Olami Impact Report

The Power of Partnerships.

2015 Impact Report.

Setting the standard for 2016.

STUDENTS Our students’ origins span the globe

13,000

Latin America

7,000

France

5,800

Europe

3,000

FSU and Baltics

5,000

Israel

6,500

David Znati, Age 23

F RANCE

North America

“I’m a Math student. I was in a student cafeteria crunching numbers and I saw an advert for a Shabbaton. I was curious about it and decided to go with some friends. What a great decision. I had the most amazing time there, most importantly because of the great bond I made with cool mentors who gave me the will, through interesting discussions, to learn more about Judaism and to discover my Jewish roots. I really felt at home. Once back in Strasbourg I attended their classes and activities.

Every time I go there I gain so much.

I’m slowly discovering more about myself and my history and building relationships with special people that I will never forget. This chance experience has totally changed my outlook, my knowledge, my future. My life.”

2015 Student Origins

South Africa/Australia

Strasbourg

800

3

STUDENTS

Meet Daniel Brick. A Jewish Student Leader and part of our Olami network, he has created a truly invaluable partnership for Olami. Here’s his story...

While pursuing a degree at University of Missouri, Daniel discovered the JSL (Jewish Student Leaders) Program. After graduating he became the National Director of Programming & Leadership for AEPi and thanks to his experience with JSL, he created a partnership that allows Olami to reach thousands of Jewish fraternity students globally.

VIENNA, Austria

David Tverikin I went to Russian boarding school until age 17.

As you can imagine, my Jewish education was minimal! In fact, I was barely aware that I was Jewish. But when it came to going to university, I didn’t like the Russian options available to me so I looked overseas. That is when I discovered the Lauder Business School.

And when I remembered I am Jewish. I am thankful for that memory every day. Having never met an Olami Rabbi, I am now proud to call one my friend. We learn, we talk, we support each other. In the last year my eyes have been opened to the inspiring world of Judaism. It has changed my soul. Previously I had known that as Jews we believe in one G-d but that was the extent of my knowledge. Through being here, I have seen how it connects to me, the relevance it has to my life. It has given me stronger values to live by. I get something new each time I study. I really see my Judaism now as a blessing.

USA

Daniel Brick

Our regulars ONCE THEY STARTED, SOME OF OUR STUDENTS JUST COULDN’T STOP. FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR DEPTH OF INVOLVEMENT.

26,200

students attended our weekly programs

500 students spent

three months or more

in full time Jewish study programs 4

INVOLVED STUDENTS

WEEKLY LEARNING PROGRAMS

200,000+

Jewish classes held worldwide

The Jewish population of Madrid has dwindled to 3,000.

Of these, many are aging and the younger generation are looking to relocate to the USA, Israel and other countries. Yet every week, approximately thirty students engage with Torat Moshe, selecting from the 18 weekly programs being offered. It’s an incredible amount of weekly programs for a seemingly small number of students. Yet this is an intentional strategy on the part of Rav Isaac and Tamar Benzaque, Directors of Torat Moshe. “Our focus is on quality. We don’t have huge resources therefore we chose to invest what we do have on ensuring high quality relationships, education and experience for those who attend. Most girls in our programs attend at least three times a week, somewhat more for the boys.” Their classes range both in level, and content, and are on weekdays as well as on Shabbat.

Some classes are co-ed, some are separate gender.

5

SPAIN

ALL OF OUR PARTNERS HOLD WEEKLY CLASSES AND PROGRAMS. CHECK OUT THEIR IMPACT HERE.

WEEKLY LEARNING PROGRAMS

TRIPS

USA

OUR PARTNERS TOOK A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO ISRAEL AND POLAND. It was an experience of a lifetime.

6,000+

students went

on trips last year

The Poland trip was the most surreal and incredible experience I ever had. It was more than I expected.

