“RebbetzinWeinberg expected us to set up homes according to Torah values, but she didn’t want us to stick out as obvious baalei teshuvah”
“The Queen of Kiruv” was an excellent potpourri of vignettes that offered a tangible glimpse into the person Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg was. I’d like to add a couple of important points.
I had the privilege of attending EYAHT in the early 1990s. I was drawn to the small, close-knit atmosphere of EYAHT with Rebbetzin Weinberg’s emphasis on personal growth and total dedication to Judaism. As the article mentions, she raised the bar high and we were always challenged to be better and reach higher. A typical ten-hour day of classes combined intensive Jewish philosophy and texts (with tests) as well as practical halachah, shalom bayis, and chinuch habanim.
But there wasn’t pressure to perform and achieve; everyone grew at her own pace. One aspect that balanced the atmosphere was that EYAHT was truly a family. We were invited to all the Weinberg family simchahs, and even those of the other teachers. I surmise that Rebbetzin Weinberg had two agendas: one was to include us because she considered us like family, and the other was to teach us what a Jewish simchah looks like. We went to weddings, brisim, pidyon habens, and even funerals of teachers’ family members. Such experiential learning taught us more than any text could.
Rebbetzin Weinberg also mandated practical experiential learning like cleaning teachers’ homes for Pesach, and classes in cooking and sewing. While we may have balked at the time, I can honestly say that it was excellent preparation for running a home (and I actually like Pesach cleaning!).
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