Bringing Leadership to Stern
Bringing Leadership to Stern — As a junior at Stern College for Women, Talya has become a campus leader. She serves as vice president of the Political Action Club and was selected as one of the inaugural scholars in a political program launched by the late Senator Joe Lieberman. Her sights are set on law and public service. But unlike peers at colleges like Columbia or Barnard, her challenge at YU isn’t hostility — it’s apathy.
“At YU, students already care deeply about Israel and advocacy. But when it comes to actually getting involved, we see the same 30 students over and over. Everyone else is busy, overwhelmed, or feels like they’re not qualified.”
From Community Roots to Public Service
That challenge shaped Talya’s work as part of the OU’s LIAT Fellowship. Encouraged by a family friend, she applied after seeing the flyer and immediately felt at home. “It was exactly my interests — policy, politics, and advocacy,” she says. Through monthly speakers, workshops, and a transformative trip to Washington, D.C., LIAT gave Talya a network of peers who share her passion.
“I had never been in a room with so many students who wanted the same things I did,” she says. “LIAT brought us together and showed us the whole ecosystem — nonprofits, government, private sector — and how we fit in.”
Her capstone project reflects the unique dynamics at YU. She designed a plug‑and‑play system for students who care but don’t know how to act or where to start. QR codes lead to five clear action steps, like volunteering with Israel causes, voter registration, interfaith campus programs, and even local service opportunities, like at VA hospitals.
“I want to make it frictionless,” she explains. “If you care, you can act immediately.”
Talya sees value in interfaith outreach, helping YU students connect with peers at Christian or secular schools. “We live in a Jewish bubble,” she says. “But the fight doesn’t stop at our campus gates. We need to connect outward, too.”
For Talya, the OU has been a constant presence: NCSY ignited her passion, Yachad deepened her commitment to inclusion, and LIAT is now equipping her to step into national leadership. “The OU is always there,” she says. “In Boston, it was NCSY and Yachad. At Stern, it’s LIAT. Everywhere I’ve been, OU programs have presented opportunities to get involved.” Looking ahead, she hopes to pursue law and a career in public service — natural extensions of her leadership experiences. “Volunteering and public service come from the same place,” she explains. “It’s about showing up, making it easier for others to show up, and fighting for the values we all share.”
This past summer, Talya interned for a U.S. congressman on Capitol Hill, an internship that blossomed out of a connection built by OU Advocacy Center Executive Director Nathan Diament. Her message is clear: Values aren’t the problem — activation is. By lowering the barriers, Talya is helping to transform care into action, one QR code at a time.
Living Smarter Jewish (LSJ)
Living Smarter Jewish (LSJ) is dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families achieve financial freedom through educational resources and personalized guidance. LSJ offers a high school financial literacy curriculum, community education programs with LSJ coaches, and free one‑on‑one financial coaching for anyone in need.
Client Feedback from Our Free 1:1 Coaching
“Wow! My coach was so kind and understanding. I feel so supported and so much calmer about my situation because there is someone there helping me sort things out. What an amazing program! Mi K’amcha Yisroel!”
“[My coach] has Torah in her heart and financial expertise in her mind. She has helped me immensely with budgeting and setting financial goals, and has given me tips on how to save money and increase my income. She has gone above and beyond to help me, more than words can describe. I appreciate all her help. B’H. Her guidance was just what I needed. IY"H, everything will work out.”
“This is such an unbelievable service provided at no cost. What a huge chesed! Our coach gave us fantastic advice, was so encouraging and validating, and really gave us hope that we can improve our financial struggles. We are looking forward to the follow‑ups with her and already feel relief after just the first session. Thank you so much and continued hatzlacha with this wonderful organization!”
OU Relief Missions — Growth Through Service
The Fred and Rose Distenfeld OU Relief Missions empower Jewish participants to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crises through hands‑on chesed and community rebuilding. Participants gain leadership skills, deepen their Jewish identity, and leave with a lasting sense of purpose, pride, and responsibility as active contributors to both the Jewish and global communities.