It was 8 days but felt like a lot more. I learned so much about myself and my history and what happened there. It made me realize that being Jewish is who we are and what we will always have, no matter where we are. The trip also made us all appreciate our Judaism. The rabbis were amazing.

They managed to show us the beauty even as they taught us about the horrors that took place there. I learned so much from them.

We were experiencing things together that are now a part of us forever.

Roi Ankawa

Aish Penn State

164,700

hours of Jewish study on our trips 6

TRIPS

NOVEL PROGRAMMING

“My experience on jInternship really allowed me to delve deeper into the question of what it means that we, the Jewish people, now have a modern state of Israel and what it means for one to be a Jew living in today’s Israel.

We were exposed to Jews of all religious perspectives and upbringings who helped provide answers for these uncertain questions. Thanks to jInternship, the theological and philosophical sense of Jewish interconnectedness remains with me today and continues to inspire me to learn more and more about Judaism.”

NORTH AMERICA

OLAMI PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES ARE DYNAMIC AND VARIED

Sam Apple 7

NOVEL PROGRAMMING

WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF THE STAFF ACROSS THE GLOBE xWHO WORK TIRELESSLY WITH THEIR STUDENTS

people work within

the Olami framework

worldwide

The educators that work within the network are a diverse and talented group, bringing their skills from other fields to their campus work.

Among us we have pyschologists, artists, journalists, programmers, communication professionals, physicians, photographers, broadcasters, personal trainers, life coaches, system analysts and more...

FSU

STAFF

2,000

What I do here is not my job.

It is my life. I don’t draw a distinction. I was born and raised here in Moscow and I understand what our students are experiencing in many ways. This enables me to be not only their mentor, but also their friend. Students come to our house for Shabbat meals, for learning, for advice and for friendship. We have become like a big family, each unique and growing in his own way on his Jewish journey.

Sara Katz

Torah MiTzion, Moscow

training

conferences

USA, Mexico, Brazil, France, Argentina and Israel 8

STAFF

Olami has a presence in

27

COUNTRIES

different countries across 7 regions

WHY SAY SOMETHING IN ONE LANGUAGE WHEN WE CAN SAY IT IN 11?

RUSSIA ESTONIA LATVIA BELARUS UNITED KINGDOM GERMANY POLAND UKRAINE FRANCE AUSTRIA HUNGARY GEORGIA PORTUGAL SPAIN AZERBRAIJIAN

CANADA

Olami participants speak

11 languages between them; different

English, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Portugese, Russian, German, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Georgian and Italian

UNITED STATES

ISRAEL MEXICO COSTA RICA PANAMA

NEW COUNTRY

BRAZIL

COMING IN 2016!

SOUTH AFRICA

CHILE URUGUAY ARGENTINA

Our first student project in Rome, Italy. Italy is a prime space for an Olami program; with one Jewish school and around 17,000 Jews, they have the infrastructure we need to launch an incredible program. Watch this space!

AUSTRALIA

9

REGIONS/COUNTRIES

HUNGARY

COUNTRIES It’s hard to imagine Hungarian Jewish life without Tikvah. Every Hungarian Jew knows it’s a place where they can go: for kosher food, a place to pray, to learn, to meet and socialize. Tikvah’s student program is held twice each week, with over 100 students attending each session. More than 200 students celebrated Purim. Kornel, who runs the program says “It’s so beautiful to see them getting involved. When they come to us to celebrate Shabbat, they don’t just watch, they participate, they experience. Most have not seen this at home. Hungary is unique.

Our community went through the Shoah and then 40 years of communism, so Jewish expression and practice was almost invisible here. But I am proud to say, that with love, hard work, faith, and the incredible support of our donors, we are embracing the young Jewish adults and ensuring that they grow up as proud and active Jews.”

