Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg: Surpassing Achievement

Alongside twelve brothers, Dinah was born to the patriarch of the Jewish nation, Yaakov. Although scripture does not give an explanation as to why she was named as such, unlike her brothers, Dinah means “judged,” and the Sages explain that Leah chose it because she had passed judgment on herself. According to Rashi, Leah was to have given birth to her seventh son, after the maidservants together already had four. Knowing prophetically that only twelve sons were to be born to Yaakov, Leah realized that if she would have had this son, there would be just one left for her sister, Rachel. Having compassion on her sister, she prayed to G‑d, and her fetus turned out to be a girl – Dinah!¹ While Dinah of Tanach is often seen as a damsel, there is another Denah who is remembered as a force to be reckoned with: Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg.

In the heart of the Old City, with the incomparable view of the Western Wall, stands the Aish World Center. While it has now grown to be a world-renowned Jewish organization, bringing thousands of Jews to Israel on trips, long-term learning opportunities, and leadership development programs, Aish HaTorah began with one man’s vision. In 1974, after meeting five backpackers at the Western Wall, Rabbi Noach Weinberg founded “The Fire of Torah”, a Jewish education center in the Old City of Jerusalem. Rav Noach has been described by many as a “fire”, passionately determined to “ignite every Jewish soul, burning with zeal to kindle the love of God in every Jewish heart.”² His dream, which has now surpassed achievement, was to train the new generation of those who would fight for Judaism. Rabbi Weinberg’s dedication to the Jewish people, beginning with his five unlikely, yet eager students led to the opening of Aish branches and campus centers across the globe. Aish now reaches one million people annually, and has succeeded in bringing thousands of Jews back, not only to Israel for short-term learning, but back to their Father in Heaven, for life. 

As a former Aish student myself, having been reached through an incredible campus kiruv family, I have a shelf full of Rabbi Weinberg’s wisdom in writings. While I hope to someday write about the tremendous role he played in reigniting Judaism in individuals, it is now time to highlight the greatness of another Weinberg. There is a saying that is often mocked in this day in age: “Behind every great man is a great woman.” Women have been fighting for decades to be seen as equal. Forget being behind any man – women want to be in front, leading the way! The beauty of Torah, and so many of its supporters, is the understanding that leadership is not always so…loud. Some of the world’s most impactful leaders, let alone Jewry’s, will likely be forgotten by the masses – but deeply remembered by those they inspired in an intimate and personal way. After all, “Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.”³ 

To tie Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg back to her namesake, Dinah, I would like to highlight an interesting point. The Torah does not make any special mention of Yaakov’s other daughters. Before, I had highlighted the uniqueness of Dinah being the only girl alongside twelve brothers. The Midrash explains, however, that each son had a twin sister. For some reason, perhaps due to her significance over the other daughters, Dinah is the only one whose story is expanded upon in Tanach. In other words, she stood out. Denah Weinberg stood out in her own way, as well.

Denah Weinberg was not only the wife of the renowned Rabbi Weinberg, but a leader who guided and challenged thousands of women to be their very best. I remember when going to Pittsburgh’s Aish home when in college, noticing a picture of my Rebbetzin and an older woman. I must add: during my four years away from home, this family truly encapsulated the Weinberg’s approach to treating individuals as precious and essential to the Jewish people. Walking closer to the photo, I soon saw my rebbetzin looking the happiest I’d ever seen her (wearing a light purple hair-scarf), and a beautiful, regal, and – what stood out to me most – loving woman. Her light radiated through the frame, and I thought to myself, ‘If my Rebbetzin, who I respect and look up to so much, is shining in this woman’s presence, she must be someone remarkable.’ I was then told who she was, and it made perfect sense! As my Rebbetzin described Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg: “She was the most special person. She was never comfortable with her students being just average. She would always encourage and inspire us to strive for greatness in all of our avodas (service of) Hashem.”

To tie Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg back to her namesake, Dinah, I would like to highlight an interesting point. The Torah does not make any special mention of Yaakov’s other daughters. Before, I had highlighted the uniqueness of Dinah being the only girl alongside twelve brothers. The Midrash explains, however, that each son had a twin sister⁴. For some reason, perhaps due to her significance over the other daughters, Dinah is the only one whose story is expanded upon in Tanach. In other words, she stood out. Denah Weinberg stood out in her own way, as well. While her husband was involved in building his own yeshiva, the rebbetzin founded, and was the dean of EYAHT: College of Jewish Studies for Women in Jerusalem, which now has over 2,000 alumni⁵. אשה יראת ה’ היא תתהלל, Eesha Yirat Ado-noy Hee Tithallal, is what the acronym stood for, meaning, “A woman who fears God, she shall be praised.” 

In addition to being a public speaker in Israel, teaching Pirket Avot and her developed take on the beauty of Shabbat, she focused on the unique role of women in Judaism. Publishing several essays in Jewish women’s anthologies, she shared her knowledge in child-rearing and Jewish education, and how to achieve marital harmony. I spoke with one woman, by the name of Bracha, who shared an incredible teaching from one of these topics. “The Rebbetzin explained how changing babies’ dirty diapers is akin to helping them to do teshuva. It is a divine kind of action as we are helping others to become clean again. When a little grandchild needs a diaper changed, the older grandchildren marvel at my enthusiasm to volunteer to be the one to do this messy job.” In our current world, where so many women scoff at the idea of motherhood being a legitimate “career-choice”, or use of their various talents, the rebbetzin assured women that the work done in one’s home, particularly with their children, is invaluable. Denah did not stand “behind” anyone, rather, she stood up, and paved the way for future (female) Jewish leaders. 

As my rebbetzin explained, Rebbetzin Weinberg was not one to settle for “good enough”. She pushed her students because she was able to discern their abilities, and encourage them to do even more. Often, our achievements suffice because, after completion, we feel our task is finished! We reached our goal – what else is there to do? In Rabbi Noach Weinberg’s book The Five Levels of Pleasure: Enlightened Decision Making for Success in Life, he explains the following: “Studies have shown that human beings are using only 5% of their potential. If they use another 2%, they are super-achievers. That means you are probably wasting 95% of your potential, and that is tragic.”⁶ Why are so many of us reluctant to surpass achievement (as the Weinbergs did) when each of us is fully capable? Perhaps all we need are mentors, or one, who believes in us. Rebbetzin Denah recognized the good in her students and brought the good out in them. May we all be zoche to have such teachers and leaders in our lives – and be the leaders that others need. 

1. Rashi to Genesis 30:21 ↩︎
2. I Wanted That Fire, Sarah Yohever Rigler  ↩︎
3. Talmud Sanhedrin 37a ↩︎
4. Genesis Rabbah 84 ↩︎
5. EYAHT: Aish HaTorah’s College of Jewish Studies for Women, Archived June 6, 2010 ↩︎
6. The Five Levels of Pleasure: Enlightened Decision Making for Success in Life, Noah Weinberg, 2008 ↩︎