Charlie’s Story
When our volunteers arrived at Charlie’s home in Pine Island, Florida, they found an 82‑year‑old widower and retired country musician whose deck — and much of his property — had been destroyed by a hurricane. The first‑ever OU Relief Missions group, made up of shul members, tore down the damaged deck, rebuilt his chicken coop, and even cleaned out his pantry to discard long‑expired food and undrinkable water. Before leaving, they returned with fresh water and canned goods.
Charlie was unable to hold back his tears, telling the group he had never met a Jew before — and he had never seen such kindness. Over the next few days, additional OU volunteers rebuilt his deck completely. As they worked, Charlie sat in his chair, playing his guitar as a thank you. Neighbors who passed by said he looked 15 years younger. Our participants, ages 16 to 45, walked away inspired and empowered, carrying with them a profound sense of Jewish pride and the knowledge that their actions had made a lasting impact.
*USA (Asheville, NC; Fort Myers, Pine Island, and Tampa, FL; Lutcher and New Orleans, LA; Spirit Lake, IA; and Puerto Rico); Costa Rica; Israel; India; Panama; and Romania.
Savitsky Communal Growth Initiative
Founded in 2008 by former OU President, Stephen Savitsky, and his wife, Genie, the Savitsky Communal Growth Initiative helps Orthodox singles, couples, families, and retirees discover affordable communities that provide the full infrastructure of Jewish life, enabling the growth of religious communities outside major metropolitan areas, and enhancing its members’ quality of life.
The Savitsky Growth Initiative began with the first Jewish Community Relocation Fair in 2008, which drew 16 communities and several hundred attendees. Since then, the biennial Savitsky Home Relocation Fairs have become a powerful driver of Jewish communal growth. Today, they feature more than 60 communities, attract thousands of participants worldwide, and inspire countless relocations that strengthen Jewish life across North America and Israel.
As the Savitskys saw firsthand during their travels to communities across the U.S. and Canada, many families were being priced out of major metropolitan areas. The fairs address that challenge by highlighting smaller communities with robust Orthodox amenities — shuls, schools, mikvaot, and kollelim — alongside affordable housing and family‑friendly environments.
Recent fairs have also expanded to serve new demographics. The 2025 Retire & Relocate Fair catered to retirees and empty nesters, while partnerships with organizations such as Nefesh B’Nefesh and OU Israel keep aliyah front and center. Complementing the fairs, the initiative’s website, communities.ou.org, provides nearly 4,000 resources to help families explore communities year‑round.
*from Torah and Jewish thought to financial matters, family relationships, health, wellness, and culture.
SPIRIT — Stimulating Program Initiative for Retirees that Inspires Thought
OU created SPIRIT to ensure that Jewish life continues to be rich, meaningful, and connected long after professional responsibilities wind down. Through engaging online programs on a wide range of topics, SPIRIT reaches retirees, not‑yet‑retirees, empty nesters, and seniors across the globe.
What began a decade ago as an in‑person program has flourished online for the past five and a half years, reaching over 10,000 participants across 45 U.S. states and 26 countries. Each week, hundreds join SPIRIT’s free Tuesday Zoom sessions to learn and connect with others in the Jewish community. Programs explore a wide range of topics relevant to those 60+, from Torah study and Jewish thought to financial matters, family relationships, health, culture, and timely issues — showing that learning never retires.
SPIRIT also offers:
- - The Enrichment Center for Lifelong Learning — an online database featuring multi‑session courses with expert instructors
- - Support groups for people living with Parkinson’s, facilitated by licensed mental health professionals
- - A growing digital archive of recorded programs spanning dozens of topics
“Last year, OU hosted a program about writing legacy letters. I used that as inspiration to honor my mother on her 98th birthday. My siblings, spouse, and nephews wrote of happy memories and lessons learned. This year, it has expanded to include cousins, too. One cousin wrote that she was a five‑year‑old flower girl at Mom’s wedding and is 82 now, but still remembers her wedding gown. The legacy book is almost more fun for me to collate than it will be for Mom, who’s celebrating 99 in August. Thanks for your good work!”
— Maury Kohn, Overland Park, KS
Halacha Initiatives — Meeting Today’s Halachic Challenges
Halacha Initiatives addresses the halachic challenges facing North American Jewry while supporting communities and organizations in enhancing mitzvah observance. Through new systems, technology, and partnerships, the program empowers local leaders and ensures halachic practice is upheld with clarity and reliability.
