OU TO HONOR JONATHAN MELL OF TEANECK WITH THE YOUNG LEADERSHIP DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The Orthodox Union will present its Young Leadership Distinguished Service Award to Jonathan Mell of Teaneck, a member of the OU’s Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Young Leadership track of the upcoming 2008 Biennial Convention. The presentation will take place at the OU’s 110th Anniversary National Dinner, Sunday, April 6, at the Grand Hyatt New York.
Jonathan was born in Cape Town, South Africa and moved with his family to Los Angeles, at the age of ten. It was in Los Angeles that Jonathan became involved with NCSY, the national youth program of the Orthodox Union. His passion for the Jewish heritage that he discovered through NCSY ultimately led to Jonathan and his family becoming observant, and solidified Jonathan’s commitment to Torah life.
After graduating with a B.S. from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, where he studied Management Information Services, Jonathan went to work at Goldman Sachs. He is now a Vice President and works as a technologist focusing on commercially improving application performance.
While participating in NCSY activities, Jonathan was befriended by Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, currently NCSY New Jersey Regional Director. Through this relationship, Jonathan became involved as an NCSY lay leader, but recognizing the need for continued expansion and armed with his technological training, began exploring new avenues for fundraising.
Along with the firm Brandtality Inc. and the National NCSY office, Jonathan helped re-brand NCSY, including the new NCSY logo, tagline, and website. Jonathan also helped create the “Q,” an annual trivia fundraising event to benefit NCSY. Through his innovative programming and ideas, Jonathan has helped to raise over $50,000 for the New Jersey Region of NCSY, and hopes to continue increasing communal awareness and fundraising efforts in the future.
In 2006, at the OU Biennial Convention in Israel, Jonathan was elected to the organization’s Board of Directors. He is also a member of the New Jersey NCSY Advisory Board, the National NCSY Youth Commission, the OU Young Leadership Cabinet, and the OU Marketing Commission.
Dinner Chairman Emanuel J. Adler of Teaneck declared, “I am especially delighted to help honor my fellow Teaneck resident, who, in his relatively short career to date, has done so much for the Orthodox Union and its programs.”
In addition to Jonathan’s award, the OU will also present its Lifetime Rabbinic Achievement Award to seven rabbis – Rafael Grossman, Joseph Grunblatt, David Hollander, Gilbert Klaperman, Ralph Pelcovitz, Fabian Schonfeld and Max Schreier. In their combined 350 years of service, these seven rabbis have played a major role In building Orthodox life in America and fostering its extraordinary growth.
The OU will honor Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten of Indianapolis, IN with the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Osem USA, the American branch of Israel’s largest grocery, frozen, and chilled food products manufacturing company, with the National Kashrut Leadership Award.
For further information on attending the dinner, contact Malka Laks a 212-613-8144, or malkal@ou.org.