I’d like to welcome Rabbi Judah Isaacs of Teaneck, NJ, who joins us as the OU’s firstDirector of Community Engagement. Rabbi Isaacs comes to us with a background replete with experience in developing creative and impactful programs for shuls and communities. He has a well-earned reputation as an “innovative doer” who works closely with lay people and professionals to get things done. He is renowned for his vision and strategic planning skills that help him to accomplish his goals.
Rabbi Isaacs comes to us from the Jewish Education Project (formerly the BJE), where he served as Director of Leadership and Sustainability in the Day School and Yeshivot Department and provided highly-valued resources to more than 300 schools served by UJA-Federation of New York. He previously served as Director of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Alliance for Jewish Education, Executive Director of the Agency for Jewish Education of Metropolitan Detroit, and Senior Planning Associate of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Early in his career, he was coordinator of the Fair Lawn community of the Jewish Federation of North Jersey.
As a fifth generation American Orthodox Jew, whose ancestors came to America in the 1850s, Rabbi Isaacs places great value on American Orthodoxy. “This heritage is an important part of why I’m excited to be working on behalf of the Orthodox community in North America,” he stated in an interview.
As Director of Community Engagement, Rabbi Isaacs will be overseeing three departments:Community Services, Synagogue Services, and Day School and Educational Services, with a focus towards greater interdepartmental coordination with such divisions as Yachad,NCSY and the IPA. We look forward to having him as a valued member of Team OU!