Matis Weinberg

Matis Weinberg is an American-born Orthodox rabbi and former rosh yeshiva who now resides in Jerusalem, Israel. He is a lecturer and educator and travels to teach groups in different parts of the world, such as in the United States and South Africa. He is also the author of numerous books on Jewish texts and is a member of the famed Weinberg rabbinical family, which has been central to 20th century Orthodox Judaism in the United States. As well as this, he is the former dean at the Hebrew Institute of California and rosh yeshiva of Kerem Yeshiva, in California.

Works

Weinberg's magnum opus is a series of books of discourses and discussions on the Torah, under the title Frameworks. Currently Frameworks only covers Genesis to Numbers, Deuteronomy is a work in progress. In an introduction, a sixth planned book on the first Parsha, Genesis, was mentioned as being in the works after the first five are completed.

Another, earlier series discussing the Jewish holidays was also started, with only two volumes, on Rosh Hashana and Chanukah. They are numbered 1 and 8, respectively, presumably in reference to the fact that Rosh Hashana is the first holiday (The Jewish New Year,) whereas Chanukah is the last of the holidays, being the most recently enacted Rabbinical holiday. The series has seemingly been discontinued, though the books have had a new edition featuring new cover artwork published by Feldheim. The remaining parts of the series, if published would include Yom Kippur (2), the "Shalosh Regalim" (3-5), Tisha B'av (6), and Purim, (7).

Family

Weinberg is the son of Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg, long time rosh yeshiva of Ner Israel Talmudical Academy and grandson of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman. He is the son in law of the late Rabbi Chaim Stein, the rosh yeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland, Ohio and is the nephew of the late Rabbi Noah Weinberg, founder of Aish HaTorah.

Controversy

Several former students of Rabbi Weinberg, going back at least 30 years, have said that he sexually molested them.^[1][2] A Jerusalem rabbinical tribunal dismissed the case, citing a lack of witnesses to recent alleged misconduct.^[3][4] Yeshiva University in New York severed ties with Yeshiva Derech Eitz Chaim because of its connection to Rabbi Weinberg and the allegations against him.^[5] Yeshivat Derech Eitz Chaim sued for minimum damages of $75,000,^[5] to which Yeshiva University countersued, claiming that the yeshiva "utterly refused to protect" students from Rabbi Weinberg.^[6] Yeshiva University's investigation revealed that at least one student reportedly came forward to the dean of the yeshiva to complain that he was touched inappropriately by Rabbi Weinberg, but asked the dean "not to disclose" the claim of abuse.^[6] The lawsuits have since been dropped, after an agreement between both schools.^[7]

References