook, among others. He also teaches works that were previously unavailable to the English-speaking public, such as the works of the Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, and others To date, he has recorded over 5,000 lectures on Chasidic thought and philosophy.
Since 2011, he has produced four volumes of English translation and commentary on the Hebrew sefer Oros HaTeshuva by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchok HaKohen Kook, published under the title Song of Teshuva. In 2015 a collection of his Torah discourses at the annual Yom Hillula (Yahrzeit) of the Piaseczna Rav at Congregation Aish Kodesh was published under the title Warmed by the Fire of the Aish Kodesh. Since then, he has also published a collection of his weekly derashos (sermons) under the title Sparks from the Fire.
Positions on Controversial Matters
Rabbi Weinberger has been involved in some controversies over his years of service as a leader, at times disagreeing with some Rabbi in the Misnagdim and Sephardi Jews Jewish orthodox community who disagree with his Hashkafa views on certain matters.
Pittsburgh Massacre
Background
On October 27, 2018, as Jewish prayer were underway in the conservative Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a lone gunman entered the synagogue and began indiscriminately shooting a semi-automatic rifle killing 11 worshippers and injuring 7. The attack was clearly recognized as of Antisemitism nature as shown from his social media posts before the attack and statements to the police after his arrest. In the aftermath, many leaders of the free world issued statements condemning the attacks, with the former United States Donald Trump describing it as "pure evil". Many communities, cities, and sports events held vigils, memorial ceremonies and moments of silence in respect to the victims who were killed.
Statement from Rabbi Mordechai Aderet
On the day following the attack, Rabbi Mordechai Aderet (of Great Neck, New York) released a video titled "State of the Union Address" in which he stated that the reason for the terror attack was due to the Brit milah of a child adopted by two gay parents which was reportedly taking place in the synagogue at that time (reported by The Advocate, later stated by the rabbi of the congregation to be false). In his speech he stated that this is the punishment of those who do the sins of the Dor HaMabul and that such is the reason why the Tree of Life synagogue, whose congregation identifies as conservative and Egalitarianism was specifically attacked. Additionally, in his speech he stated that he has Ruach HaKodesh, and that many great rabbis including Chaim Kanievsky walked him to the door when he visited them as a proof that he is a great rabbi.
Counterstatement from Rabbi Weinberger
Following the release of Rabbi Aderet's video, Rabbi Weinberger recorded a shiur in which he strongly condemned Rabbi Aderet's views on the matter calling him "a messenger of the sitra achra". In the released recording, he emphasised that regardless of what they were doing at the time of the attack or their affiliation to the conservative movement of judaism, they were raised as such (" tinokos shenishba" lit. "captured babies that") and did not know any better. He stressed that in the The Holocaust there was no differentiation between Jews who openly identified as Jews and those who completely rejected it - they were all killed indiscriminately by the hands of the Nazism. He stated that no rabbi from anywhere in the world has any right to say anything about them or why they were killed, other than the fact that they were Jews, and as such, are termed " kedoshim" (lit. "holy people").
Support of Rabbi Weinberger's Position
Following the release of Rabbi Weinberger's condemnation of Rabbi Aderet's position, many Orthodox rabbis and organizations released statements backing Rabbi Weinberger's position on the matter, including:
Works
In the 1980s and 1990s, Rabbi Weinberger wrote articles on issues pertaining to Orthodox Judaism and baal teshuva. He was a frequent contributor to Jewish Action, published by the Orthodox Union, and the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society, published by the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School. In 1990 he authored the book Jewish Outreach: Halakhic Perspectives, on halakha issues pertaining to Orthodox Jewish outreach.
Personal
Spouse
Rabbi Weinberger is married to Rebbetzin Michla Weinberger, daughter of Shirley Schall and Cantor Noach Schall, a noted teacher and composer of Jewish Hazzan.
Dress
Rabbi Weinberger wears a full Chasidic Dress code, including a rekkel and Hat during the week as well as a Bekishe and shtreimel on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Additionally, he also has a beard and long traditional chassidic peyos.
Bibliography
Books
Selected articles
Notes
Sources
External links
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