Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis was born in Hungary and is descended from a great rabbinic dynasty that can trace its lineage back to the days of King David. Prior to the Holocaust, there were 85 rabbis bearing the name Jungreis in Hungary (the Rebbetzin’s maiden name was also Jungreis. During W.W. II, most of the family was killed in Auschwitz.

Having experienced the Holocaust first hand as an inmate of Bergen Belsen, the Rebbetzin has determined to devote her life to combating the spiritual holocaust which engulfs the Jewish people in our contemporary world.

For over 40 years, Rebbetzin Jungreis has written a weekly column for The Jewish Press, the world’s largest Anglo-Jewish weekly. Mrs. Jungreis also teaches Bible on the Hineni television show, broadcast weekly to more than 8 million homes coast to coast. This program is now being broadcast world-wide weekly, on the internet.

In 1973, Rebbetzin Jungreis founded Hineni, an international movement to inspire the Jewish people to return to their faith. Hineni gatherings have been held throughout the world - in the United States, Israel, South Africa, Europe, Canada and Australia. Its impact has been overwhelming: standing room only crowds have gathered to hear the Rebbetzin from Madison Square Garden in N.Y. to the Hollywood Palladium in L.A. Today, her Bible seminars continue to attract overflow crowds. She has spoken for the U.S. Army and Navy as well as for the Israel Defense Forces. She was also invited to deliver the benediction at the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In 1982, the Hineni Heritage Center, the first of its kind in the world, located at 232 West End Avenue in NYC opened its doors. The Center houses a multi-media museum and offers classes in Torah study and Shabbatons. To accommodate Hineni’s many followers, Hineni holds High Holiday services at The Pierre Hotel in NYC. In addition to classes, Hineni has a highly successful singles program through which countless matches have been made. Many of these young couples today attend Hineni Young Marrieds’ seminars and their children participate in youth programs, linking three and sometimes four generations.

At the Hineni Bill and Jill Roberts Outreach Center in Jerusalem, educational and social programs as well as guidance and counseling to youth at risk are provided. The center also houses a soup kitchen which serves 300 meals daily to the homeless and holds Sabbath and holiday celebrations.

The Rebbetzin is the author of three critically acclaimed books, “Jewish Soul On Fire” (Wm. Morrow & Co.); “The Committed Life” (HarperCollins), which has been translated into Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, Hungarian. Portuguese and French, and “The Committed Marriage” (HarperCollins) which has also been published in Spanish and Hebrew editions. Her fourth and latest book, “Life Is a Test”, was published in the Fall of 2006 and has become a best seller worldwide.

In 2005, the Rebbetzin was appointed by President Bush to a five year term on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. In 2006 she was a member of the U.S. delegation to the dedication of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.