Conferences & Networks
Halacha Initiatives hosted two North American conferences: one for eruv professionals and one for female Chevra Kadisha leaders. Each gathering not only advanced technical knowledge but also built international networks that now support communities every day.
Eruv Software Development
The department expanded its eruv software, equipping teams around the world with tools to streamline supervision. By leveraging the innovation of individuals and scaling it across communities, the network has raised the professionalism and halachic standards of the vital mitzvah of eruvin.
Protecting Mezuzot
In partnership with OU Kosher, Halacha Initiatives began reshaping the mezuzah market to protect consumers from subpar or fraudulent products. Today, OU‑approved mezuzot are available online, giving families confidence that their mitzvah is fulfilled properly.
Expanding Horizons
Under the leadership of Director of Halacha Initiatives, Rabbi Ezra Sarna, the department is exploring additional areas such as shaatnez and mikvaot, building partnerships, and determining how the OU can best extend a helping hand.
Helping Shuls Thrive
The Karasick Department of Synagogue Initiatives provides Orthodox synagogues with the support and guidance they need to thrive, strengthening shuls as centers of Torah, tefillah, and chesed. Through leadership development, operational consulting, and klal programs, Synagogue Initiatives empowers rabbis, lay leaders, and professionals with the tools, networks, and guidance needed to cultivate thriving shuls at the heart of vibrant Jewish communities.
Supporting Synagogues at Every Stage
Synagogue Initiatives serves as both a resource and a partner for shuls navigating the challenges of contemporary communal life. Through its chabura network, rabbanim connect with peers facing similar realities, find inspiration in shared learning, and gain strength and perspective. Executive directors and lay leaders benefit from professional networks and conferences that provide tools for effective management and a community of colleagues who understand their work.
Operational consulting addresses the day‑to‑day realities that can otherwise drain a synagogue’s energy. Whether guiding boards through strategic planning, refining job descriptions, or steering building campaigns, Synagogue Initiatives provides practical expertise so that leaders can focus on their sacred mission of kiddush Hashem. Seminars, like The Ten Commandments of Shul Boards, translate big‑picture values into actionable practices, ensuring that governance supports, rather than hinders, communal flourishing.
Klal programs extend this reach by building networks across the diverse roles that sustain synagogue life. Geared for everyone from gabbaim to bikur cholim volunteers, these gatherings elevate voices that are often overlooked, yet central to the synagogue’s vitality. By cultivating dialogue, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration, Synagogue Initiatives strengthens both individual shuls and the communal fabric as a whole.
- Rabbinic chabura gatherings nurturing Torah learning and spiritual growth
- Networks that give synagogue leaders strength, perspective, and connection
- Guidance that transforms operational work into opportunities for spiritual growth
- Board trainings that align leadership with communal purpose
- Klal programs that elevate synagogue spiritual life
- Daily Tehillim Call inspires thousands worldwide
“Thank you to the OU for the investment in our shul through your board training initiative. There is no question that this investment will help our leadership as we take the next steps in serving our kehila.”
— Rabbi Ken Brodkin, Bnai Israel, Manalapan, NJ
Facilitating Meaningful Learning
Through a robust portfolio of innovative, impactful, and high‑quality Torah programs and shiurim, OU Torah Initiatives fosters excitement and a love of Torah learning in adults and children worldwide. Our captivating online and in‑person initiatives reinforce the value of consistent daily learning and the joy of infusing Torah into participants' lives.
All Torah
This year, All Torah undertook a significant overhaul of its backend systems to enable the development of new features. Among these new initiatives is All Siyum, a platform designed to assist individuals and siyum coordinators in tracking learning progress and setting reminders. All Siyum is fully integrated with All Daf and All Mishnah, ensuring a seamless learning experience across the apps.
In addition, All Torah launched a new WhatsApp community, All Torah Clips, which provides short, shareable parsha insights five days a week. These clips are also available on YouTube, while full‑length shiurim remain accessible through All Parsha.
New Content Includes:
- Shloshim Yom Kodem HaChag — As part of the All Torah mission to bring high-quality, relevant Torah content straight to our subscribers in the most accessible way possible, we launched this new series in time for Pesach. The shiurim are available via WhatsApp and All Daf.