10

REGIONS/COUNTRIES

ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS

250 Chevruta programs running

I have Debbie Waissbluth to thank for where I am today. She is an amazing lady with whom I developed a strong relationship in Chile. She is open minded, intelligent and warm. She opened her house to me for Shabbat meals, we learned together, and we laughed! She played a really significant role in my Jewish growth, introducing me to a beautiful world that I had no idea about. I recently made Aliyah and am about to start Ulpan. Debbie inspired my Jewish journey and I am forever grateful.

CHILE

ONE ON ONE LEARNING REACHED NEW HEIGHTS IN 2015

Camila

11

ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS

Shabbatonim worldwide

steaming hot bowls

of chicken soup were served on Friday night in North America

2,314 students decided to celebrate

SHABBAT

The Jewel in the crown of the week brought our partners and students together for meaningful, interactive Shabbatot.

In the summer of 2015, we took 27 Jewish young professionals from noisy London for a peaceful Shabbaton retreat in Somerset.

It was the perfect opportunity to switch off from the busy weekday and to switch on to a fun-filled Shabbaton packed with classes, chats and great meals. We had a two hour “Shacharit” experience where eight JLE participants presented entertaining and insightful summaries and personal “I personally felt that the reflections on the various parts of the Parsha of the opportunity to research and week. Amy Solomon, a trip present a summary about the participant said “JLE trips a highlight and Parsha to my peers gave me a are always this was no exception. chance to be a player not just I personally felt that the opportunity to research a spectator. I was very very and present a summary nervous but so glad I did it!” about the Parsha to my peers gave me a chance to be a player not just a spectator. I was very very nervous but so glad I did it!” Other highlights were our afternoon meditation session in the sun to find some spiritual connection and a musical havdala. A shabbaton like this is the perfect way for us to get to know our students and for them to know our families. Phones were put away for the duration and in such a peaceful setting we were all able to join together to celebrate the joy and beauty of Shabbat.

UK

20,000 students attended

Rabbi Dov Cowan

JLE

Shabbat each week 12

SHABBAT

ORGANIZATIONS OLAMI NETWORK IS WORLDWIDE, AND KEEPS ON GROWING.

320

organizations within the Olami network 13

ORGANIZATIONS

The following organizations engaged over 500 students per month with their programs:

Three Olami organizations, Nefesh Yehudi from Israel, and Sucath David and Menora from Argentina, partnered for an inspiring evening of Israeli Hasbara followed by a powerful Kabbalat Shabbat in Jerusalem.

The Olami Director of Israel trips, Rabbi Rafael Sait says of the initiative “It was such an inspiring and impactful program.

ISRAEL/ARGENTINA

ORGANIZATIONS

“It was such an inspiring and impactful program. The Israeli and Argentinian students shared with each other what life is like in their respective countries.”

The Israeli and Argentinian students shared with each other what life is like in their respective countries. They opened each others’ eyes to their different experiences of being Jewish, what it means to be a supporter of Israel in their different countries. It created new ways of thinking for both and allowed for greater understanding of the challenges each face and how to overcome them.”

14

ORGANIZATIONS

KEY DONORS “We have an obligation to survive and to enable the Jewish Nation to survive as well. In 1940 we were 18 million Jews, in 1945 we were down to 12 million.

In 1960 we went up to 18 million Jews and in 2014 they say that we are less than 13 million Jews.

Where are the children of the 18 million Jews? If the population of the world grows at 2-3% per year, we should be 60 million Jews today. Where are the missing 40-50 million Jews? They are gone.

Who is responsible for them? We are! The people who are aware of the problem and the Rabbis who are responsible to teach Judaism to the Jewish people. We cannot let this happen again. This is our mission and our obligation, to help the Jewish people survive.”

“Olami’s Israel trips connect students from around the world to Israel and Judaism in a rich and lasting way. The level of education, educators and students that Olami brings each year is of the highest caliber. The Israeli Government is proud to be a partner in supporting Olami’s programs and sees the Israel trips as one of the most impactful programs for college students and young professionals.”

