Article on Fire Hazard (Aish Hatorah)

Beneath the glitzy, moderate veneer.

“What about Aish Hatorah?â€? Someone asked following my post about NCSY’s relationship with charedi insitutional outreach leaders.

Well, what indeed?

Clifford Singer has an article on just that question. Singer notes,

Third, it advocates a ‘one step at a time’ approach to Judaism, allowing members to develop their observance at their own pace. For Aish, this is testimony to its openness and tolerance, and it has certainly succeeded in attracting those who would be otherwise repelled by the ‘black hat brigade’. But critics say Aish uses this approach to hide its true aims from prospective recruits. Aish’s outreach work is focused mainly on the under-30s, who it attracts with slick advertising and hip graphics that give little hint of its ultra-Orthodox agenda. Some parents have accused it of having a cult-like influence on their children.

Once again, if anyone has a story to tell about Aish (or other charedi recruitment institution) for our upcoming book, please contact myself or Shmarya Rosenberg at submissions AT kiruvstories.com