- Kelomar – Chumash & Rashi Clarified — This is a fresh new series taught from the Old City of Yerushalayim. With clarity, energy, and warmth, Rabbi Sholom Menachem Wohlgelernter brings Chumash and Rashi to life, helping subscribers understand all the Rashis on the parsha each week.
- Musings of a Book Collector — This new series with Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Brodt is a series of wellorganized content about seforim and other Judaic works for our subscribers and listeners.
- After the Mishnah — A new daily series designed to complement the Mishnah Yomi cycle in Masechet Avot, revolutionizing the way Pirkei Avot is learned. Each short episode (2–3 minutes) offers a takeaway from that day’s Mishnah — whether a practical insight, story, or timely thought — to help bring learning into your day. Available on All Mishnah and WhatsApp.
All Torah Siyumim
- - Siyum Seder Nezikin with Rabbi Moshe Elefant and Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg: Brooklyn, September 2025
- - Siyum Seder Nezikin with Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz and Rabbi Shlomo Farhi: North Woodmere, September 2025
- - Third Annual Evening of Inspiration with Rabbi Shalom Rosner: Teaneck, July 2025
- - Siyum Yerushalmi Seder Zeraim with HaRav Kalman Ber, Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Zecharia Resnik, and Rabbi Shalom Rosner: Yerushalayim, November 2024
Tisha B'Av 2025
This year, Torah Initiatives delivered meaningful content on the Tisha B’Av website including livestreams with Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt"l, Rabbi Steven Weil, and Rabbi Yaakov Glasser. On‑demand programming included a kinot explanation by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, a feature film by the OU Women’s Initiative, the NCSY Kumzitz of the World, and special OU Israel videos by Rabbi Avi Berman.
OU Women’s Initiative
The OU Women’s Initiative elevates and connects Orthodox Jewish women through Torah study, leadership development, and community engagement.
Since its founding in 2017, The OU Women’s Initiative has become a central platform for Torah learning, leadership development, and community engagement for women across the globe. Built on three foundational pillars — Learning, Leadership, and Community — the initiative provides high‑impact programming and opportunities for women to strengthen Jewish life locally and worldwide.
In 2025, more than 25,000 women participated in OU Women’s Initiative programs. Our flagship program, Torat Imecha Nach Yomi, has united women in 28 countries and 38 U.S. states, turning daily study into a vibrant global network. The Torat Imecha Halacha program offers halachic learning on timely topics like Hilchot Shabbat, while K’Isha Achat, a day of Torah learning, brings hundreds together in shared inspiration.
Close to 500 women from North America and Israel participated in the Max and Yetty Monderer ALIT Summer Beit Midrash, a dynamic two‑week online learning experience covering unique Torah subjects, from penimiut, to Tanach, to Jewish history.
Leadership development remains central to the Initiative’s mission. The biennial Leadership Summit convened emerging and established leaders for training, networking, and collaboration, and the Mikvah Directors Symposium supported communal professionals in creating welcoming, uplifting environments in their mikvaot. The Community Mental Health Support Fellowship equipped rebbetzins, kallah teachers, and chinuch and kiruv professionals with specialized training to support individuals and families facing personal challenges.
The Initiative continues to innovate with programs like Transforming Tehillim Together, which helps communities bring the words of Tehillim into their contemporary experiences, and the Programming Idea Lab, which provides female leaders a collaborative space to share and shape new ideas, and elevate the experiences of women in their communities.
“Go from Saying to Praying”
A particular highlight this year was Go From Saying to Praying, which celebrated the Nach Yomi transition from Nevi’im to Ketuvim with the launch of Sefer Tehillim. The multifaceted campaign included Nach Shabbat scholar‑in‑residence weekends in 21 synagogues across the U.S. and Canada, where Nach Yomi educators inspired communities with in‑person shiurim. National Zoom programs expanded access even further, with thousands attending virtual Torah learning sessions with Ms. Rivi Frankel, Mrs. Tzivi Zuckerman, and Mrs. Rivka Segal.
The Transforming Tehillim Together series of micro‑grants empowered communities to design their own creative programming. The launch of Tehillim 150, a national initiative for high school girls led by Yael Davidowitz, invites younger learners to study a perek each day for 150 days.
