From our modest beginning, we have grown steadily while staying true to our founding principles. In 1994, we moved to a converted house on Woodmere Boulevard. Only three years later we outgrew this space. From Rosh Hashanah 5758 (September 1997) until February 2002 we conducted our Shabbos tefilah and special events across the street, at the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. Our membership has grown to over 200 families, many of whom moved to Woodmere specifically because of the presence of Rav Weinberger and Aish Kodesh. We recently completed construction of a beautiful 15,000 square foot makom Torah and Tefilah (place of Torah and prayer) and moved in on Shabbos Parshas Trumah, 5762. From this new platform, we hope to launch even more classes, programs and special events that will have a profound impact on the entire community and beyond.
From its inception, our spirited yet decorous tefilah (prayer) combined with Rav Weinberger’s inspirational discourses have attracted men and women from all over the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, the Metropolitan area and beyond. Virtually no Shabbos passes without our hosting many visitors from near and far. We are frequently asked to act as host of Shabbatonim (organized Sabbath get-togethers) to kiruv (Jewish Outreach) organizations such as NCSY and JEP as well as many local and metropolitan area High Schools and the NCSY Summer Kollel. Recognizing that we have the opportunity, and, we feel, the obligation, to disseminate this Torah message even more broadly, we have established the Aish Kodesh Institute.
The mission of the Institute is to:
- Function as a vibrant Orthodox community synagogue, committed to decorous, spiritual and meaningful tefilah (prayer) and provide for the day-to-day fulfillment of the requirements of halachic Judaism, including daily services and shiurim (classes).
- Disseminate the basic principles and doctrines of Chassidus by means of Rav Weinberger’s lectures, shiurim and audio tapes as well as frequent ‘fabrengen’ and ’tischen’ (inspirational community gatherings replete with ‘divrei chizzuk’ (words of encouragement and strength), dancing and singing).
- Reach beyond the confines of our immediate neighborhood in alliance with numerous Jewish outreach organizations and facilitate extensive outreach programming, utilizing the unique spiritual character of the synagogue and Rav Weinberger.
Aish Kodesh is known worldwide for its inspirational, yet decorous, T’filah. Our bais medrash (synagogue) is packed virtually every Friday night with people from all over the neighborhood (and countless guests from the metropolitan area and beyond) who recognize that our services offer a unique way to greet Shabbos. Our commitment to maintaining decorum in a serious yet respectful way is unmatched. We are proud to be known as ‘the shul where you don’t talk during davening (prayer services).’ Add to that the inspirational divrei Torah (Torah discourses) by Rav Weinberger and it’s easy to see why we attract so many people who are seeking a more profound connection to Judaism and the Master of the Universe.