121912 C50-52, 54-55 Community Tribute Weinbach.Qxd
C50 HAMODIA 6 TEVES 5773 DECEMBER 19, 2012 Tribute Harav Mendel Weinbach, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Ohr Somayach BY YEHUDA MARKS Every Jew and His Personal courses dropped, in favor of Avodas Hashem business courses. And the Harav (Chuna) Menachem Harav Weinbach’s strength business student was more Mendel Weinbach, a pioneer of wasn’t just the sheer number of organized in budgeting his time the modern-day baal teshuvah Jews he brought to Torah, but and energy. Backpacking movement and cofounder and how he did it. Harav Weinbach became less popular; dean of Ohr Somayach In- understood that each Jew finds consequently, fewer Jewish stitutions, was niftar last Hashem in his own way, and he backpackers came to the Kosel. Monday after courageously found the way for each Jew to As hashgachah would have it, battling a long and painful find Torah and avodas before Black Monday Ohr illness. He was 79. Hashem — and make it his own. Somayach had already begun Harav Weinbach was the He would quote the bringing students in directly. beloved mentor, father and Rambam, who writes in Hilchos This enabled Harav rebbi to generations of Ohr Avodah Zarah that Avraham Weinbach, who was never Somayach talmidim around the Avinu, the first “kiruv activist,” prepared to take shortcuts, to world. And as a prolific author would answer every person adhere to his shitah of getting and sought-after lecturer for according to his knowledge. the talmidim into the learning of both men’s and women’s groups “Interestingly, we can hear Torah. Unlike the backpackers across the globe, Harav Wein- the same question hundreds of who were sitting on their bach’s zeal and power were a times, and I don’t think I’ve suitcases, Harav Weinbach source of inspiration for given the same answer twice!” could now dedicate his time to thousands of others.
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