This exciting campaign welcomed a surge of new participants to Torat Imecha Nach Yomi and set the stage for the upcoming siyum celebrations worldwide in February 2026.
Impact Accelerator — From Ideas to Impact
The Impact Accelerator empowers social entrepreneurs and enhances nonprofit excellence with the goal of innovating effective solutions to communal challenges.
From Ideas to Impact
Innovation is the lifeblood of thriving communities, and the Orthodox community is no exception. The Impact Accelerator program shows what’s possible when visionaries are given the mentorship, network, and tools to lead.
What began as an experiment in social innovation has become a proven model: Invest in bold leaders, equip them with resources and mentorship, and watch their ideas ripple outward into lasting change. Over the past several years, powerful ideas developed in the Impact Accelerator have grown into sustainable organizations reshaping Jewish communal life.
Today, the Accelerator brings together entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, funders, and alumni to reimagine what’s possible for our community.
The Road Ahead
The Impact Accelerator is cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of Jewish social innovation. With each new venture, its network grows stronger, and so does its capacity to meet challenges with courage and creativity. The OU is shaping the next generation of resilient, impactful nonprofits that will strengthen the Jewish community for decades to come.
Our Drivers of Change
The Impact Accelerator’s three department branches work to harness innovation and address our communal challenges:
- Cohort — This year, the Impact Accelerator welcomed Cohort 6 and eight new organizations — the largest cohort so far. A select group of nonprofit founders joined our intensive program to strengthen their organizations, scale their impact, and build resilience. Alumni stay connected through ongoing learning, collaboration, and shared support. This year, the Impact Accelerator also launched its first Intrapreneurs Cohort!
- Community — Through virtual workshops and an online resource hub, the Accelerator shares tools and builds networks that nonprofit professionals need to strengthen their work.
- Commitment — Strategic partnerships with visionary lay leaders and funders ensure that innovation is not only supported, but sustained.
Creating Communities Where Every Single Person Matters
Kol Echad (formerly Ashiva)
Kol Echad addresses the oft‑overlooked needs of men and women who are single, divorced, or widowed in the family‑oriented Orthodox community. Communitywide systematic change and tailored initiatives include meal invitation programs for singles, an online resources database, community coordinators, and more.
In 2025, Kol Echad launched Makom Kavuah, a toolkit designed to assist shuls in establishing handpicked, trained, and professionally supported mentors for children of single parents who cannot sit with their children in shul. Created with mental health and educational experts, it’s already in use in the U.S., U.K., and Israel (including adaptations for mothers whose husbands are in miluim).
A bi‑monthly e‑magazine launched in September with articles by Yaakov Langer, Avital Chizhik‑Goldschmidt, and others, highlighting unique situations and inspiring inclusive communities.
Creating a Conversation About Modern Jewish Life
18Forty is a contemporary Beit Midrash engaging with the pressing questions of today. From scholars like Haym Soloveitchik to leaders like Natan Sharansky, 18Forty fosters meaningful conversations on faith, identity, and community. By confronting topics such as mental health, denominational division, prayer, and humanity, 18Forty helps today’s Jews rediscover an enduring connection to Jewish traditions.
In a rapidly evolving world where traditional institutions struggle to address contemporary issues, 18Forty presents a fresh, unifying approach that blends timeless Orthodox values with modern Jewish experiences. 18Forty recognizes that individuals today face unprecedented challenges, including escalating religious questions, shifting cultural norms, and the dizzying pace of technological change.
Amid this uncertainty, 18Forty’s mission is clear: striving to empower every Jew, regardless of background, denomination, or personal journey, to explore questions of faith, identity, and belonging with emotional honesty and intellectual depth. Through thoughtful dialogue, accessible educational materials, and a welcoming community, 18Forty provides a vibrant space for deep inquiry and meaningful connections.
Whether seeking clarity in religious beliefs, navigating family and community relationships, or simply exploring what Judaism can offer in the modern age, 18Forty serves as a trusted forum for tens of thousands. 18Forty inspires transformation by fostering an environment where curiosity is valued, critical thinking is nurtured, and diverse viewpoints are welcomed. Ultimately, the OU believes that a thriving Jewish future depends on the ability to ask bold questions, learn from one another, and bridge the gap between tradition and life today.
