OU Impact Report 2019

2019 5780

Orthodox Union Impact Report

THE PEPA & RABBI JOSEPH

KARASICK DEPARTMENT OF

PUBLICATIONS

Orthodox Union | Impact Report 2019/5780 | ou.org

Table of Contents

Leadership Messages to the Community

4

NCSY

6

Kosher Food Lifeline

18

OU Advocacy Center

22

OU Center for Communal Research

28

OU Kosher

32

OU Women’s Initiative

40

Yachad

46

Karasick Synagogue & Community Services

54

Seif OU-JLIC

58

OU Israel

64

OU Publications

70

Israel Free Spirit Birthright

74

NextDor

78

OU Torah Initiatives

82

OU Impact Accelerator

88

OU Press

92

Teach Coalition

94

Benefactor Circle

102

OU Board, OU Committees and Commissions

107

OU Senior Staff

111

Leadership Messages to the Community From the President, Moishe Bane caring for the physical and spiritual needs of others, and to find our personal relationship with God. Critical to the Jew’s quest for a relationship with the Creator is a lifelong commitment to finding our personal share in the study of His Torah, which provides us the opportunity to know God. Mitzvah observance, tefillah, support of Israel and acts of chessed, all assume far greater meaning and impact when imbued with deeper religious understanding, uniquely achieved through Torah study.

Judaism’s central purpose is to be mekadesh Shaym Shomayim—to glorify and elevate God’s presence—and that is precisely the thread that binds the Orthodox Union’s myriad programs and initiatives.

Every facet of the Orthodox Union’s programming is focused on providing each Jew with the tools and opportunities to embrace their Jewish identity and to fulfill their mission through the performance of mitzvot and the study of Torah. That is why it is an exceptional honor for me to introduce the OU 2019 Impact Report.

I am particularly proud of the unique partnership between our extraordinarily talented professionals and passionate lay volunteers that permeates all of the OU’s efforts. Volunteers serve as leaders on OU boards, committees, and commissions, and in grassroots government advocacy. And, perhaps the most impactful, young adult volunteers are serving on the front lines as advisors on both NCSY and Yachad programs.

This collaboration reflects a value at the core of the OU culture. The OU understands that every community member can make their own distinct contribution to the Jewish people, and that growth in Torah Judaism is not the exclusive domain of the community’s most pious, scholarly, or communally-involved. Because we are all unique, we each have our own lifelong right and responsibility to find our own particular manner of

4 LEADERSHIP MESSAGES

The OU, therefore, embarks on efforts to provide each of us access to a suitable form of Torah study. Programs such as Torah New York, and its sister programs in Los Angeles and Jerusalem, are intended to showcase the vast array of styles and subjects that comprise Torah learning. The same is true of the online OU Torah lectures, including the wildly popular Daf Yomi shiurim and the newly-introduced, innovative All Daf platform.

Lastly, we will continue to increase women’s learning opportunities both through our general Torah programs and through those introduced by the OU Women’s Initiative, while continuing the explosive growth of the Semichas Chaver Program and the aspirational duplication of learning programs for retirees, such as the Beit Midrash of Teaneck (BMT), recently highlighted in Jewish Action magazine.

From the Executive Vice President, Allen Fagin Most recently, NCSY has begun a major new initiative, The Shevet Glaubach Fellowship, funded by a record $5 million gift from the Glaubach family. The Fellowship will strengthen, inspire, and educate college-aged NCSY advisors, helping them to become more effective future leaders of our Jewish communities. And, as part of its leadership development initiatives, NCSY Relief Missions was launched.

This transformative program provides volunteer experiences that put teens on the front lines in the aftermath of natural disasters.

This past year, we continued to celebrate growth and innovation. 1691 teens from across North America and across the spectrum of Jewish affiliation attended NCSY summer programs, up from 941 five years ago. Over the past two years, Yachad has added three new drop-in centers in New York, New Jersey, and New England, where individuals with disabilities are able to attend hundreds of daily programs. In just a few short years, our Teach Coalition has helped secure over $1.5 billion in state and local funding to help contain the cost of yeshivah and day school security and educational needs.

These few examples demonstrate a unifying theme you’ll notice throughout the pages of this annual report: exponential growth in both reach and impact is reflected in the stories of our broad array of programs and initiatives. And, as we scale our existing programs to meet the increasing needs of Klal Yisrael, we continually search for innovative and costeffective ways to extend support to multiple segments of our community.

This past year, the OU launched the Center for Communal Research, whose mission is to inform and guide the decision-making of the OU and the Jewish community at large. Among other studies, the Center is now working on an examination of the “shidduch crisis,” an analysis of the behaviors and beliefs of those who are part of the Orthodox dating system.

This year, in addition to Torah New York at Citi Field, the OU’s signature Torah learning event, the OU ran similar days of learning in Los Angeles and Jerusalem. Further deepening our commitment to Torah learning, the OU Semichas Chaver partnership was established. Founded by Rav Elyada Goldwicht with programs in the U.S., Canada, Chile, Israel, Australia, and the UK, this exciting and innovative halacha study program makes Torah learning more accessible to people in our communities.

None of this would have been possible without the support of our partners, donors, lay leaders, and the extraordinarily talented and dedicated professionals at the OU – who give of their time and resources to improve the lives of the people we serve and Klal Yisrael at large. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and unyielding commitment to our mission.

We are especially grateful to the OU Benefactor Circle, whose members form the cornerstone of the OU, and to all those who lead through their philanthropy.

As you browse this report and witness the remarkable scope and breadth of the OU’s communal work in all areas of Jewish life, I invite you to partner with us to continue furthering our vision and building on the enormous momentum and success of the past several years. May we continue, together, to go m’chayil el chayil.

5

27,283 NCSY teens reached 

14,967 teens attended events or programs for the first time

12,476 events across all NCSY regions and cities

1,691 teens participated in NCSY summer programs

Teens partake in the acclaimed NCSY Havdalah at the close of Shabbat on an NCSY Winter Regional this past January

6 NCSY

NCSY

The Future Leaders of Our Communities NCSY engages Jewish teens of all backgrounds through year-round social, educational, and leadership programs, preparing them to become the next generation of proud, committed Jews. From local onegs and events, learning groups, and Shabbatonim, to national Yarchei Kallah retreats, disaster relief missions, and summer programming, NCSY caters to each teen’s unique interests while maintaining a steadfast commitment to traditional Jewish values and practice.

NCSYers getting ready to hit the slopes at Southern NCSY’s Winter Regional Shabbaton.

7

Engaging and Educating Public School Students Experience Israel

Engaging the Whole Family

Jewish public school students get the chance to explore Israel, thanks to The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (TJJ). The program enables unaffiliated Jewish teens to discover the beauty of our traditions while broadening and enriching their Jewish identity.

Parents of NCSY teens are essential participants in NCSY programming.

The entire family is encouraged to participate in opportunities that include holiday meals, meaningful classes, and “TJJ for Moms”—a 14-day trip to Israel.

In-Depth Torah Learning Retreat for Unaffiliated Teens

Sparking Meaningful Jewish Conversation

Hundreds of NCSY teens from public schools across North America choose to study Torah during their winter break at NCSY’s national Yarchei Kallah retreat. This annual gathering centers around in-depth Judaic study that includes one-on-one learning and discussions with teachers, advisors, and fellow NCSYers.

The NCSY Box is a set of interactive educational playing cards designed to spark Jewish conversations and ideas.

Whether at a Shabbat table, a family trip, or just a get-together, The Box is the perfect tool to get people talking.

Strengthening Public School Teens’ Jewish Identity NCSY runs 297 Jewish Student Union (JSU) clubs at public high schools across the United States and Canada, strengthening students’ Jewish identity.

8 NCSY

Leadership Development

Teens Use Their Creativity to Benefit Communities

DRS JUMP team at the JUMP Boardroom Finals at the OU Headquarters

The Jewish Unity Mentoring Program (JUMP) is a leadership experience that engages teens in a competition to develop social entrepreneurship projects that will benefit their communities.

The teams present their ideas to a panel of judges and receive mentoring feedback.

Biking for Scholarships Bike NCSY is an annual bike tour that aims to raise scholarship money for NCSY students.

This past year, over 120 riders gathered from across the country to raise funds to help teens spend a gap year in Israel.

New Jersey day school and public school teens volunteer in Puerto Rico on a New Jersey NCSY Relief Mission.

NCSY Alumni Become Leaders on Campus

Teens Aid in Disaster Relief

The Judah Fellowship empowers NCSY alumni to engage their fellow alumni on college campuses, connecting them with opportunities to run reunion events, Shabbat and holiday programs, and social action and relief missions over their winter breaks.

NCSY Relief Missions put teen volunteers on the front lines of relief efforts in the aftermath of natural disasters. These trips connect participants to the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world) through transformational, hands-on experiences.

9

NCSY Summer Trip Experiences NCSY Summer Trips NCSY offers 21 unique summer programs across the U.S., Israel, and Europe. From sports to corporate internships to work with Israeli first responders, NCSY summer programs provide a panorama of experiences unbounded by geography. This summer had record participation of nearly 1,700 teens.

Public school teens bake their own pita in Northern Israel while on The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey, NCSY Summer’s flagship Israel experience for unaffiliated teens

Number of Teens on NCSY Summer Trips 1,691 1,596 1,441 1,012

1,227

943

2 0 1 4

10 NCSY

2 0 1 5

2 0 1 6

2 0 1 7

2 0 1 8

2 0 1 9

Teen participants on NCSY Summer’s Hatzalah Rescue are honored with medals from United Hatzalah for saving two lives on ambulance runs this past summer in Israel.

Teens Save Lives on Hatzalah Rescue Benjamin Mendelson, 17, and Jaden Jubas, 16, were volunteering with a United Hatzalah crew in Bat Yam when their ambulance was dispatched to a call for a semi-responsive patient. Upon arrival, the team found multiple responders providing CPR to an 80-year-old male. Both teens immediately joined the compression rotation, working with EMTs from United Hatzalah and a paramedic team from Magen David Adom, regaining and losing the patient’s pulse twice before it was finally restored and the patient could be transported to the hospital.

This is just one of many stories of NCSY students participating in NCSY Hatzalah Rescue, a monthlong summer program run in partnership with United Hatzalah, a volunteer-based emergency medical services organization in Israel. The program trains teens to serve as emergency medical responders volunteering with ambulance crews in Israel.

Medically Minded Teens Experience Israel through a New Lens Hatzalah Rescue is a coed summer program in Israel that allows teens to gain medical skills and experience and give back to others. Teens are trained and certified as emergency medical responders, volunteer on an ambulance, learn the intricacies of Hatzalah’s daily operations, and form friendships to last a lifetime.

“

I had the most amazing experience on Hatzalah Rescue Israel. Not only did I have the chance to connect to the Jewish land and make long-lasting friendships, but I had the opportunity to save lives.

”

—Hatzalah Rescue Israel Participant 11

NCSY Summer Trips Boys Trips • Camp Sports • Kollel • Kollel Mechina

NCSY Summer runs twenty-two unique summer programs in the U.S., Israel, and Europe. From Kollel, which combines intensive learning with sports and travel, to Next Step: Israel Internships where teens work as interns and travel across Israel, Summer trips cater to all interests and backgrounds.

• RTC • Yaaleh: New for 2020 • Yaldei Ohr: New for 2020

Girls Trips • Camp Maor • Euro GO • GIVE • GIVE West • Michlelet • Michlelet Mechina • On the GO: New for 2020

Coed Trips Euro ICE Hatzalah Rescue Israel ID JOLT JOLT Israel Next Step

12 NCSY

“

Euro ICE was an absolutely life changing experience. The sense of family I felt during Euro was a feeling unmatched by any summer camp or program I have been on. Touring Jewish communities in Europe showed me a new perspective of Judaism that no doubt added meaning to my definition of being Jewish. Going on Euro was definitely the best decision I have ever made.

— EURO ICE Camper

”

“

NCSY GIVE West was an eye-opening experience.

It taught me never to judge a person for who they are and how just one small smile can change a person’s whole day.

This was truly the BEST. SUMMER. EVER!

” “

— NCSY GIVE West Camper

NCSY Kollel was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

There is no other place like it.

Learning in the morning, sports in the afternoon, learning at night, and great tiyulim along the way. It’s really just amazing.

—NCSY Kollel Participant

” 13

An Extraordinary Journey: How Rivky Potestio and Her Family Found Judaism and NCSY Over a decade ago, Rivky Potestio and her family began their extraordinary journey from being deeply involved in a small Spanish-speaking church, where her father served as pastor, toward conversion to Orthodox Judaism. But for Rivky, the transition was socially and academically difficult. “None of my new classmates had ever encountered anyone with my kind of background, and I don’t think they knew how to relate,” she explains.

In tenth grade, Rivky attended NCSY's Latte 'n Learn classes, which she enjoyed. “Soon enough, I was attending Shabbatons and Regionals. From NCSY, I got this feeling that, for the first time in a long time, I belonged.”

“

Soon enough, I was attending Shabbatons and Regionals.

From NCSY, I got this feeling that, for the first time in a long time, I belonged.

”

NCSY became a safe place in which Rivky could grow and thrive in her Judaism without the pressure. “NCSY not only helped me become more comfortable with myself, but now I’m confident and proud to tell people I’m Jewish,” Rivky says.

Before her junior year, Rivky was invited to join the board and coordinated chessed projects for NCSYers.

The following year, Rivky went on NCSY’s GIVE program, which immerses teen girls in volunteer experiences that give back to the people and land of Israel. “Participating on GIVE helped grow my appreciation for Judaism and NCSY, and it cemented my decision to apply for president of the board for my senior year,” said Rivky. It’s a position she won handily and at which she excelled.

“Being involved in NCSY and being Jewish showed me that I have a greater purpose in life,” declared Rivky.

“Whereas I once looked at Judaism as burdensome, I now think of it as a privilege to be a part of something so big.

