OU President Stephen J. Savitsky to Visit Memphis, Shabbat Weekend of May 9-10, on Tour

15 Apr 2008

OU PRESIDENT STEPHEN J. SAVITSKY TO VISIT MEMPHIS, SHABBAT WEEKEND OF MAY 9-10, AS HE CONTINUES NORTH AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY TOUR
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Orthodox Union President Stephen J. Savitsky will visit OU member congregations the Baron Hirsch Congregation and Anshei Sphard – Beth El Emeth Congregation in Memphis, May 9-10, to attend Shabbat services and to meet with the community’s leadership and membership.

The Memphis visit will be the seventh in a planned year-long, 10-city North American Presidential Community Tour for the New York-based OU leader, as he brings the organization’s message far and wide, while at the same time receiving feedback from member congregations about their needs and how the OU can respond to them. The tour emphasizes emerging Jewish communities. In the past months, Mr. Savitsky has visited Vancouver; St. Louis; Charleston, SC; the Highland Park, NJ-area; Southfield, MI (Detroit); and Atlanta.

According to Mr. Savitsky, “I am particularly excited to visit with Memphis after having the opportunity to meet with some of its community leaders at the OU’s recent Emerging Jewish Communities Fair in New York, at which they demonstrated what a dynamic, thriving community they offer.” In addition, Mr. Savitsky said, the trip will “expand upon the concept of Kol Yisroel Arevim Zeh Bah Zeh – the teaching that all Jews are responsible for one another. “
As part of the program, Mr. Savitsky will be discussing “Celebrating Israel’s 60th Anniversary — The OU’s Quest to Make Israeli Jews Jewish Israelis,” and “Lobbying in Washington and the Battle for Jerusalem.”

The OU has a strong presence in Memphis: besides the two synagogues, it has a flourishing NCSY chapter, which is a part of the NCSY Midwest Region. NCSY is the youth program of the Orthodox Union.

For more information on Mr. Savitsky’s visit contact Rabbi Bini Maryles, Director of Synagogue Services at 212-613-8226.