13 Facts About Mendel Weinbach

Chona Menachem Mendel Weinbach was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, educator, author, and speaker.

Chona Menachem Mendel Weinbach was born in Kanczuga, Galicia, to Yechezkel Shraga and Tshezye Genendel Weinbach.

In 1953 Weinbach was one of 10 Torah Vodaath students recruited by Rabbi Simcha Wasserman to open a Beth midrash in Los Angeles to generate interest among parents in Wasserman's proposal to open a mesivta high school in that city.

Mendel Weinbach had been liberated on 13 January 1944 and sent to a Jewish orphanage; her parents were deported to Auschwitz two days later.

Mendel Weinbach was raised by her uncle and aunt in New York City.

Mendel Weinbach established yeshivas in Givat Ada and Netanya, and became involved with American P'eylim, which was opening yeshivas and Talmud Torahs for new immigrants.

Mendel Weinbach was a member of a group of avreichim from the Mir, Brisk, Hebron and other yeshivas who volunteered to study with new immigrants who did not fit into regular Israeli yeshivas.

Around 1965 Mendel Weinbach decided to open a yeshiva for baalei teshuva together with Rabbi Meir Schuster.

Mendel Weinbach oversaw the growth of Ohr Somayach into different branches, beginning with the 1984 establishment of its Israeli division.

Mendel Weinbach oversaw the development of several successful kiruv initiatives, including the Jewish Learning Exchange, a summer learning course for young men from overseas; the Ohr Lagolah teacher-training program; and the Mentors Mission, which brings American Jews to Israeli for kiruv activities.

Mendel Weinbach delivered a shiur every Tisha B'Av that lasted two to three hours.

Mendel Weinbach spoke at women's events such as the annual Shmiras Halashon Rally, and at the Mercaz Bais Yaakov high school and seminary in Geula, which he co-founded with Rabbi Yeshaya Lieberman.

Mendel Weinbach was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 but continued to teach, lecture and write as he underwent medical treatment.