And that’s thanks to NCSY.” 14 NCSY

Rivky Potestio

15

NCSY Locations Worldwide United States ATLANTIC SEABOARD Baltimore, MD

GREATER ATLANTA

Freehold, NJ

SOUTHERN

WEST COAST

Alpharetta, GA

Freehold Boro, NJ

Birmingham, AL

Phoenix, AZ

Columbia, MD

Atlanta, GA

Hackensack, NJ

Little Rock, AR

Scottsdale, AZ

Gaithersburg, MD

Dunwoody, GA

Highland Park, NJ

Aventura, FL

Berkeley, CA

Germantown, MD

Johns Creek, GA

Hightstown, NJ

Boca Raton, FL

Beverly Hills, CA

Olney, MD

Marietta, GA

Livingston, NJ

Coral Springs, FL

Calabasas, CA

Potomac, MD

Sandy Springs, GA

Manalapan, NJ

Hollywood, FL

Cupertino, CA

Marlboro, NJ

Jacksonville, FL

Irvine, CA

Millburn, NJ

Kendall, FL

La Jolla, CA

Montclair, NJ

Miami Beach, FL

Los Angeles, CA

Northern Highlands, NJ

North Miami Beach, FL

North Hollywood, CA

Randolph, NJ

Palm Beach, FL

Oakland, CA

Teaneck, NJ

Parkland, FL

Palo Alto, CA

Twin Rivers, NJ

Savannah, GA

Piedmont, CA

West Orange, NJ

New Orleans, LA

Sacramento, CA

Charleston, SC

San Diego, CA

Myrtle Beach, SC

San Francisco/Marin, CA

Nashville, TN

San Jose, CA

Sandy Spring, MD Silver Spring, MD Towson, MD Cherry Hill, NJ Allentown, PA Ambler, PA Harrisburg, PA Huntingdon Valley, PA Lancaster, PA Lower Merion, PA Philadelphia, PA Wilkes-Barre, PA Norfolk, VA Richmond, VA Virginia Beach, VA CENTRAL EAST Ann Arbor, MI Bloomfield Hills, MI Farmington Hills, MI Huntington Woods, MI Oak Park, MI Southfield, MI West Bloomfield, MI Akron, OH Canton, OH Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Dayton, OH Solon, OH

MIDWEST Des Moines, IA Buffalo Grove, IL Chicago, IL Glenview, IL Northbrook, IL Skokie, IL Indianapolis, IN South Bend, IN

NEW YORK

Kansas City, KS

Bronx, NY

Overland Park, KS

Brooklyn, NY

Minneapolis, MN

Cedarhurst, NY

SOUTHWEST

St. Louis, MO

Commack, NY

Austin, TX

Omaha, NE

East Meadow, NY

Dallas, TX

Memphis, TN

Great Neck, NY

Fort Worth, TX

Milwaukee, WI

Hewlett, NY

Houston, TX

Inwood, NY

McKinney, TX

Lawrence, NY

Richardson, TX

Long Beach, NY

San Antonio, TX

NEW ENGLAND New Haven, CT Stamford, CT West Hartford, CT Brookline, MA Framingham, MA Lexington, MA Marlborough, MA Newton, MA Sharon, MA Waltham, MA Providence, RI

Toledo, OH

NEW JERSEY East Brunswick, NJ

Youngstown, OH

Englishtown, NJ

Pittsburgh, PA

Fair Lawn, NJ

16 NCSY

Merrick, NY New York, NY Oceanside, NY Plainview, NY Port Washington, NY Queens, NY Roslyn, NY Staten Island, NY Stony Brook, NY Westchester, NY West Hempstead, NY Woodmere, NY

UPSTATE NEW YORK Albany, NY Binghamton, NY Buffalo, NY Catskills District, NY Mount Kisco, NY Rochester, NY Schenectady, NY Syracuse, NY

San Mateo, CA Santa Monica, CA Saratoga, CA Silicon Valley, CA Sunnyvale, CA Thousand Oaks, CA West Hills, CA Woodland Hills, CA Woodside, CA Boulder, CO Denver, CO Las Vegas, NV Eugene, OR Portland, OR El Paso, TX Seattle, WA

NCSY Financials Canada

FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $39,719,000

Calgary, AB Edmonton, AB Hamilton, ON King City, ON

22%

Kingston, ON Kitchener-Waterloo, ON

36%

1%

London, ON Montreal, QC Ottawa, ON

41%

Toronto, ON Vancouver, BC Victoria, BC Windsor, ON Winnipeg, MB

Israel

41%

OU Contribution | $16,084,000

36%

Donations | $14,484,000

22%

Program Fees | $8,752,000

1%

Miscellaneous | $399,000

Beit Shemesh Efrat Elazar

EXPENSES 2%

Hashmonaim Jerusalem

6%

Kfar Saba Maalei Adumim Modi’in

32%

Neve Daniel

55%

Nof Ayalon Ramat Beit Shemesh 5%

South America Buenos Aires, Argentina Santiago, Chile

55%

Region Spend | $21,685,000

32%

Summer Programs | $12,531,000

6%

Administrative | $2,416,000

5%

National Year-Round Programs | $1,872,000

2%

Staff Training and Development | $856,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

17

150,000 Pounds of food distributed to 53 food pantries on Passover

18,048 Families received food for Passover through Kosher Food Lifeline

$100,000+ Worth of food donations from manufacturers distributed to kosher food pantries throughout the United States

“We can’t thank you enough for your help providing this much needed food.”

- J ewish Family Service of Dallas

18 KOSHER FOOD LIFELINE

KOSHER FOOD LIFELINE

Providing Kosher Food to Jews in Need Kosher Food Lifeline (KFL) helps over 200 food agencies in 24 states provide food for those in need. By streamlining processes for kosher food agencies throughout the country, KFL has unified kosher pantries, including Tomchei Shabbos and bikur cholim, in the mission of ensuring that food is not wasted and that families and individuals in need have access to nutritious, kosher food.

Volunteers pick up food at kosher pantries and help deliver it to those who need it most.

19

Supporting Kosher Pantries Celebrating Freedom from Food Insecurity Kosher Food Lifeline addresses the needs of kosher food pantries on a national scale. Local programs are run by hard-working volunteers with limited resources. Supporting the needs of kosher pantries is a priority of the program. By working together we can ensure that our community’s needs are met.

Tears from Those Grateful for Passover Food

“

Thank you very much for the beautiful donation of Pesach food from the OU. I’m speaking on behalf of all the gabbaim when I tell you know how much it meant to all of us here. The shipment came without a request from us but, rather, you approached us, which shows how much you care about the klal. I must add that we were in awe of the high quality and amount of each and every product you sent us. Our families that we distribute Tomchei to were grateful, and many were in tears knowing that this year Pesach would be enhanced for them because of your special donation.

— Local kosher food pantry volunteer

All Who Are Hungry

Thousands of cases of Kedem grape juice were delivered to pantries to help families make their seders.

20 KOSHER FOOD LIFELINE

In 2019, KFL helped over 18,000 Jewish families experience the joy of Passover by supplying them with kosher-forPassover food. This initiative was made possible thanks to the OU Maot Chittim campaign. KFL purchased approximately $200,000 of Passover food products from Kedem at highly discounted rates and distributed the food through 53 pantries in advance of Passover.

”

Pantries across the United States packaged food for the needy in advance of Passover.

21

$60,000,000

secured in 2019 for improved safety at schools, houses of worship, and other nonprofit institutions

4,000+ institutions that have received federal security grants through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that OU Advocacy Center helped to create in 2005

$329,000,000

security grants allocated to day schools, synagogues and other nonprofits nationwide since 2005 U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), flanked by OU Executive Vice President Allen Fagin (L) and OU Advocacy Chair Jerry Wolansky, discusses federal advocacy priorities, including funding for Department of Homeland Security grants to protect synagogues, day schools, and other nonprofits. (Courtesy of the Office of Senator Charles Schumer)

22 OU ADVOCACY CENTER

OU ADVOCACY CENTER

Protecting Our Community The OU Advocacy Center is the nonpartisan public policy arm of the OU that lobbies on behalf of the Orthodox community nationwide. Through its advocacy in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals, the OU Advocacy Center protects the future of the Jewish people and ensures that Am Yisrael continues to thrive. During the past year, the OU Advocacy Center successfully worked with Congress to maintain high levels of funding to keep synagogues, schools, and other nonprofits safe; fought to preserve nonpublic day school scholarships so that tens of thousands of students have access to Jewish education; and protected rabbis, schools, and synagogues from unprecedented and burdensome new taxes.

OU Advocacy Center Executive Director Nathan Diament with U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) on Capitol Hill

23

Changing Government Policy Amending Federal Rules to Protect Schools and Synagogues against Unfair Taxes The recent overhaul of the federal tax code included new provisions creating first-time tax bills for Jewish day schools, synagogues, and other nonprofit organizations nationwide. The new levies on benefits such as providing employee parking and transportation subsidies would have cost smaller synagogues several thousand dollars each, and day schools tens of thousands of dollars apiece. The OU Advocacy Center led a coalition of faith and other nonprofit groups to fight this unprecedented burden, prompting the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS to remove the new tax. The OU Advocacy Center is working with its allies in Congress to pursue a full repeal of the tax.

Winning Court Ruling to Preserve Economic Well-Being of Rabbis, Other Clergy For decades, synagogues across the country have relied on a Federal “parsonage� allowance to help recruit and compensate rabbis and other clergy.

A Federal court challenge to the constitutionality of this housing allowance threatened this vital exemption, potentially forcing many synagogues to shut down. The OU Advocacy Center joined with other religious organizations in filing a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to defend the existing tax exemption; the court ruled in favor of maintaining the allowance, helping to protect the economic well-being of rabbis and other clergy nationwide.

24 OU ADVOCACY CENTER

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with OU leadership (l-r): Nathan Diament, executive director, OU Advocacy Center; Rabbi Avi Berman, executive director, OU Israel; Allen Fagin, executive vice president; Tzvi Sand, president, OU Israel; Mark (Moishe) Bane, president; Rabbi Micah Greenland, international director, NCSY. (Courtesy of Eliyahu Yanai)

OU leaders present an award of appreciation to U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) for his partnership with the OU on passing legislation last year to ensure disaster-damaged houses of worship are eligible to receive federal aid from FEMA. From left: OU President Mark (Moishe) Bane, Senator Blunt, OU Advocacy Center Executive Director Nathan Diament, and OU Advocacy Center Chairman Jerry Wolasky.

25

Securing Federal Funding to Safeguard the Community Total Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Funding Program 2005-2019

$60 $10

$329 MILLION

$25

MILLION

$15

2006

$15

$19

$20

$19

MILLION NSGP-S

2018

2019

MILLION

MILLION

MILLION MILLION

MILLION MILLION

NOT FUNDED

2005

$10

MILLION NSGP-S

$25

$24

MILLION

$60

MILLION MILLION

$10

$10

2012

2013

$13

$13

2014

2015

MILLION MILLION

MILLION MILLION

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2016

2017

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) meets with leaders of the Orthodox Union on Capitol Hill to discuss the organization’s federal advocacy priorities, including funding for Department of Homeland Security grants to protect synagogues, day schools and other nonprofits. Pictured: (L-R) Orthodox Union‘s Executive Vice President Allen Fagin, President Mark (Moishe) Bane, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Advocacy’s Chairman Jerry Wolasky, Advocacy’s Executive Director Nathan Diament, Officer Allen Friedman.

26 OU ADVOCACY CENTER

OU Advocacy Center Financials Fifteen years ago, the OU Advocacy Center spearheaded the creation of the Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) that provides grants for Jewish day schools, synagogues, and other nonprofits to make their buildings safer against potential attacks. To date, OU Advocacy has worked with allies in Congress to secure $329 million that’s been distributed to more than 4,000 institutions across the country, most of them Jewish. In the wake of the deadly attacks on Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Congregation and Chabad of Poway in California, OU Advocacy successfully worked with Congress to continue funding the NSGP at the highest level ever—$60 million—for the second consecutive year. The OU Advocacy Center is pressing to increase the program’s funding to $90 million for 2020.

Working with Top Legislators on Capitol Hill on Behalf of the Jewish Community Senior Orthodox Union and community leaders joined the OU Advocacy Center’s annual Leadership Mission to Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill to meet with key legislators in June to discuss funding for Department of Homeland Security grants to protect synagogues and other houses of worship and other priority issues. Among those the OU leaders met with were Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Representative Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.).

The delegation also presented an award of appreciation to Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) for his partnership with the OU on passing legislation to ensure disaster-damaged houses of worship are eligible to receive federal aid from FEMA.

FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $903,000

15%

85%

85%

OU Contribution | $769,000

15%

Donations | $134 ,000

EXPENSES 3% 5%

16%

76%

76%

Personnel | $680,000

16%

Office Expenses | $147,000

5%

Event Expenses | $47,000

3%

Other | $29,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

27

28 OU CENTER FOR COMMUNAL RESEARCH

OU CENTER FOR COMMUNAL RESEARCH

Understanding How to Better Serve Our Community As the research institute for Orthodox Judaism in the United States, the OU Center for Communal Research is at the forefront of developing a sophisticated base of knowledge to improve our understanding of contemporary Orthodox life. These insights will help inform the decisionmaking and programming of the OU as well as the community at large.

Topics of study include how Jews learn to live Torah observant lives, the various spiritual journeys they take, and the ways in which institutions affect their identities.

Assistant Director Michelle Shain and Associate Researcher Elisha Penn at the Applied Research Collective Conference, Summer 2019

Elisha Penn, Associate Researcher, speaks about his research on the cost of Orthodox lifestyles.

29

Upcoming Research Studies Understanding Orthodoxy in America A groundbreaking survey of American Orthodox Jews will provide critical insight into the world of today’s American Jewry— including its sociodemographic characteristics, religious and spiritual realities, and political views. The study will help policymakers and practitioners understand the vulnerabilities and vitalities within the Orthodox community, as well as possible intervention points.

Singles, Stigma, and the “Shidduch Crisis” The Center seeks to examine the structure of the Orthodox marriage market, along with the behaviors and beliefs of those who are part of the Orthodox dating system, to help policy makers, practitioners, and philanthropists make more informed decisions. These actionable insights will also help singles make better decisions about dating, relationships, and marriage in the Orthodox community.

Emily Sigalow, Matt Williams, and Michelle Shain discuss communal research efforts

“

Michelle Shain, Assistant Director of the Center for Communal Research, is helping us plan the next major sociodemographic study of Jews across the United States. The study will be much more detailed and useful because of her vital contributions.

”

— Alan Cooperman, director of Religion Research at the Pew Research Center 30 OU CENTER FOR COMMUNAL RESEARCH

“

The OU Center for Communal Research has emerged as the premier research institute for Orthodox Judaism in the United States. The staff includes distinguished and seasoned researchers who are dedicated to producing fresh and sophisticated insights about Orthodoxy in America that will improve our understanding of the contours of Orthodox life.

— Emily Sigalow, executive director of Impact and Performance, UJA-Federation of New York

”

RESEARCH ETHICS One of the signature initiatives of the Center in its first year has been to advance the field’s commitment to participant data privacy and research ethics. As a Torah-committed institution, the Center takes the rights of its research participants as sacred, ensuring the respect afforded to the populations studied. Due to the Center’s leadership, the OU has become the first Jewish nonprofit to engage an institutional review board to provide third-party ethical oversight of all of its research.

Further, the Center has prompted a larger conversation among Jewish communal institutions, hosting symposia and publishing a variety of articles on this crucial topic.

