The organization Aish (formerly known as Aish HaTorah), located in the heart of Jerusalem, imparts timeless Jewish wisdom to help Jews around the world become more thoughtful, spiritual and influential. For the past 50 years, we have continued our mission to uplift lives. It is alive. Through its teachings and programs, Aish has inspired countless people to embark on a deep journey of self-discovery and acceptance of their Jewish identity.
Caitlin Valise is one of them. Although her mother was Jewish, she grew up Catholic in New Jersey, unaware of her own Jewish roots. She said a series of events, including attending a Friday night dinner hosted by a Jewish student group and participating in a Birthright trip to Israel, sparked her curiosity about her Jewish heritage. This happened after she entered university. But it was her encounter with Aish during her study trip to Israel that really began her spiritual journey.
“While at Aysh, Rabbi Mikhail Dubov gave lectures on good and evil, what it means to be a good person, and our relationship with God. For the first time I thought about what it means to have a relationship with God. ” said Caitlin. “For me, it was different because we grew up being told to have a relationship with Jesus instead of God, and I never really thought about having a relationship with God.”
Caitlin has returned to Aish to study in the Aish Aspire program. During her stay there, she delved deeper into her Jewish identity. “She wanted to know more. She wanted to know what she was doing about being Jewish,” Caitlin recalls. “Aish has done a great job in supporting me on my journey. Aish’s mentorship has helped me connect with myself, focus on what each person can be, and find out what works for me. They emphasize the idea of helping people find out. They are very helpful and allow each person to have their own space while receiving guided instruction. My journey of self-discovery has been solid. They have given me the space I need to explore and grow, and have helped me build a strong foundation for continued personal growth well into the future. Combining my studies with the volunteer opportunity to give back after October 7th really made me feel like I was helping out in the war effort. I am truly grateful for everything I got at Aish. .”
Miles Guralnick’s journey to Aish was similarly unconventional. Miles, who grew up in an unaffiliated Jewish family in Milwaukee, initially pursued a career in medical research, studying the effects of hallucinogens on mice. However, his program of work in his field and a pivotal internship in Israel that incorporated a variety of learning opportunities led him to attend classes at a Yeshiva (Torah Learning Academy) and to become a Jewish His curiosity about the wisdom of the world was ignited.
“I wasn’t really keen on taking classes at a yeshiva,” Miles admitted. “I felt connected when I was around other Jews, and I was interested in medical research, but studying Judaism itself was not an interest of mine. I wanted to do that, and yeshiva classes were part of that because it was a really great opportunity from a medical standpoint.”
It was in Aish that Miles found the perfect environment to explore his new interest in Judaism on his own terms. “Aish has a unique way of capturing important principles that connect with all students, not just those who walk in from the street, but also rabbinical students who have been studying for over 10 years. That alone is inspiring.” he said.
For Yossi Rosenbluth, a Modern Orthodox Jew who grew up questioning his faith, Aish provided the answers he was looking for. “I realized I needed to catch up. I was playing a Jew and I didn’t understand a lot of things, so I made a conscious choice to explore it on a deeper level,” said Yossi. explained.
Immersed in Aish’s Foundation programs, Yossi found solace in the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz and other master educators. “These lectures opened my eyes to how much I still don’t know, but it’s okay to ask questions and struggle with questions even if you don’t have all the answers. It made me feel that way,” he said.
Aish’s influence on Yoshi’s life extended beyond the classroom. During the recent conflict in Gaza, Yossi served in the Israel Defense Forces, and his experience strengthened his resolve to spread light in the darkness. “The real war was fought among ourselves. The hatred between Jews was expressed so much before the war. We were fighting left and right, but the real war was between us. “I thought it was anti-divisive, I wanted to fight that war and bring people together,” he claimed.
Inspired by Aish’s teachings on unity and clean speech, Yosi embarked on a self-funded speaking tour across the United States, inspiring hundreds of young people to build bridges and avoid hate speech. “We can win this war if we come together as a people. Unity starts with speaking kindly about each other and avoiding hate speech,” he explained.
These powerful stories of Caitlin, Miles, and Yoshi offer a glimpse into Aish’s deep impact on those seeking spiritual fulfillment and a deeper connection to their Jewish heritage. For 50 years, Aish has been at the forefront of imparting timeless Jewish wisdom to uplift and inspire people to live more thoughtful, spiritual, and impactful lives.
Since October 7th, we have been living in anxious and difficult times. Now more than ever, we need your help to continue this important mission. Together, we can turn the tide of hate and continue to inspire more fellow Jews. Together, we aim to raise his $4 million to further Aish’s mission, strengthening Jewish identity and Jewish pride online and around the world. Please join us on this inspiring journey by making a donation.
United, we stand strong.