Core Challenges Addressed
Where others see insurmountable challenges, 18Forty sees transformation waiting to happen. 18Forty was founded precisely to address three core problems:
- 1Create On‑Ramps, Not Exit Signs — oo many in the Jewish community see bright exit signs. 18Forty creates opportunities for Jews to re-enter and authentically reconnect with tradition.
- 2Stop the “Leakage” — Programs address the ever-increasing assimilation of the modern era through difficult but honest conversations that spotlight diverse voices.
- 3Strengthen Identity in the Meta-Modern Moment: — Amid rapid social and technological changes, 18Forty seeks ways to foster meaning and build a strong Jewish identity
OHRBIT — Torah AI
As Artificial Intelligence transforms every sector, the OU is harnessing its resources to expand and elevate Torah learning. OU in‑house developers, together with leading experts, have created OHRBIT, a groundbreaking app that delivers a personalized Torah learning experience. Currently in beta testing, the app is slated for release this winter.
OHRBIT is an innovative AI‑powered learning platform that brings the depth of Torah to your fingertips — intelligently, intuitively, and on your terms. Whether you are just starting out or wish to stay consistent in your learning, OHRBIT curates and recommends trusted, personalized content based on the user’s interests, abilities, and goals. Designed for the modern learner and rooted in tradition, it transforms Jewish learning into an experience that’s smart, seamless, and personal.
Powered by OU — Your Daily Chavrusa, Coach, and Connection
- — Set your custom learning style and schedule
- — Adaptive content recommendations over time
- — Listen, read, and watch
- — Track progress, set reminders, and celebrate milestones
- — Clean, elegant interface for immersive learning
- — Support for beginners, returners, and advanced scholars
- — Daily inspiration or deeper journeys
- — Download the OHRBIT app or visit Ohrbit.ai
BETA TESTING — Coming Soon
Intelligent. Relevant. Thoughtful.
Jewish Action — An Award‑Winning Publication
Since 1985, Jewish Action has been a trusted voice of the Orthodox community, reaching 125,000 readers annually across North America and Israel. Each glossy quarterly issue features thought‑provoking essays and insights from some of the most respected voices in Orthodox life, exploring issues that matter most — from Jewish day school affordability and the teacher shortage, to making aliyah and living with emunah in challenging times.
These stories and so many others reflect Jewish Action’s mission: to educate, inspire, and religiously strengthen members of the Jewish community.
Readership from North America to Israel — In addition to wide distribution across North America, each quarter, about 5,000 copies are distributed in Israel in shuls serving English‑speaking olim, strengthening the OU’s connection to Anglo communities throughout Israel.
An Expanding Digital Presence — Jewish Action’s monthly e‑newsletter, edited with the same care as the print magazine, continues to grow rapidly. Each edition, now available in a print‑friendly format for Shabbat reading, features web‑exclusive articles, selections from the print issue, and treasures from the archive on topics ranging from kashrut to Israel, chagim, recipes, Jewish thought, history, and book reviews. The magazine recently launched a monthly podcast featuring stories and issues from its pages — part of a broader strategy to expand the magazine’s digital presence.
An Award‑Winning Publication — Jewish Action’s impressive coverage was recognized with five Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism at the 2024 American Jewish Press Association Conference (“Jewish Pulitzers”), celebrating the finest Jewish journalism in North America.
Recent Features
- - In the wake of October 7, the symposium, "Welcoming
October 8th Jews Home", met the moment, highlighting a
surprising wave of spiritual awakening among previously
unaffiliated Jews, with leading rabbis, rebbetzins, and
outreach professionals sharing strategies for welcoming
them into community life.
- - “Leaving the Fold,” a cover story on attrition based on
original OU research, brought personal stories to light,
revealing why some people leave and yet continue to
remain connected to the Orthodox world, showcasing the
strengths and challenges of our communities.
- - “Voices of Valor” celebrated courageous women
advocating for Israel and the Jewish people.
- - “Building a Community” explored how dedicated individuals roll up their sleeves and build the Orthodox communities they envision in cities across North America, from Phoenix, Arizona, to Springfield, New Jersey.