OU Center for Communal Research Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $388,000

100%

100%

Emerging Adulthood Study This study will examine the needs, desires, and behaviors of Orthodox young adults in the five years after leaving their parents’ homes, paying special attention to the impact of gap year programs and colleges (Jewish or secular) on their attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs.

OU Contribution | $388,000

EXPENSES

8% 12%

7%

“

73%

The research focus of the OU is a gift to the entire Jewish community, both in the U.S. and abroad, offering resources not available in any other setting.

”

— David Elcott, Taub Professor of Practice in Public Service and Leadership, Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, New York University S

73%

Personnel | $281,000

12%

Travel | $48,000

8%

Office Expenses | $32,000

7%

Other | $27,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

31

1,000,000+ products under certification

9,600+ OU certified production facilities

52,000+ Inspections by rabbinic field representatives in 2019

104 Countries reached through OU Kosher

70% Artisan nut company Pizootz proudly proclaims their OU Kosher certification at the Summer Fancy Foods Show in New York.

32 OU KOSHER

kosher food products certified with the OU kosher symbol

OU KOSHER

Strengthening Kashrut Standards OU Kosher combines expertise in halacha with an understanding of modern food production to ensure consumers have access to kosher food meeting the highest quality kashrut supervision. Thanks to the over 700 rabbinic field representatives located across North America and throughout the world – from Europe to Australia, and from China to South Africa – the OU kosher symbol now appears on the labels of nearly 70% of America’s koshercertified food products.

Over 700 Rabbinic Field Representatives (RFRs), traverse the globe to supervise the over 1 million products under OU Kosher certification.

33

Education and Support Resources for Passover Questions

ASK OU (Advanced Seminars on Kashrut)

In order to meet the kashrut standards the Jewish community demands on Passover, OU Kosher invests in additional Passover resources each year. This includes increased

Keeping a kosher kitchen involves more than purchasing kosher products. In order to educate families about hilchot kashrut, the Harry H. Beren ASK OU seminars bring OU Kosher experts to schools and synagogues

support staff and hours of operation, radio appearances by OU administrators, and the distribution of over 80,000 Passover guides for consumers.

throughout North America, and ASK OU offers online kashrut lectures for communities worldwide.

OU Rabbinic Field Team Gathers from Around the World

“

Today, many consumers are turning to kosher certified products for allergen and health-related reasons.

The OU symbol represents the use of pure ingredients and has become a universal seal of approval.

”

— Tom Dempsey, President, Utz Quality Foods

A Few of the Newest Additions to the OU Kosher Family of Products 34 OU KOSHER

The OU Kosher annual conference brings the OU rabbinic field team, which comes from their posts around the world, together with OU headquarters administration.

Over the course of two days, kashrut best practices, halacha, and new information is shared. An important part of the conference is thanking client companies for their commitment to producing kosher food.

This past year, Jim Calhoun, R & D manager of Pepsico, was honored.

From L to R: OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack, OU Kosher Posek Rabbi Hershel Schachter, and OU Kosher COO Rabbi Moshe Elefant discuss current kashrut issues.

OU Kosher App: Real-Time Product Search

Answering All Kashrut Questions

Kosher consumers are able to access kosher resources on the go with the OU Kosher app. The app features OU product alerts, a Passover product guide, and a link to the information hotline for immediate assistance with kashrut questions.

The OU Kosher Hotline and Webbe Rebbe email service respond to 150 inquiries a day, with questions ranging from current certification news to complicated issues requiring real-time assistance. As Passover approaches, the inquiries increase to over 800 per day.

35

Managing the OU Kosher Enterprise Supervising Thousands of Facilities across 30 Time Zones Over the course of each month, administrative offices at 11 Broadway coordinate and monitor over 4,000 inspections along with innumerable requests by client companies to add new products or change production processes in plants around the world.

The resources needed to support this extraordinary enterprise include over 700 Rabbinic Field Representatives (RFRs), an administrative team of approximately 80, plus 60 account representatives. Regular training is provided for all those RFRs who are the face of the OU in the field.

Bringing New Kosher Products to Consumers Hundreds of new products are certified each month, including food, flavors, medicine and technology. The OU partnered with GE to create hardware for refrigerators and ovens to help keep Shabbos. After the requests for certification are received by our new products team, they’re handed to the account representative for that region.

Many of these products simply require sourcing of new ingredients, while others require an in-depth understanding of food production technology and chemistry. The OU’s staff includes experts in all of these areas, many of whom will visit these prospective facilities.

36 OU KOSHER

Countries with production facilities under OU Kosher supervision. The OU operates in 104 countries.

An RFR enters a silo to verify cleanliness before kosherizing for Passover use. The mashgiach must have training and special certification for this process.

“

We’re super proud to be with OU kosher for four years now and we really feel that it shows quality. Besides our wonderful brand that is very trustworthy, we also have the kosher mark which carries the same level of quality.

— Lisa Rowland Brasher, President/CEO, Jelly Belly Candy Company

”

Rabbi Hillel Karelitz; Rabbi Genack, CEO, OU Kosher; and Rabbi Elefant, COO, OU Kosher inspect a field of a grower in Israel who was observing Shemittah Year.

37

The Passover Season Is OU Kosher’s Busiest Time of the Year

THE OU GUIDE TO

OU Kosher for Passover

The Kosher Consumer Hotline has three operators and receives over 7,500 calls with product and kashering questions, along with 4,400 emails.

PASS OVER 201 9

| 57 79

I N E D I B L E S O N P E S AC H

KASHERING PRIMER REMEMBERING RABBI C H A I M G O L DZ W E I G ZT"L

WOMEN & THE EXODUS CONSUMER SHOPPING GUIDE

RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS

Over 80,000 copies of the OU Guide to Passover are distributed. The Guide features a consumer guide to Passover products, halachic zmanim, a Kashering Primer, Inedibles and medication guidelines.

OU Kosher’s online Passover website receives over 980,000 views during Passover. The site includes a Passover product search function and a downloadable Guide.

The Guide to Passover includes a kashering primer, zmanim information, product listings, articles, recipes, and more.

The Kosher app is used by over 90,000 people during Passover

One of the most popular sections of the Guide to Passover are the basic product listings. Staples and everyday items are available at a glance.

38 OU KOSHER

Behind the Scenes at OU Kosher OUDirect – OU Kosher’s Customer Management Platform OUDirect.org, OU Kosher’s global customer service platform, is critical to supporting the kosher program management of the OU’s 5,800+ certified companies. Both our customers and Rabbinic Field Representatives enjoy 24x7 access to the most current information available for their programs. Our customers are able to easily search, filter and print their kosher certificates, product listings, and ingredient listings. They can submit and track requests to update their products and ingredients, and easily communicate with the OU Kosher staff.

The World’s Largest Database of Kosher Products Within OUDirect, OU Kosher customers can source ingredients by seamlessly searching the Universal Kosher Database to find a suitable product. They can be assured that all available ingredients meet OU’s Kosher standards, as it includes only those products certified by the OU and our partner agencies. Consumers, distributors, and source companies can use oukosher.org to download Kosher certificates for OU products as needed.

“

Our decision to use a national kosher agency like the OU has helped us maintain a universal acceptance or our kosher programs throughout Albertson’s national marketing area.

”

- Yakov Yarmove, Corporate Kosher Marketing Manager, Albertson’s Inc.

Letters of certification are given to all companies under OU Kosher supervision.

Companies can download them in the Universal Kosher Database for proof of supervision and to source new products.

39

100

women leaders across North America, Canada, London, South Africa, and Israel attended the 2019 Leadership Summit

1,400 women registered for virtual Rosh Chodesh shiurim.

26

communities across North America joined together for the Counting Toward Sinai Scholars Program.

50 female scholars presented lectures on Simchat Torah morning in communities across North America.

Dr. Erica Brown, professor at George Washington University and director of its Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership, addressed over 100 women as keynote speaker at the OU Women’s Initiative Lay Leadership Summit.

40 OU WOMEN’S INITIATIVE

OU WOMEN’S INITIATIVE

Education and Inspiration for Women The OU Women’s Initiative works with Orthodox communities in the U.S. and Canada to identify and address women’s spiritual, educational, and communal needs. Offering programs for women of all ages and stages of life, the Initiative develops, sponsors, and facilitates innovative Torah learning opportunities, women’s community engagement, leadership training for women in communal positions, and mentorship support for rebbetzins. Through its vibrant programs, the Women’s Initiative aims to recognize women’s contributions to their families, institutions, and communities while supporting each woman in finding her personal and communal leadership voice.

Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld, OU Women’s Initiative Commission Chair, leading a session at the OU Women’s Initiative Lay Leadership Summit

41

Education and Support Women around the World Connect on Rosh Chodesh

Bringing Torah Scholarship to Women across North America

The Virtual Rosh Chodesh Lunch 'n Learn was launched in August 2018 to promote Torah scholarship and provide spiritual nourishment. The program has now grown into a popular monthly video series featuring emerging and seasoned female Torah

Women from 26 communities across North America deepened their religious growth and communal engagement through the Counting Toward Sinai scholar-in-residence program.

In the year ahead, the Women’s Initiative will expand existing programming and provide

scholars. Women from Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, England, the United States, and Canada come together and connect on a day designated for women.

more opportunities for synagogues to host female educators.

Celebrating Simchat Torah Together The Women’s Initiative sponsored over 50 shiurim for women during the aliyot on Simchat Torah. Presented by local female scholars, the lectures afforded women the opportunity to connect to Simchat Torah in a meaningful way.

“

We’re so appreciative to the OU Women’s Initiative for this opportunity for learning. We look forward to having the program again this Simchat Torah and continuing to develop women’s programming at the shul.

”

— East Denver Orthodox Synagogue (EDOS) congregant, Denver, CO

42 OU WOMEN’S INITIATIVE

Encouraging Innovation in Women’s Programming Created to encourage innovative and replicable Orthodox women’s programming, the Challenge Grant Initiative received close to 100 submissions. Of those, 16 programs from across the U.S. were selected to run this past year with the support of the Women’s Initiative.

One of the grant recipients, The Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale, launched the Eishet Chayil Initiative, a series of workshops including sessions on time management, financial health, mental health, physical health and wellness, leadership, and spirituality. The monthly workshops are designed to support and reinforce women’s feelings of fulfillment, confidence, and strength.

The Women’s Initiative is committed to creating relevant, meaningful programming that fosters women’s scholarship and leadership.

Sense & Sensitivity at Our Mikvaot The Jewish family is known as the foundational institution in Judaism, yet it can also be fraught with such major stressors as fertility challenges, health issues, and mental health concerns. This year, women from across the country—both in person and via livestream— participated in Sense & Sensitivity, a professional development program developed for mikvah attendants and administrators to give them the tools to assist women facing challenges.

“

Elul Weekend of Inspiration A unique mix of local live events and Selichot night webcasts, the Elul Weekend of Inspiration 5779 provided thousands of women from around the world with the opportunity to be inspired in anticipation of the Yamim Noraim. Mrs. Dina Schoonmaker and Rabbanit Shani Taragin delivered lectures to over 700 people in Far Rockaway and Kew Gardens Hills, New York, and in Teaneck, New Jersey.

This past Shabbos was a resounding success. The women in our community were inspired to grow and encouraged to do so with wisdom and love. The shiur in the afternoon had hundreds of women attending, with the men’s section full of women downstairs and women upstairs.

— Aviva Feiner, rebbetzin of The White Shul, Far Rockaway, NY, about the Elul Weekend of Inspiration

”

43

Spotlight on Women Lay Leaders One hundred women attended the OU Women’s Initiative’s inaugural Lay Leadership Summit this past May, a two-day retreat to network, bond, and further develop leadership skills.

Jessica Katz, Passaic, NJ Fifteen years ago, Jessica Katz and a friend co-founded Yad Leah, an organization that distributes gently-used clothing to over thirty Israeli communities. At the Summit, Katz made connections that continue to benefit her organization. “We still collaborate on the WhatsApp group that formed from the Summit. For example, I recently had questions about a grant.

One woman stepped up, wanted to help, and wrote it! Her help secured a significant grant. That wouldn’t have been possible without the Summit.”

Participants gathered from across the globe to participate in the OU Women’s Initiative Lay Leadership Summit.

4 4 OU WOMEN’S INITIATIVE

Sora Wolasky, Baltimore, MD As a community leader, Sora Wolasky has many roles, including co-head of the Baltimore Shabbos Project and longtime co-chair of the NCSY Atlantic Seaboard Annual Concert.

Recently, she helped expand the Women’s Chizuk Mission, a personal-growth-oriented trip to Israel for women. At the Summit, Wolasky connected with a mentor who taught her about public relations, financial structuring, and creating a business plan. “Her guidance was invaluable, incorporating business development best practices without changing the heart of our organization.”

OU Women’s Initiative Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $544,000

8% 14%

78%

Tzivia Weiss, Houston, TX An active leader in her community, Tzivia Weiss is the executive director of the Houston Kashruth Association and recently founded Kivun Houston, a women-run organization that provides learning opportunities and chessed services. “I’m one of a few women in an executive leadership position at an Orthodox institution, and I was excited to attend a conference with women across the country in similar leadership roles.”

78%

OU Contribution | $425,000

14%

Donations | $78,000

8%

Event Revenue | $41,000

EXPENSES

14%

Leba Schwebel, Brooklyn, NY Leba Schwebel created the AMATZ Initiative, a program that works to prevent disillusionment in religious life by training educators in girls’ schools to give their students a grounding in emunah and other life-transforming concepts of Yiddishkeit.

For Schwebel, the Summit was a chance to learn from experienced leaders. “It was invigorating meeting women from all different backgrounds, yet with a shared desire to build up Klal Yisrael.”

50%

29%

7%

50%

Personnel | $271,000

29%

Special Projects | $156,000

14%

Advertising & Media | $76,000

7%

Other | $41,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

45

9,000+

individuals participated in informal education

5,000+

individuals hosted on inclusive Shabbatonim throughout North America

28 inclusive summer programs offered in 2018

New friendships formed at The Mendel Balk Yachad Center

46 YACHAD

YACHAD

A Place Where Everyone Belongs Yachad is a global organization dedicated to addressing the needs of Jewish individuals with disabilities, ensuring their inclusion in every aspect of Jewish life. Yachad helps educate and advocate for greater understanding, acceptance, outreach, and opportunity for the disabled community. Most importantly, Yachad helps foster unity among Am Yisrael by celebrating the uniqueness of every Jew.

Participants enjoying time at The Ruth Ulevitch Lang Yachad Art Program

47

Bringing the Community Together

“

I arrived hopeful, dragging along my skeptical husband and even more reluctant teenage son. Within the first two hours, my husband’s wall of resistance melted away, with tears and all, as he witnessed the connection between the young adult advisors and their Yachad companions at Friday night services.

