What We Do…
The Department of Community Services provides vision, leadership, and programmatic support to Orthodox communities and congregations throughout North America. Our goal is to strengthen our communities, member congregations, and their constituencies, bu providing religious, educational, social, and cultural programming on relevant and timely issues that impact upon the lives of individuals and families. We are readily available to provide an array of programming, design and promotional services to implement cohesive and successful programs or give support and guidance to help communities present their own events.
For a complete list of programs offered: Click Here!
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Who We Are…
Rabbi Judah Isaacs
Director, Department of Community Engagement
(212) 613-8336
isaacsj@ou.org
Rabbi Judah Isaacs is the Director of Community Engagement. In this capacity, he oversees the Orthodox Union work with synagogues, communities and day schools throughout North America to enhance Orthodox Jewish life. Rabbi Isaacs focuses on professional and lay leadership within synagogues, providing guidance and best practices.
Prior to joining the Orthodox Union, Rabbi Isaacs was the Director of Day School Leadership and Sustainability at the Jewish Education Project. For over twelve years, he served as the Director of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Alliance for Jewish Education. He also is a past President of the Young Israel of Oak Park, where he also served as Chair of the Rabbinic Search Committee and Youth Committee Chair. Rabbi Isaacs holds a MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work of Yeshiva University.
Rabbi Frank Buchweitz
Director, Community Services & Special Projects
(212)613-8188
frank@ou.org
As Director of Community Services and Special Projects, Frank has initiated innovative educational programs in the areas of community, synagogue, and adult education for member synagogues. These include local and national educational programs such as Positive Jewish Parenting, Positive Jewish Marriage, missions and conventions to Israel, adult education speakers for communities and synagogues, employment workshops, Kinus Teshuvah pulpit exchanges during the Yomin Naarayim, etc. In addition, social, recreational, cultural, and Chesed programs have been implemented for the singles population.
Hannah Farkas
Program Associate, Department of Community Engagement
(212)613-8351
hannahf@ou.org
Hannah Farkas serves as the Program Associate of Community Engagement at the Orthodox Union. Community Engagement provides vision, leadership and programmatic support to Orthodox communities and congregations throughout North America. Hannah works closely with the Directors of Community Services and Engagement to provide religious, educational, social, and cultural programming on relevant and timely issues that impact upon the lives of families and individuals.
Before joining the Orthodox Union, Hannah was employed by the Rutgers University Foundation where she raised funds for scholarships, fellowships, athletics, and research and received a B.A. from Rutgers University.
Adina Tabak
Administrative Assistant, Department of Community Engagement
Adina serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Department of Community Engagement at the Orthodox Union. This involves providing support for the implementation of various community programs, as well as maintaining contact with OU Member Synagogues across North America.
Adina initiated and organized several fundraising events for various organizations before joining the OU, and graduated from the Lander College for Women with a B.A. in Psychology.
(212)613-8300
tabaka@ou.org
Rachel Scheinberg
Intern, Department of Community Engagement
(212)613-8300
community@ou.org