TRADITION & INNOVATION IMPACT REPORT 2017/5778 CONTENTS pg pg OU HISTORY BIRTHRIGHT FOLLOW-UP 3 66 est 2016 pg pg MESSAGES TO OU-JLIC 4 THE COMMUNITY 72 est 2000 pg PEPA & RABBI JOSEPH KARASICK pg DEPARTMENT OF SYNAGOGUE & OU TORAH 6 COMMUNITY SERVICES 82 est 2007 est 1898 pg pg NCSY OU PRESS 14 est 1954 88 est 2009 pg pg OU ISRAEL TEACH ADVOCACY NETWORK 26 est 1979 90 est 2013 pg pg YACHAD/NJCD FUTURE PROGRAMS 34 est 1983 100 pg pg OU KOSHER BENEFACTOR CIRCLE 44 est 1924 102 pg pg OU PUBLICATIONS OU BOARDS & COMMITTEES 50 est 1985 104 pg pg OU ADVOCACY SENIOR STAFF 54 est 1989 106 pg pg ISRAEL FREE SPIRIT CONTACT INFO 60 est 1999 107 2 IN THE BEGINNING: THE ORTHODOX UNION STORY une, 1898: There was an anxious buzz 1898 Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick in the sanctuary as Orthodox Jewish Department of Synagogue & Jcommunity leaders gathered in New York Community Services City’s Congregation Shearith Israel. 1924 OU Kosher Orthodoxy was facing a serious crisis. 1954 NCSY For these new immigrants to America, the future of Torah Judaism in the New World was in question. Access to Jewish education 1979 OU Israel was limited. Teachers were poorly trained, textbooks were inadequate and rabbis themselves often lacked proper ordination. 1983 Yachad/NJCD Kashrut supervision was faulty, and abuses and violations were going unnoticed. And with Jewish immigrants streaming in from 1985 OU Publications different countries — each with their own traditions — the American Jewish community was becoming only more divided. 1989 OU Advocacy There was an urgent need for an organized Orthodox leadership. It was Dr. Henry Pereira 1999 Israel Free Spirit Mendes, minister of Congregation Shearith Israel, who felt compelled to lead the effort to 2000 unite Orthodox congregations nationwide. In OU-JLIC 1898, Mendes called local leaders together, and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations 2007 of America was born, established to “speak OU Torah with authority in the name of Orthodox Jews, and to defend the rights of Orthodox Jews.” 2009 OU Press Since then, the Orthodox Union has fulfilled this role well beyond the imagination of its first 2013 Teach Advocacy Network founders. Each and every day, countless Jews around the world are positively impacted by the work of the Orthodox Union, with its array 2016 Birthright Follow-up of religious, youth, social action, educational, public policy and community development services, programs and activities. 2017 Women’s Initiatives 3 MESSAGES TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE PRESIDENT udaism is viewed in different of the community embrace both of these ways by different people. Some dimensions. Jconsider Judaism a religion, and the bond of Jewish unity began when the Jewish people surrounded Mt. Sinai Through government advocacy, the to receive the Torah. Others view Jews OU aspires to affect the affordability of as comprising a nation, a peoplehood day school education. Through NCSY, of universal history, sharing a political we hope to provide access to Torah and social destiny. Others see Judaism education. The OU’s Yachad program as a culture, Jews sharing a common reflects a commitment to providing all flavor, manifest in art and literature, but Jews, including the developmentally also expressed in cuisine and disabled, full integration into humor. the community. Through Our community OU-JLIC, the Pepa & Rabbi The Orthodox Union, as recognizes that each Joseph Karasick Department evidenced by its programs and Jew’s connection of Synagogue & Community initiatives, views Judaism as to G-d and religious Services, the Women’s all the above. Each dimension growth is achieved Initiative and OU Torah, we interdependent, and none fully both as an individual undertake to enable ourselves realizable absent integration and through the and our families, as well as with the others. But, as community’s collective every community member, to presented by OU activities in relationship with G-d. pursue growth in Torah study this year’s OU Impact Report, and mitzvah observance, even the single, unifying objective after concluding formal Jewish that has guided the Orthodox education. And through OU Union for over one hundred years is to be Kosher, we facilitate the world’s most mekadesh Shem Shamayim, to sanctify G-d’s Name. widely respected and reliable kosher food certification, enabling Jews around Our community recognizes the world to observe kosher dietary laws. that each Jew’s connection We encourage you to participate in the to G-d and religious growth OU programs and initiatives that will be is achieved both as an most helpful to your personal religious individual and through the observance and growth. And we also community’s collective urge you to join the OU in volunteerism, relationship with G-d. The political activism and financial support, to Orthodox Union is a vehicle advance the religious observance and through which members growth of others. Moishe Bane President, OU 4 FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ince its founding, the OU has proudly represents a powerful and growing