— A grateful mother from Cherry Hill, NJ

48 YACHAD

”

Shabbatonim for All Members of the Community Across the country, Yachad Shabbatonim cultivate understanding, mutual respect, and camaraderie within the Jewish community by bringing individuals with disabilities and community participants together for prayer, Shabbat meals, singing, and more.

Seeing Israel through Different Eyes Through Birthright Israel, Yachad offers free 10-day trips to Israel for young adults with disabilities, providing a true taste of Israel through unique sightseeing programs and activities. Yad B’Yad, Yachad’s Inclusive Israel Experience for high school students, offers a four-week touring adventure for disabled and non-disabled teens to form strong bonds of friendship that endure for a lifetime.

Camping for All Yachad is the largest provider of Jewish camping opportunities for people with disabilities. Through partnerships with 17 Jewish summer camps, Yachad is able to offer a wide variety of placement programs catering to each individual’s needs.

Yachad’s Inclusive Israel Leadership Experience, brings together Yachad participants and mainstream high school peers for a life-changing 10-day-long trip in Israel. Participants enjoy a morning at the Kotel.

49

Fostering Independence

“

The Mendel Balk Yachad Center in New Jersey has changed our lives immeasurably.

Before the program, our son mostly sat at home after school. He now has a place where he can socialize to the best of his ability and participate in activities specifically designed to help him grow and become as independent as he can be.

Yachad has also positively transformed our own weeknight routine and family relationships, as my wife and I can now focus on our other children and provide them with the attention they need. We are also free to leave the house more easily when our son is at the Mendel Balk Yachad Center. For us, the staff are practically part of our family. Yachad has had such a big impact on all of us for so many years and we are truly grateful that it’s still a part of our lives today. It’s very hard for us to imagine a world without Yachad!

—Moshe & Dena Kinderlehrer

” The Jewish Union Foundation (JUF) offers a wide array of services, ranging from day habilitation programs to vocational training services, and more.

50 YACHAD

Yachad Regions Inclusion Centers: A Place for Young Adults to Be Themselves The Yachad Inclusion Center is a “home away from home” where young adults with special needs enjoy year-round social and educational programs in a loving environment. Locations in metropolitan New York, Teaneck, NJ, and Boston, MA, offer art classes, improv classes, music and dance lessons, sports, and more.

• Baltimore

• New England

• Chicago

• New Jersey

• Cleveland

• New York

• Dallas

• South Florida

• Israel

• Toronto

• Los Angeles

Vocational Training Yachad offers an array of services, ranging from day habilitation programs to vocational training services to respite services for families. Through this work experience, attendees achieve greater independence and become better able to participate in the full spectrum of life.

A School for Life Skills Located in Brooklyn and Long Island, Yachad’s IVDU schools offer a comprehensive and nurturing educational environment for Jewish students ages 5 to 21 with learning challenges. IVDU provides students with the core academic, social, and life skills they need to reach their highest potential and develop into productive citizens in their communities.

A group of Yachad Advisors enjoying their end of year Advisor Appreciation event, the annual Crew on a Cruise boat tour of the NYC Harbor

51 23

Summer Camp Experiences Yachad’s Inclusive Israel Leadership Experience Yad B’Yad creates an inclusive environment where everyone belongs, and every person feels a part of something greater. The unity is palpable and lifelong relationships are cultivated. From participants to staff, over 100 individuals become one.

A Camp for Everyone In 2019, over 450 children living with disabilities experienced the joys of summer camp alongside typically developing peers, where they were recognized for their abilities rather than their disabilities. Yachad offers inclusive summer programs across the United States, Canada and Israel, in partnership Jewish camps supporting children with a wide range of religious backgrounds and needs.

Yachad Summer Camp Partnerships • Dror • Lavi • Mesorah • Morasha • Moshava • Moshava Ba’Ir • Nesher • Shoshanim • SHMA - Mogen Avraham • SHMA - Sternberg • Stone

52 YACHAD

“

Yachad Camp is the best thing that ever happened to our daughter and our family.

Sara enjoyed every minute and on visiting day the only question she had was, ‘Did you register me for next summer yet?’

—A Yachad Summer Parent

”

Yachad Gifts

Yachad Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $22,063,000

14%

4%

51%

18%

13%

Yachad Gifts is dedicated to training and employing individuals with disabilities.

By working at Yachad Gifts, individuals gain the confidence in their abilities to be professional, accountable, and dependable at a consistent place of work.

51%

Program Fees & Tuition Payments | $11,324,000

18%

OU Contribution | $3,903,000

14%

Fundraising | $3,165,000

13%

Government Support | $2,771,000

4%

In-Kind Contributions | $900,000

EXPENSES

Staff members work on the production of our gift baskets, carefully handcrafting each basket in our Brooklyn production space.

Individuals also learn sales skills, social media, research, packaging, and retail skills.

14% 27% 12% 6% 16%

25%

27%

Yachad Inclusion Programs and Chapter Spend* | $5,954,000

25%

IVDU Schools | $5,601,000

16%

Summer Programs | $3,404,000

14%

JUF | $3,182,000

12%

Administrative & Other | $2,604,000

6%

Clinical Services* | $1,318,000

* Yachad Inclusion Programs includes $750,000 of in-kind expenses; Clinical Services includes $150,000 of in-kind expenses.

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

53 23

$800,000 secured through Homeland Security Grant applications written for synagogues

13,312 safety reflector belts distributed in memory of Dr. Richard Friedman z”l

121 communities have received the Nussach HaTefillah Aveil Kit

112 community ba’alei tefillah trained through the Yamim Noraim Ba’alei Tefillah Seminar

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger and Rabbi Alan Kalinsky participate in Torah Los Angeles, the West Coast’s premier Torah-learning event held each December.

54 OU SYNAGOGUE AND COMMUNIT Y SERVICES

OU SYNAGOGUE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Strengthening Our Communities

THE PEPA & RABBI JOSEPH

KARASICK DEPARTMENT OF

The OU Pepa and Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue & Community Services provides religious, educational, social, and operational support to synagogues and communities across North America. Regional Directors connect a robust network of rabbis and rebbetzins, executive directors, youth staff, and business experts who can share best practices and help communities thrive both spiritually and socially.

Young leaders collaborate on a project during the OU Visionary Forum, which taught participants, through design thinking methodologies, to impact both their local and global communities.

55

Synagogue Programming and Community Development Regional Directors Connect Communities

Partnering to Certify Kallah Teachers

Regional directors provide local, on-theground support to synagogues by assisting with strategic planning, leadership training, strengthening youth departments, and

A joint venture between Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center, the OU, and the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), this program was created to certify kallah teachers. Nishmat’s

membership growth. Regional directors also serve as liaisons between synagogues in their area, other Orthodox communities across North America, and OU programs and services.

yoatzot halacha, rabbis, doctors, and other community professionals co-teach a 18-session webinar certification course. To date, thirty women have been certified, helping to ensure that brides and new couples are able to enter married life with confidence.

Homeland Security Grant Writing: Working to Keep Our Institutions Safe

Bringing New Families to Growing Communities

The Homeland Security Grant Writing Initiative provides comprehensive grant writing and submission assistance to synagogues, resulting in over $800,000 in new security funding in 2019.

Equipping Synagogues with Tools for Success The Department of Synagogue & Community Services provides an array of practical programs and services, including the OU’s Nussach HaTefillah: A Guide for Aveilim; a pre-high holidays ba’alei tefillah training program; a robust speakers’ bureau; graphic design templates; and a rich resource bank with content ranging from children’s programming ideas to legal and administrative needs.

56 OU SYNAGOGUE AND COMMUNIT Y SERVICES

Thousands of Jews looking for a welcoming, affordable Jewish community flocked to the biennial OU International Jewish Community Home & Job Relocation Fair, where they met representatives from over 63 thriving Orthodox communities across the United States and Israel. Bringing community-seekers and representatives together helps growing Jewish communities attract new members.

Educating the Decision-Makers The OU provides robust networking and development opportunities for synagogue professionals including the OU National Synagogue Executive Directors Conference, a yearly summit for synagogue executives from across North America. The goal is to bring community leaders together to explore ways in which leaders can help shape synagogue policies in today’s ever-changing synagogue and community environments.

OU Synagogue and Community Services Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $1,921,000

27%

Rabbanim from across North America participate in the Nathan and Louise Schwartz OU Rabbinic Retreat

73%

Empowering Young Professionals In an effort to cultivate future community leaders, the OU Department of Synagogue & Community Services offers innovative leadership events tailored exclusively to young professionals. The array of programs includes guest speakers and peer networking, culminating in the flagship Visionary Forum, which took place this year in Los Angeles, CA.

73%

OU Contribution | $1,399,000

27%

Donations, Event Revenue, and Synagogue Dues | $521,000

EXPENSES 6%

3%

9%

Supporting Communities in Crisis When a community crisis arises, the OU stands ready to marshal its significant resources and expertise to help those in need.

Events like natural disasters or attacks on the Jewish community are quickly met with the OU’s support, as its extensive network of partner organizations springs into action to provide everything from mental health support to kosher food distribution. The OU has spearheaded communal responses after recent hurricanes and galvanized hundreds of communities to bolster their physical security in the aftermath of recent attacks.

82%

82%

Personnel | $1,571,000

9%

Events & Special Projects | $180,000

6%

Travel | $119,000

3%

Office Expenses | $50,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

57 57

4,298 students served by OU-JLIC in 2019

3,332 students received personal and halachic counseling from Torah educators

2,510 students participated regularly in social programs

1,555 students regularly learn Torah

The 461 ongoing chavrutot with students and OU-JLIC educators learn topics that include Chumash, Navi, Gemara, and Mussar.

58 OU-JLIC

OU-JLIC

Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow College is a defining time for students as they determine their career paths, clarify their priorities and values, and plan for the future. OU-JLIC (Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus) fosters an ongoing commitment to Torah study and lifestyle, providing a warm and welcoming home for Jewish students on campus. Now in its twentieth year, the OU-JLIC’s network of Torah educators currently reside at 22 campuses in the United States, Canada, and Israel.

Students participating in a Havdalah service at the home of a campus couple. This scene is just one example of how OU-JLIC brings the feeling of home to students on campus.

59

Preparing for Life Beyond College Yavneh–Building Jewish Communal Life on Campus

JLIConnections Celebrates One Year of Matchmaking

Yavneh connects students to meaningful Jewish experiences, community-building opportunities, and each other. Administered by the OU in partnership with World Mizrachi, the program empowers undergraduates to build a vibrant Jewish life on campus— offering fellowship initiatives, intercollegiate Shabbatonim, and leadership conferences.

This past summer, OU-JLIC’s matchmaking platform celebrated its one-year anniversary.

In its first year, JLIConnections facilitated three successful engagements and continues to connect a growing number of Jewish singles.

To date, OU-JLIC Torah educators and alumni have suggested over 300 matches; 42 couples are currently dating.

Students Spend a Summer Learning and Working in Jerusalem

Helping Young Women Prepare for Married Life

This year, 71 students from over 22 campuses were given the opportunity to live, learn, and work in Jerusalem. In partnership with World Mizrachi and Bnei Akiva/TVA and generously supported by Nefesh B’Nefesh, Summer in Jerusalem provides internship opportunities, Torah learning, and nightly social programming.

Created in partnership with the OU Department of Synagogue and Community Services, Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li: A Kallah Teacher Guide covers the Jewish laws and outlook on marriage and intimacy. OU-JLIC Torah educators have used the guide to prepare over 800 kallot for married life.

Yavneh on Campus Connects Students to Jewish Life 60 OU-JLIC

500+ 110 Programs run by Yavneh Fellows on campus

Students trained, mentored, and supported by the Yavneh Fellowship on 35 campuses

Rabbi Aaron Greenberg (Greater Toronto) officiates at the wedding of an OU-JLIC student. OU-JLIC Torah Educators have taught over 1,350 chattanim and kallot and been asked to officiate at over 240 student and alumni weddings.

600+ Students reached through Yavneh’s Heart to Heart

Heart to Heart (H2H) provides funding, training, and inspiration for students to run Shabbat meals, intercollegiate Shabbatonim, and student-led Passover seders on campus. H2H connects students to meaningful Jewish life and vibrant, supportive communities.

61

Choosing a College and Preparing for Life on Campus

OU-JLIC Campus List • Bar-Ilan University • Binghamton University • Brandeis University • Brooklyn College • California State University at Northridge • Columbia University / Barnard College

THE OU

JLIC GUIDE

jewish life on the college campus In-depth Campus Profiles Quick Reference Guide

Student Perspectives

2018

• Cornell University • Greater Toronto • IDC Herzliya • Johns Hopkins University • New York University • Princeton University

The Life of an OU-JLIC Educator

An Essential Guide Helps Students Choose a College

A pub l i c at i on of t h e ort h od ox u n i on

OU-JLIC published the second edition of its essential guide to choosing colleges for high school students and their parents and college guidance personnel

1,781

students sought halachic guidance from an OU-JLIC educator in 2019

1,551

students sought an educator for personal counseling in 2019

62 OU-JLIC

The second edition of the OU-JLIC college guide featured updated campus profiles, student-written articles, and an abundance of invaluable information for high school students, parents, and college guidance professionals. For the first time, the guide could be ordered by individuals or read for free as an e-book.

Jewish Day School Leaders Address Student Challenges in High School and College Heads of school and principals of Jewish day schools from across the U.S. gathered to share best practices and discuss the challenges faced by Jewish high school and college students. The full-day conference included a panel discussion with principals and OU-JLIC Torah educators, as well as collaborative roundtable discussions.

OU–JLIC Financials

• Queens College • Rutgers University

FUNDING SOURCES

• Santa Monica College

Total Funding: $6,795,000

• UCLA • University of Chicago • University of Illinois

25%

• University of Maryland 48%

• University of Massachusetts

10%

• University of Pennsylvania • Western University*

16%

• Yale University

1% *Part-time

Online Panel Prepares Parents and Students for Life on Campus In January, a panel of educators and other college professionals helped high school students and their parents prepare for life on campus. Topics discussed included comparing colleges, thriving socially and religiously in a college environment, BDS, anti-Semitism, and more.

48%

OU Contribution | $3,228,000

25%

Donations & Fundraising | $1,732,000

16%

Hillel In-Kind Support | $1,100,000

10%

Hillel Direct Support | $701,000

1%

Program Fees | $34,000

EXPENSES

1% 2% 2%

16%

9% 70%

Couples on Campus Serve as Role Models to Jewish Students Programs are typically led by husband-andwife teams of educators. Through their engaging, enthusiastic perspectives, campus couples present a positive face of Judaism.

Their partnership, and the presence of their family on campus, show students how a Jewish family can live a joyous Torah lifestyle.

