courses, executive learning and a tape
library on a wide range of Jewish topics.
In addition to courses, Aish HaTorah
is offering bigger, more social events.
Last years first beginner's services for
Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur at the
Jimmy Prentis Morris Building of the
Jewish Community Center in Oak Park
will be offered again this year, with an
interactive service in English.
Hochstadt uses his background to
offer creative education. He tries to
instill in students the feeling that what
they learn is so valuable, they'll want to
teach it to others. He says, "That's
Judaism," referring to the definition of
the word Torah as "teaching."
Aish HaTorah has 21 outreach
branches worldwide, including 12 in the
United States. Last year, it educated
75,000 people.
The Aish facility in Jerusalem, which
Hochstadt calls "the largest frontage in
Western Wall plaza," offers a learning
center, a leadership training institution,
a seminar center, fellowship headquar-
ters and a research and development
area housing a Web site. The center cus-
tomizes sessions, including the Jewish
view of marriage, education, a kosher
home, and spiritual issues of self.
An Internet site includes a two-hour
seminar on the Jewish contribution to
civilization called "World Perfect,"
which Hochstadt calls the home run in
the bottom of the ninth, aiming to
answer the question of what relevance
Judaism has to each individual and to
),
the world.
Hochstadt's goal is for metro Detroit
to be home to three or four satellite
learning centers that students can walk
into at any time, any day, and find
Judaic programs going on.
Aish HaTorah, meaning "the flame of
the Torah," got its name from Rebbe
Akiva, who at age 40, was uneducated
judaically. Upon seeing water boring a
hole in a rock, he realized that if the soft
water could enter a rock, certainly
Torah, which is fire, can penetrate his
heart. The moral of the story: it is never
too late too learn.
Success to Hochstadt is watching stu-
dents without prior commitment mak-
ing kosher homes, putting children in
Hebrew day schools and making
Shabbat meals. He follows the philoso-
phy of Aish HaTorah founder Rabbi
Noah Weinberg, saying he wants to
change everybody's life — forever."

•

USA
TRUNK SHOW

Joan

'Vass,

Fall/Spa '99

Thursday, July 15th • 10 am-8 pm
Friday, July 16th • 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday, July 17th • 10 am - 4 pm

Refreshed classics, homespun yarns,
utility details (zippers and drawstrings)
and a nonchalant mix of sportive and
elegant separates makes Fall '99 a
season for Joan Vass to shine.

INSIDE ORCHARD MALL • ORCHARD LAKE RD. (NORTH OF MAPLE) • (

"

For information on Aish Ha Torah,
call (248) 737-0400, or access its
Web site at www.aish.edu

poggen
POhl

.

ST BLOOMFIELD • 248-624-7300
3160 HA :LLtvi 1► 02;12 s,
890
CHARLEVOIX RD., SUITE 2A
Lb.:.
SVK NORT
616-348-8692
S R
K coY
E ( M 'rz •
E TOOW
SP H
RS: M-F 11-5, SAT. 11-3 OR BY APPOINTMENT
H
iiei

■

CUSTOM CABINETRY

Detroit Jewish News

7/9
1999

43