About Aish HaTorah:

Aish HaTorah is an apolitical, international network of Jewish educational centers, providing opportunities for Jews of all backgrounds to discover the wisdom and beauty of their heritage in an atmosphere of open inquiry and mutual respect. 25 branches in 8 countries inspire over 100,000 people each year with the meaning of being Jewish. Aish HaTorah’s educational programs are based on the following principles:

• Torah teaches us how to maximize our pleasure and potential in life.
• Jewish belief needs to be built on a rational foundation and not a leap of faith.
• Judaism is a journey where every step counts. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition.

Visit aish.com to find out more.

ABOUT THE RABBI

  Rabbi Chananel Weiner is the CEO of Aish Campus Boston.  Rabbi Chananel graduated from the University of Maryland BC with a degree in English/History and an acceptance to law school.  Spending the summer in Israel between graduation and law school changed his path and instead, Rabbi Chananel spent the next 6 years completing his Jewish Studies training at the Aish HaTorah College of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Israel.  Recently, Rabbi Chananel participated as a contributor in a discussion based program at Harvard’s ILR School on Finding a Solution to the Middle East Conflict.   

Rabbi Chananel lives in Boston with his wonderful wife Michelle (originally from London, UK) and 2 incredible children.  Rabbi Chananel is known for his outgoing personality, being extraordinarily approachable, encouraging people to ask and get their questions answered, building leaders, and his passion for the Jewish people. 

Check out Rabbi Chananel (undercover) online: http://www.youtube.com/user/UnofficialUTubeRabbi

Sign up for the weekly Good Shabbas!! email for weekly thoughts on Aish Campus Boston and inspiration from articles on Jewish topics of interest.  info@aishboston.org

If you are interested in learning more about Aish Campus Boston or coming for a program, class or Shabbas meal, please set up a time to meet Rabbi Chananel:  Chananelw@aish.com

.more...

.

About Rabbi Tzvi

After 8 ½ years as Director of Aish Campus in Boston, Rabbi Tzvi Gluckin is now heading an exciting new Aish initiative.  During his tenure, Aish Campus grew from a small one-man operation to a large and dynamic program with program alumni from all the major Boston area campuses.  Over 700 students participated on educationally intensive overseas programs (that ranged in length from 10 days to 3 weeks), and many of these alumni are now married, parents, and more involved in the Jewish community. 

Rabbi Tzvi has already started his new position.  He is the author of two books, The Glue Factor: The Sticky Secret of Campus Recruitment – based on his years of experience as a campus rabbi, and Everything You Want Is Really Jewish – his journey to observant Judaism and the lessons he learned along the away.  He is on the road touring as a lecturer for the internationally acclaimed Discovery Seminar, as a leader with the innovative RAJE – Gateway’s Russian Program, and as a director of the cutting edge New York Area Metro Trips.  Tzvi is also involved with a number of cutting edge web-based programs and is the director of Vechulai – a new R&D initiative for Aish.  You can read more about Rabbi Tzvi’s new programs at his website, www.gluckin.com.

When Rabbi Tzvi isn’t touring, you can find him in Boston most Wednesday nights at Aish Campus’s weekly class in Brookline.

Volunteers

Joseph Yashar is the CEO of MegaPlexus Corporation operating in Boston and New York. Possessing degrees and background in electrical and computer engineering alongside his great charm has earned him the title of Aish Campus Boston's CGVO (Chief Geek Volunteer Officer) As the CGVO he has created this website, and plans to take it to great heights.

Here is a direct quote from the man himself "I am a great believer of making marks in the world to make it a better place for everyone. I think the Aish organization is doing a great job of that, and I feel proud to be able to help! I am hoping that this site can help get the voice of the rabbis heard better. If you have any suggestions to improve this site please contact me"

.

Rabbi Daniel Klatzkow is the Chief Rabbinic volunteer for Aish Campus Boston working with college students and young professionals. He is in charge of many aspects of our Wednesday night class and loves having Shabbas guests. For the first 6 months of his life he traveled through Sweden with a circus, spending the long car rides in a playpen in the back of the family’s sedan (before the days of mandatory car seats for infants and small children). He subsequently lived in Spain, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, back to Sweden, the Bahamas, and Atlantic City, before returning to the beautiful city of Stockholm, Sweden where he spent his formative teenage years and eventually completed mandatory military service in the Royal Swedish Army. He studied Jewish thought and law in Jerusalem for almost a decade, taught Talmud for two semesters, and experienced three bitterly cold winters in friendly Winnipeg, Manitoba. His claim to fame is that he has worked with Ingmar Bergman and once sat in a seat reserved for the Swedish Prime Minister.

He currently is the middle school science and math instructor at Torah Academy in Brookline as well as being the main Jewish studies teacher for home schooled children. 
He can be reached at: Dklatzkow@aish.com

Reyna Simnegar was born and raised in Venezuela to a family with history dating back to the Spanish Inquisition.  Reyna loves Shabbat and especially entertaining guests.  It seems that the entire Jewish community comes together in her dining room on a Friday night.  She is one of the main speakers for the ACB women’s program and is always inspiring young women to be proud Jewish role models.

Reyna says: “Why do I give my time to Aish?  Definitely for the free food! LOL!  I give my time to Aish Campus Boston because I feel Aish rabbis genuinely care about the student's spiritual growth.  I feel Aish is not judgmental and does a great job marketing true Judaism for what it really is: AWESOME!  Also, I give my time to Aish because I ALSO NEED INSPIRATION!! I have learned so much from the Rabbis and from preparing for my classes.  I guess it seems like I am such a "righteous" woman for volunteering for Aish, but the truth is that all I am doing is paying back for all the strength I have received!”

She is very happily married and lives with her “vonderful” husband and vivacious five boys in Brookline, MA. She earned her Bachelors degree in International Management and Economics from the University of Massachusetts with honors.

Reyna’s random factoid: While living in NYC she lived across the street from the restaurant made famous on Seinfeld.

.

.

Dr. Yitzchak Metchik is a professor of criminal justice at Salem State College and likes to integrate criminal justice-related ideas with his learinng and teaching, whenever he can find a connection! He lives in Brighton with his wife Ireta and their children Avi, Miriam, Coby and Yoni. He enjoys volunteering in the Aish program since everyone involved is so motivated to learn and to teach. He likes to feel that whatever he can contribute will help to keep the organization as successful and as vibrant as it is today.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Alina Koyfman has been involved with AISH since 2005.  She is originally from the Ukraine and started learning with AISH during her senior year at Babson College.  She considers AISH the single most significant contribution to her Jewish education and believes wholeheartedly in their mission.  Equally important is the fact that AISH is responsible for introducing Alina to chulent, a big mitzvah in and of itself. Alina currently lives in New York City and works in advertising.