70%

Torah Educators and Other Personnel | $4,761,000

16%

In-Kind Office Space and Support | $1,100,000

9%

Program | $597,000

2%

Training | $127,000

2%

Recruitment & Placement | $114,000

1%

Administrative and Other | $96,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

63

110,000+ visits to the OU Israel Center annually for shiurim, special events, and trips

600,000+ copies of Torah Tidbits magazine distributed annually

4,000 youth from across Israel attend Oraita, Zula, and Makom Balev monthly programming

OU Israel strengthens at-risk youth throughout Israel’s population.

64 OU ISR AEL

OU ISRAEL

A Place We Call Home For 40 years, OU Israel has been making a difference in Israel, touching the lives of children and adults, immigrants and native Israelis, visitors and residents, and soldiers and civilians from every segment of Israeli society. Our goal is maintaining and invigorating our Jewish heritage while fostering Jewish pride and unity.

Since its establishment in 1995, OU Israel Camp Dror has provided hundreds of boys and girls from Israel and around the world with a unique combination of summer fun, Zionism and Torah learning.

65

Programs and Initiatives OU Israel Celebrates 40 Years To mark this important milestone, more than 2,200 people gathered for Torah Yerushalayim, our marquee Torah-learning event featuring dozens of leading Torah personalities, followed by a musical selichot service led by Rabbi Shlomo Katz. Torah Yerushalayim was dedicated in loving memory of David and Norma Fund z”l by their children.

Other celebrations included a gathering of thousands for inspirational tefillot on Yom Ha’atzmaut, a musical Shacharit overlooking the Temple Mount on Yom Yerushalayim, and a Yaakov Shwekey concert attended by over 5,000 people.

66 OU ISR AEL

Empowering Women through Torah Learning and Social Opportunities L’Ayla Women’s Learning Initiative empowers Jewish women from across Israel with a wide range of affiliations through Jewish adult education and social activities. This past summer, L’Ayla partnered with the OU Women’s Initiative to host Alit, a monthlong learning program that gives young female college graduates the opportunity to spend their summer immersed in Torah in Jerusalem.

Over 2,200 people attended the inaugural Torah Yerushalayim, a day of learning and inspiration that also celebrated 40 years of OU Israel.

Served by OU Israel Programs Weekly Halacha Study for Young Professionals The Semichas Chaver Program (SCP) weekly halachic study initiative is tailored to engaging young professional Jewish men in Torah learning. It focuses on both the practical and ethical meanings of halacha, and attendees are awarded a certificate at its conclusion. Its weekly programs are in over 35 cities around the world.

Creating the Next Generation of Leaders A two-and-a-half-week sleepaway camp located in Israel’s northern region, Camp Dror provides hundreds of English-speaking children from Israel and around the world with a unique combination of leadership development, summer fun, and Torah learning. In partnership with OU’s Yachad program, Camp Dror provides youth with special needs with the summer of a lifetime while teaching mainstream campers and staff about the inclusion of those with special needs.

A Hub for Anglo Olim A welcoming environment for English speakers of all ages, the Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Jerusalem World Center provides spiritual inspiration and a social network for olim. The Center also serves as a venue for many OU programs, including NCSY and Yachad events.

• Acre

• Modi’in

• Ariel

• Nahariya

• Beit Shemesh

• Nazareth Illit

• Dimona

• Netanya

• Efrat

• Neve Daniel

• Elazar

• Nof Ayalon

• Hashmonaim

• Ofakim

• Hatzor

• Ra’anana

• Holon

• Ramat Beit Shemesh

• Jerusalem

• Ramat Hasharon

• Kfar Saba

• Rehovot

• Kiryat Gat

• Sderot

• Kiryat Malachi

• Tel Aviv-Jaffa

• Kiryat Shmona

• Tiberias

• Ma’aleh Adumim

• Yeruham

Providing a Supportive Haven for At-Risk Israeli Youth OU Israel Youth Centers support at-risk youth in 20 cities where crime and violence are commonplace. Most program participants come from disadvantaged homes. While the program strives to reach youth before they become involved in high-risk behavior, it is often the last resort for those whose families and schools have given up on them. Through unconditional love and support, the Centers are often successful in helping participants turn their lives around.

67

OU Makom BaLev Youth Center in Sderot offers a photo therapy course in which teens learn to explore and express their emotions through photography.

Healing through Images Like every kid growing up in Sderot, Ilan’s childhood was often interrupted by rocket alerts and fifteen-second dashes to safety.

As a result, he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was afraid to go out with his friends, worried that they might need to seek shelter. As a teenager, he began wetting his bed. His parents, school counselor and therapist did the best that they could, but, unfortunately, they were not able to help Ilan overcome his trauma.

68 OU ISR AEL

At OU Israel’s Makom Balev Youth Center in Sderot, Ilan’s counselor knew that he was suffering from PTSD and nominated him for a PTSD photo therapy course. Ilan began to open up as he first expressed his feelings through photographs and then shared those with his counselor and therapist. Ilan explained that prior to the PTSD photo therapy program, he had felt ashamed of his problems and didn’t want to talk about them. Photography provided the outlet Ilan needed to begin to process and deal with his emotions and trauma.

OU Israel | Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $4,987,000

16%

37% 16%

31%

37%

OU Contribution | $1,849,000

31%

Program Fees | $1,533,000

16%

Donations | $819,000

16%

Government, Jewish Agency & Grant Support | $786,000

EXPENSES

15%

85%

OU Israel Youth Centers connect at-risk youth to their Land and their heritage, preparing them to join the IDF with a feeling of pride.

85%

Programming | $4,204,000

15%

Administrative | $737,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

69

180,000+ read the quarterly Jewish Action magazine

80,000+ Passover Guides distributed throughout North America

70,000+ subscribers receive the OU’s Shabbat Shalom Weekly

1,500,000+ For more than 34 years, Jewish Action, the OU’s highly-acclaimed quarterly magazine, has been fostering conversation among thousands of Jews around the world through its thought-provoking features and opinion pieces.

70 OU PUBLICATIONS

NCSY benchers sold worldwide

OU PUBLICATIONS

The Heart of Modern Jewish Thought Whether it’s the critically acclaimed Jewish Action magazine or the OU Guide to Passover, OU Publications has something for everyone. Its plethora of publications, enjoyed by millions of Jews worldwide, give voice to a diverse array of opinions and ideas within the Orthodox Jewish community.

PERSONAL HISTORY

A CHAPLAIN’S TALE DURING THE KOREAN WAR

TIME to SING a NEW SONG

By Chaim Feuerman z”l, as told to Ruchama Feuerman

A

t age twenty-four, I served for two years (from 1953 to 1955) on active duty as a Jewish chaplain in the United States Air Force. There was a war going on in Korea, and the United States Army was requesting volunteers. The National Jewish Welfare Board put pressure on the yeshivot, and so I was “volunteered.” Before I joined though, I spent a year studying fulltime at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, New York, under the tutelage of Rav Yitzchok Hutner, zt”l.

Volunteers had a choice of serving in the United States Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force. I chose the Air Force and was assigned to the Air Training Command at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Rav Hutner wasn’t too concerned about my joining the Air Force. He brushed it off, like it was some kind of initiation into a fraternity. Okay, so you’ll be there for two years. You’ll get in and get out. You’ll go and you’ll come back.

It didn’t feel that way when I first arrived.

On my first day of active duty, an officer inducted me and then accompanied me into a building. I was wearing my Air Force cap. He said, “Take it off.” A military man wasn’t allowed to wear a cap indoors. I didn’t know it, but if you wore a yarmulke,

18

JEWISH ACTION Spring 5778/2018

you would be considered officially “out of uniform” and subject to a citation and severe penalties. The same was true of facial hair.

I said, “Do you mean—take it off and then put on my yarmulke?”

He barked, “No! Off!” I obeyed because I had no choice, but afterward I spoke to Rav Hutner about it. “What do I do?”

He said, “You have to take off your yarmulke, and see to it that in your heart things are the way they should be. Don’t worry about the externals right now.”

I wasn’t completely at ease with that, but Rav Hutner said it, so I did it. By this point, he had assumed the stature of a father in my eyes, a spiritual father. People have no idea what it was like in those days, how profoundly students were connected to their roshei yeshivah. Our generation had been completely orphaned. Many like myself had Galician parents who were traditional but didn’t have much of a Jewish education and certainly didn’t have the tools to help us succeed in the world of learning [Torah]. Zero.

Along came Rav Hutner, a towering personality, a gigantic soul, handsome and dashing, unbelievably well-spoken in many languages, a wise man who was street smart and savvy and had received the luminous wisdom from the Alter of Slabodka. To us, he

was like Moshe Rabbeinu. He was everything to me.

Throughout my time in the military, I experienced many conflicts between my service and my Torah observance. Praying with a minyan was impossible. Shabbat davening itself was challenging. You weren’t free to do whatever you wanted. Even though I had enormous latitude as an officer, I was still subject to the Air Force’s regulations.

Rav Hutner told me, “Whenever there is a halachah that you cannot keep, you should learn the laws that pertain to the mitzvah you can’t observe.” The rationale behind that was simple.

Every mitzvah has four components: lilmod, l’lamed, lishmor v’la’asot—to study, to teach, to guard and to do. So if you can’t perform “la’asot” (to do), at least be sure to peform the other three.

That first day I received the requisite crew cut and uniform. No gun, because chaplains weren’t allowed to carry guns. But later, when I attended an officers’ basic military school, they taught us how to march, and proper military protocol.

Thoughts one year after a breast cancer diagnosis

By Toby Klein Greenwald

Ruchama Feuerman is a novelist. The Rebbetzin’s Courtyard, the short story sequel to her last novel, In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist, was recently published.

44

JEWISH ACTION Summer 5778/2018

In recognition of Jewish Action’s quality journalism, the magazine has won prestigious Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence for the past nine years.

71

Print and Digital Publications Pre-Shabbat Inspiration With content curated from guest columnists, published authors, and well-known speakers, the Shabbat Shalom Weekly email newsletter inspires thousands of Jews each week before Shabbat with informative, interesting, and inspirational content delivered straight to their inboxes.

,ujca,u ,urha

THE NCSY BENCHER A book oF PRAyeR And Song

THE NCSY BENCHER CLASSIC Edition The transliteration in this “Classic” edition of The NCSY Bencher follows the Ashkenazic pronunciation of Hebrew.

,ujca,u ,urha

EL BIRKóN DE NCSY un libro bendiciones y canciones

de

EL BIRKÓN DE NCSY • Edición en Español

Publicación en Honor a la Familia FiscHmann

OU / NCSY Publications Eleven Broadway, New York, NY 10004 www.ou.org

The World’s Favorite Bencher The NCSY Bencher is a staple in Jewish homes around the world and across the Jewish spectrum.

It is common to see Jews of various backgrounds seated together, NCSY Bencher in hand, joining their unique voices in harmony. For those unfamiliar with the liturgy, the NCSY Bencher app offers the opportunity to study and become more EL BIRKÓN DE NCSY Edición en Español familiar with the songs and text.

A RothmAn FoundAtion PublicAtion

,ujca,u ,urha

THE NCSY BENCHER A book oF PRAyeR And Song Ivrit Edition OU / NCSY Publications Eleven Broadway, New York, NY 10004 www.ou.org

THE NCSY BENCHER • Ivrit Edition

THE NCSY BENCHER • CLASSIC Edition

A RothmAn FoundAtion PublicAtion

THE NCSY BENCH Ivrit Edition

The transliteration in this “Ivrit” ed of The NCSY Bencher follows the moder (Sephardic) pronunciation of Hebr

OU / NCSY Publications Eleven Broadway, New York, www.ou.org

72 OU PUBLICATIONS

THE OU GUIDE TO

PASS OVER 201 9

| 57 79

The Essential Passover Guide Jews the world over have turned to the iconic OU Guide to Passover since the 1950s for help in preparing for the holiday, relying on its comprehensive index of certified foods, guides to kashering one’s kitchen, and FAQs on the intricacies of Passover laws and customs.

I N E D I B L E S O N P E S AC H

KASHERING PRIMER REMEMBERING RABBI C H A I M G O L DZ W E I G ZT"L

WOMEN & THE EXODUS CONSUMER SHOPPING GUIDE

RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS

Torah Learning for All Levels and All Interests The acclaimed OUTorah.org web site offers a broad range of series for people at all levels and of all interests. Popular daily and weekly programs include Daf Yomi, Nach Yomi, Mishna Yomit, HaShoneh Halachos, Daf HaShavua, plus weekly parsha series from a broad array of renowned Torah educators.

An Online Hub of Education and Community Tens of thousands visit OU.org daily to read the latest articles, check the holiday calendar, and browse the archives for stories and videos that educate and inspire. The site also provides in-depth Torah materials and resources to help Jews of any skill level advance their knowledge.

73

2,520

participants were inspired on Israel Free Spirit trips in 2019

600 participants had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah while on their trip

2nd year in a row rated as a leading Birthright Israel trip organizer

On all trips, young Israelis join as participants, further connecting the global Jewish community.

74 ISR AEL FREE SPIRIT

ISRAEL FREE SPIRIT

Our Homeland, Our Future Israel Free Spirit, the OU’s Birthright Israel program, aims to keep the Jewish community vibrant by connecting our youth to their homeland and heritage. In addition to the Birthright trip, Israel Free Spirit offers students the option to extend their stay in Israel and participate in learning opportunities that strengthen their Jewish commitment and identity.

Bonfire in the Negev.

(Photo: Wandermore Photography)

75

75

Experiencing Israel Partnering with Jewish Organizations to Give the Gift of Birthright Israel Free Spirit has established partnerships with a diverse array of organizations serving Jewish young adults—including college Hillels, Meor, Aish, fraternities/sororities, and more— to give the gift of Birthright Israel.

Personalizing the Israel Experience with Themed Trips Applicants choose from a variety of Birthright Israel trips catering to specific interests, such as arts and music, foodie culture, the outdoors, volunteering, etc.

Staff Development Days to Educate Trip Leaders To ensure a meaningful experience for both participants and trip leaders, Israel Free Spirit facilitates full-day staff trainings in the U.S. and Israel, focusing on best practices of Jewish informal education and making a positive impact beyond the trip.

“

This adventure started as a cool, free trip. The day I got here, it became a gift.

No words can describe this experience, how it changed me, my views of the world, my views of myself, and my plans in life.

I would do it over and over if I could.

”

—Jessica Len, California, Summer 2019 participant.

“

On this trip, I witnessed many moving moments that proved the power of community: watching soldiers dance and pray, listening to Holocaust survivors share their experiences, and absorbing the love of three generations of women placing a note in the Western Wall. I leave Israel with more questions than ever before, but with pride in my family’s past and continued growth through struggle.

