October 6, 2005

OU/FEGS ParnossahWorks Program, Combining Synagogues, Web Technology And Face-to-Face Counseling, Has Brought Jobs to 150 (A Growing Total) People, Many of Them Long-Term Unemployed

An ever-growing total of 150 Jewish families, many of them desperate to find employment, can now put bread on their tables thanks to a free, state-of-the-art program called ParnossahWorks. Launched in September of 2004 as a joint initiative of the Orthodox Union and the FEGS Health and Human Services System, ParnossahWorks was designed to help the Jewish unemployed find meaningful employment and has proven to be a highly-successful match.

Parnossah means “livelihood” in both Hebrew and Yiddish.

Entry to the program is via its website. www.parnossahworks-ou.org. (You can also enter through the Orthodox Union’s website, www.ou.org. and click on the ParnossahWorks link.)

Due to the wonders of internet technology, the dedicated efforts of employment professionals and the involvement of up to 250 New York/Metro area synagogue communities alerting their members to the program’s services, 700 registered applicants have found a way to search for appropriate work without having to pound the pavement and go it alone. With the total growing steadily, a substantial number of those applicants are now gainfully employed. In many cases, the job seekers found work after months – or even years – of unemployment; many of them were in extreme financial distress when their jobs materialized.

“The Jewish community suffers from a new kind of unemployment,” says Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, OU Executive Vice President. “Today, many of the highly trained are finding themselves unemployed. We are dealing with people in dire need of effective and immediate assistance. Our partnership with FEGS addresses this systemic problem by utilizing the services of an agency that has had great success over the years training people for the job market and placing them in appropriate positions. Moreover, FEGS possesses a keen knowledge of and sensitivity towards the unique needs of the Jewish community.”

According to Sheldon Miller, OU Director of ParnossahWorks, those who click on to a position listed on the website are promptly linked with the program’s critical human face-to-face component – in other words, real, live counselors. FEGS’ employment experts contact each applicant and schedule a meeting at FEGS’ offices for counseling.

“Rather than sending job applications to a black hole in cyberspace,” says Mr. Miller, “ParnossahWorks goes beyond the convenience of technology by offering people an effective helping hand, and advising and guiding each applicant, while reassuring them they are not alone.”

Aside from the wide range of job categories, the ParnossahWorks website offers invaluable tips on creating effective cover letters and resumes, networking, and interviewing. FEGS provides free employment training, such as computer classes and e-learning online, as well as behavioral health and counseling services if needed. “We help each person get started,” explains Mr. Miller. “The program gives the job-seeker a structure in which to conduct the search and expert guidance on how to do a better job finding a job.”

ParnossahWorks couldn’t be effective, however, without the input of the synagogues.

In an innovative effort to use the Orthodox Jewish community as a resource for employment opportunities, ParnossahWorks created a partnership with OU synagogues, as well as other Orthodox congregations across the metropolitan area. The synagogues are encouraged to inform their congregations about the program, so that those in the job market can log on. They also urge congregants who have jobs to offer, to list them on the site.

There is no charge either for potential employers or applicants to use the program.

“We encourage congregants to advertise positions on the site,” says Dr. Steven Katz, Chair of the program. “This promoting of Jew helping Jew benefits employers, employees and, on many levels, strengthens the entire community.”

In their continuing effort to help Jewish job-seekers effectively prepare for success in the job market, the OU and FEGS, with the cooperation of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, has presented a number of free educational workshops at both OU headquarters and at synagogues around the metropolitan area. Most recently, in mid-September, it featured an employment workshop at Kingsway Jewish Center in Brooklyn. The sessions included: How to Be Your Own Recruiter – Making Head-Hunting Techniques Work for You; and Networking – the Key to the Hidden Job Market. More sessions are planned for later in the year.

ParnossahWorks started in the New York area, but plans are underway to expand it to other areas across North America, with local social service agencies taking on the role played by FEGS in New York. The OU is working with FEGS to establish a program in Atlanta and Memphis to benefit people from New Orleans displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The following are two ParnossahWorks success stories (the names have been changed/but not the facts.) There are at least 148 other success stories as well.

· After ten years of steady employment with the same financial services company, Moshe was suddenly laid off. With his family depending upon his support, he needed assistance pronto. Moshe contacted Mr. Miller, who found his resume fascinating. “Aside from his extensive I.T. (Information Technology) work, Moshe holds a doctorate in musical composition from a world-renowned music school in Manhattan,” says Mr. Miller. “He has composed, conducted, taught and published extensively on classical music.” During this period, Moshe embraced observant Judaism and realized that in order to raise a family he needed a more stable lifestyle. “I.T. is a challenging field to find work in,” says Mr. Miller. “It tends to be narrowly focused in terms of skill sets.” Nevertheless, it wasn’t too great a challenge for ParnossahWorks. “We learned of an appropriate position and I introduced Moshe to it. It turned out to be a very good fit,” says Mr. Miller.

· Carlos, a newly-observant Jew and recent immigrant from Latin America, had a career in social services, as a counselor for troubled youth. He decided that a move to New York would prove advantageous to his growth in Judaism. Along with his job search, Carlos was interested in finding his bashert (soul mate). He knew that he first needed to be on secure financial footing by finding the right job. Prompted by a synagogue announcement about the ParnossahWorks website, Carlos logged on. He welcomed the help he received preparing his resume and improving his interviewing skills. He also attended an OU/FEGS workshop series to enhance his networking skills. ParnossahWorks sent his resume to 13 social services agencies, which resulted in a job offer in his field, with a work schedule that accommodated his needs as a religious Jew. Carlos sent an email expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the team that assisted him in finding appropriate work. He also informed them of his plans to be married. Thanks to ParnossahWorks, Carlos can proceed with his career and his marriage.

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The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 409,000 products manufactured in 83 countries around the globe.

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