bond enjoyed the community’s trust, with the community. Sallowing it to be the standard-bearer of its original mandates: providing synagogue We are immensely grateful to our generous support and kosher food supervision. And benefactors who contribute $5,000 or more it was that trust that made it possible for annually, as well as to the thousands of the OU’s kosher supervision business to donors and OU members who have made grow from its first customer in 1924, to over smaller contributions to all of our programs, one million products and ingredients under including our relief fund for Houston, Atlanta supervision today. and Florida. And finally, it is important to express our profound gratitude In the 20th century, the OU was to our 2,000+ OU professionals able to build a strong, sustainable around the world who are the foundation that would make it bedrock of what we do each possible to develop new and We are first and day to carry out our mission. critical programs — such as foremost a communal NCSY (1954), Yachad (1983) services organization As we look forward to another and OU Advocacy (1989). As whose role is to help year of service, we can’t predict the needs of our community support, maintain what challenges lie ahead. What multiplied, so did our array of and invigorate we do know, however, is that we services. In the new millennium, our community. share your hopes and dreams the OU launched seven major and pray with you for a safe and initiatives, including OU-JLIC, healthy world for our children the Teach Advocacy Network and our grandchildren: one that and, most recently, the new is anchored in Torah learning Department of Women’s Initiatives. and Torah values. We would never have been able to grow Over the years, OU programs have touched to over 15 major community programs the lives of many and have enhanced the without the exponential growth in financial Jewish community in immeasurable support from our dedicated and generous ways. The OU has been supporters. Today, approximately 2/3 of honored to serve the Jewish our program costs are funded by program people for over a century, fees and a diverse group of donors, along and it is with your help that with institutions and foundations (many of we’ll continue to support whom are represented in our expanding and expand our efforts in Benefactor Circle, listed on page 102), that the decades to come. Allen Fagin Executive Vice President, OU 5 PEPA AND RABBI JOSEPH KARASICK DEPARTMENT OF FOUNDED IN 1898 The Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue & Community Services holds young professional leadership events offering guest speakers and peer networking. 6 Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue & Community Services SERVICE AND SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY » The Pepa and Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue & Community Services provides programs, vision and support to Orthodox congregations throughout North America. Its goal is to strengthen these communities and member congregations by providing religious, educational, social and cultural programming on timely issues that impact the lives of individuals and families. The Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue & Community Services also develops a robust network of rabbis, executive directors, youth directors and business experts to share best practices and provide guidance to help communities grow and thrive. IN 204 NUMBERS Educators featured in the OU Speakers Bureau 11,223 Chapters of Tehillim recited for those struck by Hurricane Harvey 1,800+ 417 Attendees at the 2017 Participants in Jewish Communities educational conferences Fair for rebbetzins/kallah teachers 7 Over 180 community leaders attended the Marriage Leadership Conference hosted by the OU and Shalom Task Force. CURRENT PROGRAMS REGIONAL DIRECTORS COMMUNITY GUIDANCE YOUNG CONNECT FOR HEALTHY PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES MARRIAGES PROGRAMS The regional directors provide local The Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick Recognizing the need to engage and support to synagogues in strategic Department of Synagogue & Community cultivate future community leaders, planning, leadership training, Services partnered with Shalom Task the Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick strengthening youth departments and Force to host a “Marriage Leadership Department of Synagogue & Community membership growth. The regional Conference” that featured presentations Services presents young professional directors also serve as the liaison by rabbis, mental health professionals, leadership events with guest speakers between OU network synagogues, the mediators and attorneys to help and peer networking. Orthodox communities across North communities deal with the myriad America and the programs and services challenges couples may experience of the Orthodox Union. during marriage. 8 Pepa & Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue & Community Services OU Executive Directors Conference attendees gain perspective from the "Creating Opportunities for Giving" workshop.