—Morgan Lavendar, Colorado, Summer 2019 participant

76 ISR AEL FREE SPIRIT

”

Israel Free Spirit Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $7,061,000 2% 2% 5%

48% 43%

48%

Birthright Direct Support | $3,405,000

43%

Birthright In-Kind Support | $3,078,000

5%

OU Contribution | $328,000

2%

Program Fees & Miscellaneous | $131,000

2%

Donations & Other Partner Sponsorships | $119,000

EXPENSES 7%

On Israel Free Spirit Birthright trips, young adults share unforgettable experiences that strengthen their Jewish identity, communal responsibility, and connection with Israel. (Photo: Alexa Kownacki)

44% 49%

Extending Beyond Birthright Israel Participants have the option to extend their trip to attend classes on basic Judaism and to tour Israel. Other extension opportunities include internships, fellowships, and volunteer programs.

49%

Programming | $3,436,000

44%

In-Kind Programming | $3,078,000

7%

Administrative, Misc., and Development | $536,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

77

78 NEX TDOR

NEXTDOR

Helping a Generation Integrate Their Professional and Jewish Lives Millennials face new challenges that are unique to their generation. NextDor is a community and professional network of young Orthodox Jews who aspire to further their careers, empower their religious lives, and create spaces where they can help each other succeed at both. Through in-person and virtual networking opportunities, mentorship, interactive content, membersonly events, and more, OU’s NextDor program is helping young professionals integrate their professional future and Jewish lives.

Charlie Harary addresses young professionals’ NextDor networking event at OU’s Torah New York

79

Making Connections Recent NextDor Young Professional Meetups BEST PRACTICES FOR CLEAN CODE Shmuel Rozansky, Tech Lead at Google, talked about the value of Clean Code and best practices for young developers.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AT CITI FIELD Inspirational talk with Charlie Harary during Torah New York at Citi Field.

YOUNG LAWYER MEET-UP Networking for Orthodox Jewish lawyers at the law offices of Ropes & Gray.

Networking That Blends Business with Pleasure Millennials spend less time on leisure than their predecessors, but they are willing to engage in fun activities that advance their careers. From networking lunches on Wall Street to after-hours social events, NextDor organizes professionally-relevant, inspiring, and engaging experiences to help young professionals grow their skills and make valuable connections.

Building Careers through Camaraderie NextDor brings together small, select groups of young Jewish professionals at similar points in their careers to create a network of peers who share insight and encouragement. In this program, NextDor members from diverse backgrounds receive the support they need to get to the next stage of their careers.

Harnessing Experience for Peer Mentorship Meeting the challenge to balance workplace pressures with religious life demands guidance, as the two realms fold into each other. NextDor pairs younger members with those more advanced in their careers who can empathize and offer mentorship through sharing their personal successes and sacrifices.

80 NEX TDOR

81

TORAH NEW YORK 2019 SPEAKERS Dr. Henry Abramson Rabbi Moshe Elefant Rabbi Eytan Feiner Rabbi David Fohrman Rabbi Joey Haber Mr. Charlie Harary Rabbi Avraham Kahan Rabbi Levi Langer Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky Rabbi Judah Mischel Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger Mrs. Chaya Batya (CB) Neugroschl Mrs. Sivan Rahav Meir Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbi Shaul Robinson Mrs. Smadar Rosensweig Rabbi Yonason Sacks Rabbi Hershel Schachter Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter Mrs. Dina Schoonmaker Mrs. Shira Smiles Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky Rabbanit Shani Taragin Rabbi Ya’akov Trump Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein Rabbi Steven Weil Rabbi Mordechai Willig Dr. Ora Wiskind Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Woolf

2,000 attended the OU’s third annual Torah New York at Citi Field.

82 OU TOR AH INITIATIVES

OU TORAH INITIATIVES

Lifelong Torah Learning for All Torah Initiatives comprises a broad array of innovative and impactful Torah programming.

With a primary focus on limmud ha-Torah, we are working to increase accessibility to high quality, sophisticated, and vibrant Torah learning opportunities, programs, and platforms. Diverse approaches and formats provide study opportunities to Jews across a wide demographic so that individuals from every community and affiliation can further develop their relationship with God through Torah.

Torah New York featured a fun, engaging children’s program with craft projects, mini golf, shofar making, and more.

83

Programs and Resources A New and Improved OUTorah.org OU Torah has redesigned its website for an optimal user experience and added new and important features. Users can now subscribe to various Torah series, create a playlist, save their preferences between logins, and sync their playlist with the OU Torah app.

Bringing Daf Yomi to Life OUTorah.org’s Daf Yomi section, offered in both desktop and mobile formats, is one of the most comprehensive on the web, featuring in-demand teachers such as Rabbi Moshe Elefant and Rabbi Shalom Rosner. Materials include daf b’iyun, daf in halacha from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Center, rishonim and acharonim from Shas Illuminated, point-by-point summaries, quizzes, and more.

Rav Elyada Goldwicht, founder of the OU’s Semichas Chaver Program, heads a panel discussion of Semichas Chaver rabbis at Torah New York.

Torah Study for Seniors Responding to the need for services that meet the social, intellectual and spiritual requirements of retirees in the Jewish community, the Beit Midrash of Teaneck (BMT) provides intensive, user-friendly, text-based Torah study to accommodate a variety of skill levels. The program features leading OU educators on Talmud, Tanach, and halacha.

Communal Days of Torah Learning Spans Continents This year, OU’s annual Torah New York day of learning brought thousands of men and women together to enjoy shiurim taught by worldrenowned Torah educators on topics in Jewish ethics, halacha, yomim tovim, and more. Begun in New York, the program has expanded to Los Angeles and Jerusalem, and is scheduled to launch in more locations this coming year.

Rabbi Yonason Sacks spoke about “The Revealed and Concealed Significance of the Shofar” at Torah New York.

84 OU TOR AH INITIATIVES

Semichas Chaver Program Locations United States Atlanta, GA Boca Raton, FL Boston, MA Chicago, IL Edison, NJ

Chile

Lawrence, NY

Santiago

Los Angeles – Pico, CA Los Angeles – Valley, CA Manhattan – New York, NY Memphis, TN Monsey, NY Passaic, NJ

Fastest-Growing Halacha Learning Program in the World Spanning five continents, the OU’s Semichas Chaver program (SCP), founded by Rav Elyada Goldwicht, is a halacha study program developed to make learning more accessible to young men. After six months of weekly learning, there is a comprehensive exam along with a siyum celebrating completion of the learned halachot.

Wives, children, and families are included, making the program a family experience.

Phoenix, AZ Queens, NY Silver Spring, MD Springfield, NJ Teaneck, NJ Washington Heights, NY Canada

Israel Bnei Brak Efrat Jerusalem Ma’aleh Adumim Petach Tikvah Pisgat Ze’ev Raanana Ramat Beit Shemesh Rehovot Australia Sydney

Toronto, ON

United Kingdom

Montreal, QC

London – Edgeware

Edmonton, AB

London – Hendon

Racheli Sprecher Fraenkel’s inspiring talk,”Things Given to the Heart,” at the inaugural Torah Yerushalayim event 85

A New Platform for Daf Learners of All Levels A Virtual Yeshivah for Daf Learners of All Levels With over thousands of users daily, the OU’s daf yomi initiative has grown into a valuable resource that is loved by seasoned veterans and those learning the daf for the first time alike. As the new cycle approaches in January 2020, the initiative will expand with the creation of All Daf, a comprehensive platform that will cater to Daf Yomi learners of every level, offering an expansive array of content and an intuitive user experience across new mobile app, website, and podcast platforms.

DAF PRACTICE

IN

DAF IN-DEPTH various speakers

86 OU TOR AH INITIATIVES

JEWISH HISTORY

IN DAF YOMI

various speakers

Rabbi Yaakov Trump

OU Kosher COO, Rabbi Moshe Elefant, delivers a live version of his popular Daf Yomi shiur at Torah New York.

DAF SUGYA SHIUR rabbi moshe elefant

PESUKEI HADAF

Dr. Henry Abramson, dean of Lander College of Arts and Sciences and a re­nowned expert on Jewish his­tory, spoke as part of the “All Daf” track at Torah New York

Rabbi Yaakov Trump

87

2019 ACCELERATOR GRADUATES

Work At It (Yedei Moshe) “It’s been a whirlwind of topics and speakers with wide-ranging expertise. The sessions were hands-on, giving us the practical skills we need.” —Rivka Ariel

Torah Anytime “We all want to help the Jewish people and be powerful forces of change. Everything we learned here makes that possible: marketing, fundraising, business operations, and the connections.” —Yosef Davis

Grow Torah “We’ve been given so much support, knowledge, tools, and skills, and have been connected with incredible mentors who have guided us through the process of growing a nonprofit.” —Yosef Gillers

NechamaComfort

Reva Judas, Founder of NechamaComfort, a graduate of the first cohort.

88 OU IMPACT ACCELER ATOR

“Because of what we learned we’ve been able to reach more of the people who need our support. And after 30 years of operating, I’ve been able to quit my day job and focus exclusively on helping others.” —Reva Judas

OU IMPACT ACCELERATOR

Supporting Nonprofit Founders for Growth Through education and mentorship, the OU Impact Accelerator identifies and advances Jewish nonprofits that are addressing our communal challenges. By fostering partnerships between nonprofit entrepreneurs and experienced professional mentors, the program encourages social entrepreneurship, collaboration, and innovation. The first cohort launched in October 2018 and culminated with the OU Impact Accelerator Demo Day in September 2019. For 2020, 84 applications from three countries and 14 states were submitted.

Jenna Beltser, OU Impact Accelerator founding director, at pitch night, when entrepreneurs present their ideas

89

SPOTLIGHT: NECHAMACOMFORT

Extending the Reach of a Comforting Arm Thirty-two years ago, I gave birth to my first son, Pesach, after six miscarriages. He lived for 12 hours. I felt so alone. Pregnancy and infant loss were taboo subjects, and most

mourn, but I didn’t even have that. I founded NechamaComfort to support others who had endured the painful loss of a pregnancy or a baby, because no one should suffer alone.

people didn’t understand the emotional trauma of my loss. When a loved one dies, we have shiva, a process to help us grieve and

The Impact Accelerator helped me understand that a nonprofit is not just a chessed, it’s a

90 OU IMPACT ACCELER ATOR

OU Impact Accelerator Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $287,000

business. To help others, we have to be able to sustain ourselves.

14%

Before, I thought people knew of us just because we’d been around for three decades, but that wasn’t true. One of the most wonderful things about the Impact Accelerator is that it got the media talking about us. Now, we’re getting calls from all over, connecting with people who need our support, and acquiring more opportunities to train and educate our community. Two days after our new website launched, a couple reached out to us from Moscow!

86%

86%

OU Contribution | $246,000

14%

Donations | $41,000

EXPENSES

Thanks to the Impact Accelerator, we’ve been able to reach more of the people who need our support. And after 30 years of operating, I’ve been able to quit my day job and focus exclusively on helping others.

7%

39% 40%

— Reva Judas, founder and director of NechamaComfort

OU senior leadership, OU Impact Accelerator team, and cohort I participants at the Cohort Demo Day, the annual Impact Accelerator graduation event

14%

40%

Special Projects | $115,000

39%

Personnel | $114,000

14%

Advertising & Media | $40,000

7%

Other | $19,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

91

Chumash Mesoras HaRav

5-volume set Featuring the commentary of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Edited with great skill by Dr. Arnold Lustiger, this groundbreaking Chumash collects and adapts the Rav’s writings and teachings into a published commentary that reflects his intellectual breadth and depth, his exegetical creativity, and the timelessness of his insights.

Blessings and Thanksgiving: Reflections on the Siddur and Synagogue

by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Blessings and Thanksgiving is a significant contribution toward our understanding not only of specific prayers, but of the Jewish approach to the encounter between man and God as understood and experienced by a giant of Jewish thought.

Covenant & Conversation — Deuteronomy

by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks The Torah is an encounter with the past and present, moment and eternity, which frames Jewish consciousness.

Rabbi Sacks explores these intersections as they relate to universal concerns of freedom, love, responsibility, identity, and destiny. This fascinating new volume fuses Jewish tradition, Western philosophy, and literature to present a highly developed understanding of the human condition under God’s sovereignty.

Unlocking the Haggada

by Rabbi Shmuel Goldin Rabbi Goldin renews the traditional guide to the Passover seder service with his emphasis on the big picture. In language and style that will appeal to any reader, this new Haggadah takes each seder participant by the hand along the steps of this extraordinary journey.

92 OU PRESS

OU PRESS

Torah Insights Come to Life OU Press publishes popular and scholarly works that reflect the broad spectrum of Orthodox Jewish values in the contemporary Jewish community. Among the OU Press authors are outstanding thinkers including Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, Dr. Erica Brown, Rabbi Ari Kahn, and Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom.

The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom Vol. 1, by Rabbi Natan Slifkin, is a lavishly illustrated book which presents every reference to animals in scripture, a vast range of sources from the Talmud & Midrash, and extensive discussion and insights drawn from traditional sources and modern science.

93

100%

increase in NY STEM funding and a groundbreaking new state and local STEM funding program in NJ

$140,000,000 security funding for at-risk institutions in Teach Coalition states, including Jewish day schools and synagogues in 2019

90%

of yeshivah and day school students benefit from Teach Coalition efforts

School Safety champion Senate Policy Majority Chair Dave Argall (R-29) addresses hundreds of day schools students and supporters at Teach PA’s Mission to Harrisburg. This year, nonpublic schools received $3.2 million in school safety funding, a 497% over last year, as a result of advocacy.

94 TEACH COALITION

TEACH COALITION

For Better, Safer, More Affordable Day Schools and Yeshivot Teach Coalition aims to secure government financial support for Jewish day schools and yeshivot.

Teach Coalition lobbies for equitable government funding, tax credit scholarships, government grants, and education savings accounts to benefit Jewish families and schools. The Coalition advocates on behalf of approximately 90 percent of yeshivah and day school students nationwide.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signs historic bill increasing the state’s security funding for nonpublic schools to $22.6 million.

95

Highlights and Achievements Teach Coalition State Security Highlights FLORIDA $2.5 million allocated in security funding for Florida Jewish day schools and yeshivot for the 2019-2020 school year, a 25% increase from last year.

NEW JERSEY $22.6 million allocated in security funding for New Jersey’s nonpublic schools. Funding was doubled in 2019.

PENNSYLVANIA $3.2 million in security grants awarded from Pennsylvania’s Office of Safe Schools for 20192020, a 587% increase over the previous year.

NEW YORK $60 million budgeted for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced $20 million in matching grants, which was allocated for safety and security projects at nonpublic schools and day camps. This money is in addition to the $40 million allocated in the state budget.

CALIFORNIA $15 million budgeted for institutions at risk of hate motivated violence, including Jewish day schools and synagogues. This program increased from $500,000 in 2018. The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program was signed into law and now includes safety equipment and security personnel at risk.