$100 million

worldwide budget

Dvir Kahana, Director General Ministry of Diaspora Affairs of the Government of Israel

Elie Horn

Olami International Conference Summer 2014

15

KEY DONORS

WE HAVE IMMENSE GRATITUDE TO OUR GENEROUS FUNDERS WHO PROVIDED NOT ONLY FUNDING BUT ALSO THEIR SOUND ADVICE AND GUIDANCE

“Ohrsom in South Africa joined the Olami network in 2015 and is the ‘in’ place to be for students. We have two branches; one in Johannesburg and one in Capetown, with approximately 400 students attending our programs. Our Shabbat program rocketed in popularity last year – with a service full of song and a fresh sushi kiddush break, it’s easy to see why! We also focused on our ‘Learn’n Earn program where community members come and teach different groups on a wide variety of topics. We have a host of other programs, events and activities going on, and thank God, all are popular and exciting. Thank you to Olami for this opportunity and your unwavering support.”

attending our programs

Rabbi Menachem Sosnovik, Director of Ohrsom

GERMANY

NEW INITIATIVES

SOUTH AFRICA

400 students

“The German Jewish community faces a huge challenge; we are scattered far and wide across the country in cities with little to no Jewish infrastructure or access to Jewish resources.”

JCommunity in Berlin recently launched their e-learning initiative which is comprised of three weekly classes online. The person leading the session shares source sheets with participants, encourages group discussion and chat.

Rabbi Fabian, Director of JCommunity said “The German Jewish community faces a huge challenge; we are scattered far and wide across the country in cities with little to no Jewish infrastructure or access to Jewish resources. Our e-learning initiative enables them to remain involved with us, and with Judaism throughout the year, developing their Jewish knowledge and identity in a meaningful way.”

16

NEW INITIATIVES

GEORGIA

“One of their most important projects is their mission to find available kosher foods on the market and provide certification via their website.”

Programs include: Torah classes, lectures, programs for young Jewish couples, Shabbatonim, meetings with famous Jewish people, training in management and business admin and more Olami Georgia had a busy year in 2015 with a vast range of programs including Torah classes, lectures, programs for young Jewish couples, Shabbatonim, meetings with famous Jewish people, training in management and business admin and more. In addition, there are special events that they ran for each of the chagim, trips, seminars or their monthly paper that they publish! At their Chanukah party in December, they had over 250 attendees, with the Minister of Education Mrs. Tamar Sanikidze as their guest of honor. One of their most important projects is their mission to find available kosher foods on the market and provide certification via their website.

Rav Avimelech Rosenblatt is continuously checking Georgian goods and assigning them certificates if they meet the requirements of the Kashrut laws. This is of increasing importance as the number of Jewish and Israeli tourists to Georgia increases. As you can imagine, their staff is critical to their success and so Olami Georgia invests in monthly training to ensure that they are the best they can be.

PORTUGAL

NEW INITIATIVES

The story of the Portuguese Jewish community dates back centuries. But in Porto, with just 1000 Jews remaining, the outlook seemed grim. The synagogue didn’t have weekly services and little in the way of Jewish infrastructure. All that looks set to change with the arrival in September 2015 of Yoel Zekri from France. With an increasing number of French students choosing to study in Portugal, Yoel and his wife moved there to inspire and educate the students. In the process, they have kickstarted an exciting process that is reinvigorating the entire community and igniting a spark of Judaism in Portugal. They give weekly classes to the students and the community at large, host Shabbat meals, established a weekly prayer service on Shabbat, they celebrated Chanukah with a big party, and even opened a new Jewish school. The community, so energized by their Jewish revival, purchased a new sefer torah. The students there are also excited; they recognize that they are part of a historic and momentous process and are proud of their involvement.

“...they have kickstarted an exciting process that is reinvigorating the entire community and returning the Judaism to Portugal.”

17

NEW INITIATIVES

thank you for being a part OF IT. We look forward to an even more exciting 2016.

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