ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn, ˈæftɚ ɹᵻsˈiːvɪŋ ɹæbˈɪnɪkəl ˌɔːɹdᵻnˈeɪʃən ɪn dʒɚɹˈuːsələm, pˈækuːz stˈɑːɹɾᵻd ðə fˈɜːst ˈeɪɪʃ hˈɑː tˈoːɹə bɹˈæntʃ ɪn sənt. lˈuːi.
In 1979, after receiving rabbinical ordination in Jerusalem, Packouz started the first Aish HaTorah branch in St. Louis.