96 TEACH COALITION

The Largest Jewish Day School Delegation Advocates in Albany Led by Teach NYS, an unprecedented 700 students, educators, and parents from Jewish day schools and yeshivot across New York State made their voices heard in the halls of the New York State legislature. The delegation met with 90 legislators and pressed for increased funding for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, as well as funding for school security.

Increasing Funding for STEM Teachers in New York and New Jersey Teach Coalition was instrumental in creating groundbreaking STEM legislation for New York and New Jersey day schools and yeshivot. This year, Teach NYS worked to increase that funding from $15 million to $30 million in the 2019 NY budget. Capitalizing on NY’s success, Teach NJ worked closely with Governor Murphy and the state legislature to create an historic grant program to begin to fund NJ STEM teachers in nonpublic schools.

TeachON launches in Ontario, Canada TeachON successfully launched in 2019, in partnership with the Jewish community of Ontario. This new effort has begun working on behalf of Jewish day schools in Ontario for provincial funding. TeachON’s advocacy efforts will focus on STEM, special needs and security funding.

Allen Fagin, Exec. VP, Orthodox Union; Dan Mitzner, Director of State Political Affairs, Teach Coalition; Renee Klyman, Grassroots Director, Teach NJ; Phil Murphy, Governor, NJ; Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO, OU Kosher

Helping Day Schools Access Available Government Funding

Teach PA Harrisburg Rally for Tax Credits and Security Funding

Teach Coalition works with day schools and yeshivot to help navigate complex funding applications for government programs on the state and local level, to ensure they are maximizing funding opportunities the schools are eligible for. These efforts brought in millions of dollars for Teach member schools.

Teach PA played a critical role in increasing scholarship tax credit programs and security funding to $30 million and $3 million respectively in 2019. Three hundred students, community leaders, parents and educators advocated at the state capital as part of this successful grassroots effort.

97

Schools Impacted By Teach Coalition TEACH FLORIDA MEMBER SCHOOLS Brauser Maimonides Academy Donna Klein Jewish Academy

Yeshiva Bais Hillel (YBH of Passaic) Yeshivat He’atid Yeshivat Noam

Hadar High School for Girls Hebrew Academy Community School Katz Hillel Community Day School Katz Yeshiva High School Lubavitch Educational Center Posnack School Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy Scheck Hillel Community School Sha’arei Bina Torah Academy for Girls Temple Beth Emet Day School Torah Academy of Boca Raton Yeshiva Elementary and Mesivta Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes

TEACH NJ MEMBER SCHOOLS

TEACH PA MEMBER SCHOOLS Abrams Hebrew Academy Caskey Torah Academy Hillel Academy Jack M Barrack Hebrew Academy Kohelet Yeshiva Kosloff Torah Academy Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia Perelman Jewish Day School Politz Hebrew Academy

TEACH NYS MEMBER SCHOOLS Adolph Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland Barkai Yeshiva

Ben Porat Yosef

Beit Rabban

Clifton Cheder

Beit Yakov Orot

Heichal Hatorah

Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy of the Capital District

Hillel Yeshiva

Bnos Aliya

Ilan High School

Bnos Bais Yaakov

Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy

Chabad of Westchester (Alef Bet School)

Kellman Brown Academy

Darchai Menachem

Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls

Derech HaTorah of Rochester

Netivot - The Montessori Yeshiva

Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys

Politz Day School of Cherry Hill

Gan Academy

Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY)

Gan Aliya

Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School

Gesher ECC

Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey (RYNJ)

Hebrew Academy of Long Beach

Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County

Tenafly Chabad Academy

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway

The Frisch School

Hebrew Day School of Sullivan and Ulster County

The Hebrew Academy

IVDU School

The IDEA School

Jewish Foundation School of Staten Island

The Moriah School

Luria Academy of Brooklyn

Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC)

Magen David Yeshivah

Yavneh Academy

Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District

98 TEACH COALITION

Jewish day school and yeshiva student advocates at the Teach PA mission on the steps of the State Capital in Harrisburg, PA

Manhattan Day School

The Leffell School

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov

The Ramaz School

Midreshet Shalhevet

Torah Academy for Girls

North Shore Hebrew Academy

Westchester Day School

Ohr Temimim/Jewish Heritage Day School

Westchester Hebrew High School

Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School

Westchester Torah Academy

Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Boys

Yeshiva Darchei Torah

Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Girls

Yeshiva Har Torah

Rambam Mesivta

Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island

SAR Academy

Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan

SAR High School

Yeshiva of Central Queens

Shulamith School for Girls

Yeshiva of Far Rockaway

Solomon Schechter School of Long Island

Yeshiva of Flatbush

Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan

Yeshiva of South Shore

Solomon Schechter School of Queens

Yeshiva Ohavei Torah

Staten Island Hebrew Academy

Yeshiva Shaare Torah

Syracuse Hebrew Day School

Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA)

Talmudical Institute of Upstate NY

Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central)

Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls

Yeshivat Darche Eres

The Brandeis School

Zvi Dov Roth Academy of Yeshiva Rambam 99

New York State Attorney General Letitia James speaking at Mission to Albany 2019

STEM Education For All of Our Students In late July, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released the first $5 million of funds to help pay the salaries of 1,700 nonpublic school STEM teachers in 338 schools across the state. The historic legislation that made this funding possible was conceived of and driven by Teach NYS in concert with state legislators. From inception to completion, Teach NYS led an advocacy campaign made up of thousands of parents 100 TEACH COALITION

and students working hand in hand with legislators.

With the initial allocation of $5 million in the 2017-18 school year, Teach NYS’s subsequent budget years has resulted in a 600% increase to $30 million, in the 2019-20 school year.

“As a head of school, I see the difference that this funding makes,” said Raizi Chechik, head of school, Manhattan Day School. “Because we can now allocate optimal resources towards staffing, we are able to enhance our educational programs across all disciplines.”

Teach Coalition Financials FUNDING SOURCES Total Funding: $3,719,000

22% 1%

44%

22% 11%

44%

Donations | $1,650,000

22%

OU Contribution | $832,000

22%

School Income | $810,000

11%

Grant Revenue | $391,000

1%

Program Fees | $36,000

EXPENSES

14%

Fueled by the momentum garnered from New York’s groundbreaking STEM reimbursement program, Teach NJ led the charge to create the first STEM funding program in New Jersey. The STEM grant program is designed to help nonpublic schools address the issues of rising costs of STEM education, a major shortage of qualified STEM teachers, and the continuing need to expand STEM education offerings to all students.

10%

69%

5% 1% 1%

69%

NY | $2,552,000

1%

ON | $50,000

14%

NJ | $529,000

1%

CA | $42,000

10%

FL | $368,000

5%

PA | $186,000

The financial information here is unaudited and does not reflect the OU’s significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management and administrative services, e.g. IT, Finance, HR, and Communications.

101

Benefactor Circle AMBASSADOR $250,000 & OVER

The Avi Chai Foundation

OU Benefactor Circle members form the cornerstone of the Orthodox Union. Much of what the OU has been able to accomplish in the past year would not have been possible without their partnership and deep commitment to our mission.

We applaud all those who lead through their philanthropy and whose names appear here, as well as those choosing to remain anonymous.

Ariela Balk In Honor of The Mendel Balk Yachad Adult Community Center Drs. Felix and Miriam Glaubach Dr. Shmuel and Evelyn Katz In Memory of Anne Samson A�H

GUARDIAN $100,000 - $249,999

Mark (Moishe) and Joanne Bane Sherry and Neil Cohen Robert and Michelle Diener Mr. and Mrs. Jack Feintuch Elliot P. and Deborah Gibber

If your name doesn’t appear in these pages, we invite you to join us in making a difference.

To learn more, please call Arnold Gerson, Chief Institutional Advancement Officer, at 212-613-8313 or email agerson@ou.org.

Alan and Barbara Gindi Becky and Avi Katz Mordecai and Monique Katz The Kohelet Foundation The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles David and Debra Magerman The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Raphael and Rivka Nissel Eric and Gale Rothner Ruderman Family Foundation Moris and Lillian Tabacinic UJA-Federation of New York Joyce and Jeremy Wertheimer

102 BENEFACTOR CIRCLE

Thank you for your generous support of our vital programs FOUNDER

BUILDER

$50,000 - $99,999

$25,000 - $49,999

Mr. Raanan and Dr. Nicole Agus

Lewis and Lauri Barbanel

Rabbi Mark and Linda Karasick

Allen and Deanna Alevy

Saby and Rosi Behar

Karmela A”H and Jerry Klasner

Howard and Chaya Balter

Harry H. Beren Z”L

Albert Laboz

Daniel and Razie Benedict

Max and Elana Berlin

Jeff and Marci Lefkovits

Aaron and Marie

Brian and Dafna Berman

Michael and Andrea Leven

Blackman Foundation

Judi and Jason Berman

Family Foundation

The Cayre Family

Vivian and Daniel Chill

Iris and Shalom Maidenbaum

Gershon and Aviva Distenfeld

Dr. Benjamin and Esther Chouake

Azi and Rachel Mandel

Foundation For Jewish Day Schools, Greater Philadelphia

The Conduit Foundation

Rabbi Manfred and Liselotte Z”L Gans Chessed Fund

Crain-Maling Foundation: crainmaling.org

Dr. Ephraim and Rita Greenfield

Drs. Robert and Kay Faguet

J. Samuel Harwit and Manya

Falic Family Foundation

Harwit-Aviv Charitable Trust

Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Richard Hirsch Kitty and Anwar Hoory Z”L Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey

Howard Tzvi and Chaya Friedman

Mrs. Fegi Mauer Meridian Capital Henry and Mindy Orlinsky Martha and George Rich Foundation Malki and J. Philip Rosen James and Loren Rosenzweig Robbie and Helene Rothenberg Samis Foundation

Ralph S. Gindi Foundation

Stephen and Jessica Samuel

Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld and Harry Klaristenfeld

Shana Glassman Foundation

Louis and Stacy Schwartz

Eve Gordon-Ramek

In Memory of Judy Lefkovits

Ari and Alison Gross

Yitzchak and Barbara Lehmann Siegel

Mr. David Lichtenstein

James and Amy A”H Haber

Estate of Ethelyn Lieblich

Dr. Elliot and Lillian Hahn

Chuck and Allegra Mamiye

Robert and Debra Hartman

Mayberg Foundation

Lance and Rivkie Hirt

Eitan and Debra Milgram

Alissa and Shimmie Horn

Genie and Steve Savitsky

Dr. Allan and Sandy Jacob

The Shamah Family

Paul and Chavi Jacobs

Josh and Allison Zegen

Jewish Federation of S. Palm Beach County Benyamin and Esti Kaminetzky

Barry and Joy Sklar David and Amy Strachman Michael and Arianne Weinberger The Weininger Foundation Inc. David and Gila Weinstein The Weiss Family, Cleveland, Ohio Esther and Jerry Williams Mr. Jerry and Mrs. Sara Wolasky

103

ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES

A Private Government Briefing

by Prime Minister Netanyahu A meeting between OU leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported a mutual understanding of the need to increase initiatives for diaspora Jewish education and identity.

VISIONARY

Yehuda and Anne Neuberger

Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Berman

Isabelle and David Novak

Harvey and Judy Blitz

$18,000 - $24,999

Masa Israel Journey

David and Chedva Breau

Mr. and Mrs. Lior Arussy

Marc Penn

Jo and Jonah Bruck

Allen and Miriam Pfeiffer

Dr. Moshe and Bryndie Benarroch

Dennis and Debra Berman Marcus and Doris Blumkin The Charles Crane Family Foundation

The Refuge - A Healing Place Henry and Golda Reena Rothman

Vanessa and Raymond Chalme

George and Irina Schaeffer

Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Toby Macy Schaffer

Mr. Sheldon J. David

Morris and Rachel Tabush

Michael and Aliza Davis

Judith and Allen I. Fagin

George and Joni White

Fred and Suzan Ehrman

Mark and Cheryl Friedman

PARTNER

Rina and Rabbi Dov Emerson

Peter and Lori Deutsch Shimon and Chaya Eckstein Linda and Michael Elman

Joan and Peter Hoffman

Drs. Gilat and Yossi Englanoff Martin and Leora Fineberg

Ed and Robyn Hoffman/ Hoffman Catering

$10,000 - $17,999

Jack Albert Kassin

Alisa Abecassis

Ezra and Racheli Friedberg

Michael and Elissa Katz

Daniel and Liora Adler

Arnold and Esther Gerson

Dana and Jeffrey Korbman

Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Adler

The Ralph S. Gindi Foundation

Stephen and Eve Milstein

Aaron and Tammy Attias

Jack A�H and Gitta Nagel

Ira and Sheri Balsam

Mary Jo Robinson and Gordon Glaser

Martin and Elizabeth Nachimson

Yale and Ann Baron

Murray and Batsheva Goldberg

104 BENEFACTOR CIRCLE

Mark and Chava Finkel

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Goldish Joseph and Laura Goldman

In Memory of Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz Z�L,

PATRON

Rabbi Ben and Aviva Gonsher

From The Pelcovitz Family

Rabbi Micah and Rivkie Greenland

Israel and Nechama Polak

$5,000 - $9,999

The Rabbi Nathanial and

ADM/ROI

Robyn and Shukie Grossman

Shirley Pollack Memorial Foundation

Ariel Tours, Inc.

