December, 2002

The OU National Convention: Discussing The Jewish Future, Attending Significant Sessions, Enjoying The Atmosphere

A Photo Essay:

The OU National Convention, held from December 26-December 29 at the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester County, NY, featured many memorable moments. To read about the Convention, see the accompanying news story on the OU website. To see highlights, look below.

All photos are by Gary Koenig

Convention Chair Elliot P. Gibber, OU President Harvey Blitz, and OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb participate in a session.


Harvey Blitz addresses a session.

Speakers at the Thursday and Friday workshops and learning sessions included:


Solly Sacks, Director General of World Mizrachi, spoke on “Placing Israel on Your Community and Personal Agendas.”


Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, Founder of the National Jewish Outreach Program, spoke on Jewish demographic trends.


Rabbi Nosson Solomon, Founding President, NEFESH; and Faye Zakheim, Chair, Task Force on Children and Families at Risk, spoke on “Shanah Rishonah: They Said it Would Be Perfect but…”


Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, Editor, Yad Avraham Mishnah Series, Artscroll/Mesorah Publications, spoke on Sanhedrin 107: “Life’s Challenges: Does G-D Give Us More Than We Can Bear?”


Rabbi Dr. Gershon C. Gewirtz, Rabbi, Young Israel of Brookline (MA), spoke on “Finding Personal Meaning in Communal Prayer.”

At Thursday’s dinner, which was sponsored by the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Rami Levi, Consul, North America, Israel Ministry of Tourism, presents an award to Rabbi Shmuel Goldin of Congregation Ahavath Torah, Englewood, NJ, for his success in organizing missions to Israel; 49 other OU rabbis were honored as well.

The Thursday evening Plenary Session was devoted to "Areas of Challenge in Setting the Orthodox National Agenda."


Stephen H. Hoffman, President and CEO of United Jewish Communities, spoke on “A View From the Organized Jewish Community," moderated by Stephen J. Savitsky, OU Senior Vice President.


Participants in the session included (l to r), OU Vice President Howard Tzvi Friedman, who introduced Mr. Hoffman; Mr. Hoffman; Rabbi Howard Zack of Congregation Torat Emet, Columbus, OH, who spoke on “The Specific Needs of Local Communities”; Shira Reifman, Interim Director of Operations of NCSY, who spoke on “Involving Younger People In Orthodox Leadership”; and Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky of Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park, Chicago, IL, who spoke on “What Values Do We Hold Dear?” Rabbi Shmuel Goldin also spoke, on “How Much of a Priority Is Israel in Our Lives?”

Scene’s from Thursday’s meeting of Officers and the Board of Directors:

The Saturday Night "Town Hall Meeting"

Dr. Karen Bacon, The Monique C. Katz Dean, Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University, was the first woman to give the Keynote Address at an OU Convention; she spoke on “Anticipating the Need” of the Modern Orthodox Community in the Years Ahead; Harvey Blitz and Rabbi Weinreb responded with a discussion of OU programs designed to meet those needs.

Sessions afforded ample opportunities to listen and to respond:

Saturday night’s Melave Malka, featuring Yisroel Williger and the Neshoma Orchestra, provided plenty of opportunities for relaxation and dancing.

Rabbi Yitzchok Weinberger, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, is welcomed to the Convention by Rabbi Weinreb.

The Commemoration of Rav Joseph Soloveitchik concluded the Convention:


A standing room-only audience of hundreds was present.

Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter gave an overview of the Rav’s life and work.	Rabbi Hershel Schachter spoke on “The Rav’s Torah Scholarship.”
Rabbi Kenneth Brander spoke on “The Rav as a Personal Rebbe.”	The OU’s Rabbi Menachem Genack spoke on “The Rav on Tefillah.”
OU Honorary President Julius Berman Chaired the session.	Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld spoke on “The Rav on Public Policy.”
Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet spoke on “The Rav on Israel and Religious Zionism.”	Dr. David Shatz spoke on “The Rav and Secular Studies.

www.ou.org

# # #

Comments? Requests? Questions?

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Department of Public Relations Stephen Steiner Director of Public Relations Main Office: 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212.613.8318 Fax: 212-564-9058 E-mail: media@ou.org

OUPR Archives Recent statements to the press Articles and statements from 2000 Articles and statements from 1999 Articles and statements from 1998