Abe and Ronit Gutnicki Mr. and Mrs. David Hartman The Hidary Family Mr. Nate Hyman The Jacoby Family Jewish Federation In The

Daniel and Leyla Posner Proskauer Rose Llp Ralphs Grocery Company Ian and Carol Ratner Yaron and Lisa Reich

Ashford Hospitality Jaimie and Gershon Ballon Samuel and Rachel Baratz Michael and Susan Baum Mr. Harvey Bell

Dr. Jay and Marjorie Robinow

Dr. and Mrs. Yitzhak and Ellen Berger

Matthew Rosenblatt

Rabbi and Mrs. Julius Berman

Kenneth and Mindy Saibel Ethel and Stan Scher

Carol Lasek and Howard Bienenfeld

Menachem and Rena Schnaidman

Yehuda and Faigie Bienstock Mr. and Mrs. Tomer Bitton

Joseph Shamie

Rabbi Glenn and Henni Black

Louis Shamie Mr. Baruch Singer

Enid and Harold H. Boxer Endowment

The Herbert Smilowitz Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Brenner

Jonah and Fran Kupietzky

CCS Fundraising

Kim and Jonathan Kushner

Mr. and Mrs. David Sokol

Himan Brown Charitable Trust

Daniel and Amanda Nussbaum Laifer

William Solomon

Jeremy and Hilda Cohen

Rabbi Shlomo and Mindy Spetner

Pace and Aileen Cooper

Dr. and Mrs. Ethan Spiegler

Steve and Chavi Dorfman

Ronald and Beth Stern

Lea and Leon Z�L Eisenberg

Talk N Save

Robert Eisenberg

Isaac H. Taylor Endowment Fund

Mrs. Margaret Feder

Dr. and Mrs. Shimmy Tennenbaum

Rabbi Dave and Chani Felsenthal

Heart of New Jersey Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Kaminetsky Morris and Sondra Kaplan Rabbi Joseph Karasick Dr. Ezra and Lauren Kest David and Roberta Kimmel Alice and Jacob Klein Lawrence and Evelyn Kraut Scott and Aviva Krieger

Mrs. Shirley Levy Vivian and David Luchins Jeffrey and Adria Mandel David and Michelle Margules Mr. and Mrs. Shalom Menora Stuart and Frances Miller Mr. and Mrs. Asher David and Michelle Milstein Gila and Adam Milstein Daniel and Jessica Minkoff Etan and Valerie Mirwis and Family Alexander and Yocheved Mitchell Cal and Janine Nathan Aaron and Ahuva Orlofsky

Gary and Malka Torgow Travel Insurance Israel Ira Waldbaum Family Foundation Stanley and Ellen Wasserman The Weil Family Jessica and Lenny Weiss Tova and Howard Weiser

Errol and Pat Fine Aryeh and Dorit Fischer Ron and Lisa Rosenbaum Fisher Stephen and Roz Flatow Joseph and Rachel Fox Sura and Bert Fried Dr. Stan and Marla Frohlinger Andrew and Yvette Gardner Lawrence and Judith Garshofsky

Avi and Alissa Ossip

Susanne and Michael Wimpfheimer

The Oved Family

Drs. Yechiel and Suri Zagelbaum

Jerry and Anne Gontownik

Drew and Careena Parker

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Zekelman

Goldie and I. David Gordon

Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Goldberger

105

PATRON (cont.)

Aaron and Michal Gorin

ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES

Freda Greenbaum Dr. Edwin and Cecile Gromis Norma Holzer Dr. David and Barbara Hurwitz Jewish Community Federation of Richmond Chaim and Suri Kahn Stuart Karon and Dr. Jodi Wenger Rabbi Ethan and Deborah Katz Ira and Rona Kellman Mr. Robert Korda Avi and Ravital Korn Joseph and Hana Kornwasser Marc and Rena Kwestel David and Faye Landes Joshua and Bryna Landes Allan and Carolyn Lieberman Hylton and Leah Lightman David and Judith Lobel Josef Loeffler

An Inspiring Evening with MK Ayelet Shaked at Yom NCSY OU Benefactor Circle members, family affiliates, and OU leadership attended a night of inspiration, celebrating the positive impact of NCSY on Jewish youth.

Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike and Dr. John Loike Noah and Arinn Makovsky

Gail and Binyamin Rieder

Jayne Shapiro

Benay and Ira Meisels

Ira and Debra Rosenberg

Dr. Morris and Sharon Silver

Jennifer and Dror Michaelson

Yitzhok and Tamar Rosenthal

Michael Smith

Jay and Joyce Moskowitz

Yechiel and Nomi Rotblat

Jaime and Marilyn Sohacheski

Dr. Michael and Elizabeth Muschel

Joshua and Alyse Rozenberg

Avi and Deena Stein

Sharona and Irwin Nachimson

Zvi and Sharonne Rudman

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham J. Stern

Anna Baum and Barry Novack

Larry and Shelly Russak

Dr. David and Dorothy Stoll

Terry and Gail Novetsky

Milton and Shirley Sabin

Aaron and Ariella Strassman

People’s United Insurance Agency

Marvin and Roz Samuels

Abraham Sultan

Larry and Andrea Portal

David and Roslyn Savitsky

Matt Teichman

Mr. and Mrs. David Porush

Tammi and Bennett Schachter

Tal Tours

Richard and Ora Rabinovich

Jerry and Barbara Schreck

Joshua and Leslie Wanderer

Norman and Lindy Radow

Mali and Steve Schwartz

Esther and Baruch Weinstein

Regals Foundation

Shlomo and Gitty Schwartz

Wilf Family Foundation

Drs. Craig and Jackie Reiss

Andrew and Stephani Serotta

Jorge and Tammara Woldenberg

Sara and Laurence Richards

Mrs. Margie Shabat

Fran and David Woolf

Dr. Weston and Denise Richter

Ruth Shanker

106 BENEFACTOR CIRCLE

OU Board, OU Committees & Commissions President

Ari Shabat

Mark (Moishe) Bane

Esther Williams

Honorary Vice Chairman, Board of Governors

Michael Wimpfheimer

William Tenenblatt

Chairman, Board of Directors

Jerry Wolasky Past Presidents

Howard Tzvi Friedman Associate Vice Presidents

Julius Berman

Vice Chairman, Board of Directors

Lauri Barbanel

Harvey Blitz

Deborah Chames Cohen

Moses I. Feuerstein*

Dr. Mordechai D. Katz

Dr. Allan Jacob

Mandell I. Ganchrow, MD

Chuck Mamiye

Harold M. Jacobs*

Chairman, Board of Governors

Azi Mandel

Rabbi Joseph Karasick

Avi Katz

Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike

Dr. Simcha Katz Professor Sidney Kwestel

Vice Chairman, Board of Governors Emanuel Adler Senior Vice Presidents Dr. Michael Elman Elliot Gibber Yehuda Neuberger Barbara Lehmann Siegel Dr. Steven Tennenbaum Gary Torgow

Treasurer

Martin Nachimson

Morris Smith

Sheldon Rudoff* Stephen J. Savitsky

Secretary Menachem Schnaidman

Max Berlin Honorary Chairman, Board of Directors

Fred Ehrman

Marcel Weber

Jack Nagel*

Yitzchak Fund Avery Neumark

Honorary Vice Chairmen, Board of Directors

National Vice Presidents

Seymour J. Abrams*

Mitchel Aeder

Morry Weiss

Charles Harary Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld

Honorary Vice Presidents

Dr. David Luchins

Honorary Chairmen, Board of Governors

Manette Mayberg

Lee C. Samson

Isabelle Novak

Jay L. Schottenstein

Henry I. Rothman Gerald Schreck Joseph Stechler Heshy Wengrow Harvey Wolinetz David Woolf

Henry Orlinsky

* Deceased

** Committee / Commission Chair 107

Directors-at-Large

Rabbi Moshe Krupka

Adam Parkoff

Howard Balter

Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm

Dr. David Pelcovitz

Daniel Butler

Rabbi Zev Leff

Dr. Harry Peled

Jack Cayre

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman

Allen Pfeiffer

Neil Cohen

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein

Dr. Joshua Penn

Shifra Dimbert (NCSY National President)

Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger

Donald Press

Rabbi Marc Penner

Barry Ray

Ezra Friedberg

Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld

Dr. Howard Rosenthal

Stanley Frohlinger

Rabbi Berel Wein

Zvi Sand Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter

David Gerstley

Rabbi Max N. Schreier

Shukie Grossman

Board of Governors

Baruch Zev (B.Z.) Halberstam

Susan Alter

Debra Hartman

Leon Achar

Ari Kahn*

Hy Arbesfeld

Melanie Kaminetsky

Daisy Berman*

Aaron Kinderlehrer

Marvin Bienenfeld

Scott Krieger

Larry Brown

Joshua Kuhl

Stuart Cantor

Rena Kwestel

Dr. Ben Chouake

Eli Levitin

Daniel Chill

Shiffy Lichtenstein

Pace Cooper

Vivian Luchins

Leon Eisenberg*

Cal Nathan

Shirley Feuerstein

Raphy Nissel

David Fund*

Paul Pinkus

Eugen Gluck

Naomi Rotblat

Stanley Hillelsohn

Joshua Rozenberg

Lance Hirt

Rivkie Samson

Dr. David Hurwitz

Alan Shamah

Jonah Kupietsky

Dr. Rosalyn Sherman

Albert Laboz

Howard Sitzer

Deborah Laufer

Nominating and Board Resource Committee

Ronald Wilheim

Jeffrey Lefkovits

Menachem Schnaidman**

Larry Zeifman

Morey Levovitz

Howard Balter

Nathan Lewin

Howard Tzvi Friedman

Honorary Governors

Mrs. Joseph K. Miller

Elliot Gibber

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman

Rabbi Michael Miller

Dr. Allan Jacob

Rabbi Marvin Hier

Irwin Nachimson

Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld

Malcolm Hoenlein

David Novak

Chuck Mamiye

Richard Joel

Terry Novetsky

Henry Orlinsky

Dr. Alan Kadish

Steven Orlow

Esther Williams

* Deceased

** Committee / Commission Chair

108 OU BOARD, OU COMMIT TEES & COMMISSIONS

Marsha Stranzynski Gary Weiss Joyce Werthheimer   Executive Committee Moishe Bane** Mitchel Aeder Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld Howard Tzvi Friedman Charles Harary Avi Katz Menachem Schnaidman Barbara Lehmann Siegel Martin Nachimson Yehuda Neuberger Henry Orlinsky Morris Smith Dr. Steven Tennenbaum

Finance Committee Morris Smith** Joel Yarmak** Mark (Moishe) Bane Rose Bernstein Harvey Blitz Howard Tzvi Friedman Elliot Gibber Eli Levitin Avery Neumark Mordecai Soloff David Zimble Audit Committee David Gerstley** David Lawrence Jacob Weichholz Investment Committee Ari Fuchs** Steve Landau Yehuda Spindler Legal Services Committee Emanuel Adler** Harvey Blitz Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld Nomi Rotblat Henry I. Rothman Michael Wimpfheimer IT Committee David Emmer** Harvey Blitz David Gerstley Morris Tabush

Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue and Community Services Yehuda Neuberger** OU Israel Dr. Steven Tennenbaum** OU Advocacy Center Jerry Wolasky** Mark (Moishe) Bane Harvey Blitz Allen Friedman Howard Tzvi Friedman Dr. Allan Jacob Dr. David Luchins Yehuda Neuberger Raphy Nissel Amanda Nussbaum Drew Parker Isaac Pretter Yaron Reich Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike OU Kosher Gary Torgow** Mark (Moishe) Bane Raphael Benaroya Avraham Berkowitz Max Berlin Julie Berman

OU-JLIC Morris Smith** Emanuel Adler Mark (Moishe) Bane Lewis Barbanel Sruli Feuerstein Leah Lightman Henry Rothman Deborah Schick Laufer Menachem Schnaidman Barbara Lehmann Siegel Dr. Steven Tennenbaum Youth (NCSY) Avi Katz** Josh Rozenberg, Vice Mark (Moishe) Bane Laura Goldman Freda Greenbaum Benyamin Kaminetzky Jess Kornwasser Josh Kuhl Elizabeth Kurtz Rena Kwestel Miriam Lightman Vivian Luchins Isabelle Novak Miriam Pfeiffer Ari Shabat Joseph Stechler

Harvey Blitz Yosef Fink Rabbi Yosi Heber Fred Horowitz Eli Levitin Hillel Moerman Henry Orlinksy

109

NCSY Summer Programs

OU Women’s Initiative

Elizabeth Kurtz**

Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld**

Miriam Pfeiffer**

Mark (Moishe) Bane

Amy Gibber

Miriam Greenspan

Allegra Goldberg

Rebecca Katz

Esti Kaminetsky

Dr. Rivkie Hirt

Jessica Kornwasser

Barbara Lehmann Siegel

Rena Kwestel

Dr. Marian Stoltz-Loike

Miriam Lightman

Esther Williams

Vivian Luchins Isabelle Novak

Communications

Josh Rozenberg

Charlie Harary**

Gila Weinstein Jennifer Wiederkehr

OU Press

Arielle Wolfson

Julius Berman**

Jay Zachter

Mark (Moishe) Bane Jonah Kupietzky

Financial Resource Development Commission (Institutional Advancement) Azi Mandel** Mark (Moishe) Bane Howard Tzvi Friedman Shukie Grossman Avi Katz Henry Orlinsky

Stephen Neuwirth

OU Center for Communal Research Howard Sitzer** Yachad/ National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NJCD) Mitchel Aeder** William Auerbach Mark (Moishe) Bane Lauri Barbanel Tzirl Goldman Esti Kaminetsky Ira Kellman Aaron Malitzky Miriam Pfeiffer Ben Rieder Avery Stok Howard Suss

Jerry Schreck Rabbi Gil Student Joel Schreiber Jewish Action Jerry Schreck** Mark (Moishe) Bane Deborah Chames Cohen Rabbi Binyamin Ehrenkranz David Olivestone Dr. Rosalyn Sherman Rabbi Gil Student

The Executive Vice President serves as an ex-officio member of all committees and commissions, except the Audit, Nominating, and Board Resource Committees. The OU President is an ex-officio member of all committees and commissions, except the Nominating, and Board Resource Committee.

* Deceased

** Committee / Commission Chair

110 OU BOARD, OU COMMIT TEES & COMMISSIONS

Senior Staff Allen Fagin

Rabbi Menachem Genack

Arnold Gerson

Shlomo Schwartz

Executive Vice President / Chief Professional Officer

OU Kosher Rabbinic Administrator / Chief Executive Officer

Chief Institutional Advancement Officer

Chief Financial Officer / Chief Administrative Officer

Rabbi Moshe Elefant

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

Rabbi Steven Weil

Lenny Bessler

Senior Managing Director

Chief Human Resources Officer

OU Kosher Executive Rabbinic Coordinator / Chief Operating Officer

Executive Vice President, Emeritus

Rabbi Dave Felsenthal

Sam Davidovics, Ph.D.

Craig M. Goldstein

Rabbi Micah Greenland

Chief Innovation Officer

Chief Information Officer

Chief Marketing Officer

International Director of NCSY

Rabbi Adir Posy

Avrohom Adler

Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman

Rabbi Ilan Haber

National Director of Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue & Community Services

International Director of Yachad

International Director, Emeritus, of Yachad

Director of Heshe & Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus

Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman

Rabbi Simon Posner

Nathan Diament

Maury Litwack

Executive Editor of OU Press

Executive Director of OU Advocacy Center

Chief of Staff / Executive Director of Teach Coalition

Rachel Sims, Esq.

Rabbi Avi Berman

Gary Magder

Sharon Darack

General Counsel

Executive Director of OU Israel

Director of Marketing & Communications

North American Director of Israel Free Spirit

Rabbi David Pardo

Nechama Carmel

Shoshana Polakoff

Jenna Nelson Beltser

Managing Director, Torah Initiatives

Editor in Chief of Jewish Action Magazine

Director of Facilities Management and Logistics

Director of OU Impact Accelerator

Matt Williams

Allison Deal

Director of OU Center for Communal Research

Director of Kosher Food Lifeline

Director of Women’s Initiative

111

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