OU Israel

A Unified Mission for a Growing Nation

This mission is twofold: to support and empower Israel’s at-risk youth by helping them rebuild connections to society and improve their socioeconomic mobility, and to ensure that English-speaking olim successfully integrate into Israeli life through educational, community-building, and spiritual opportunities.

This new model represents a reimagined OU presence in Israel. For decades, OU Israel’s programs were anchored at the OU Israel Center in Jerusalem. Today, the OU has brought its work directly into the neighborhoods where people live, learn, and grow. Through city-based hubs and partnerships across Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh, Modiin, Ra’anana, Gush Etzion, and beyond, the OU in Israel is woven into the daily fabric of Jewish life.

The results are transformative. Program participation has increased fourfold, reaching every age group — from children and teens to families and seniors. By embedding itself within communities, the OU is creating dynamic centers of belonging, connection, and Torah growth. The OU’s presence in Israel is no longer a destination; it’s a living, growing movement — shaping the future of Jewish life across the country.

Programming for Israelis and Anglos

Supporting Israel’s Youth and Families

OU in Israel’s Israeli programming strengthens the next generation of Am Yisrael by empowering teens and families to live with faith, resilience, and purpose. Through Teen Centers, immersive summer camps, and spiritual mentorship programs, OU Israel provides safe spaces for young people to grow, heal, and belong. Its kashrut- and Torah-education initiatives further guide families in deepening their connection to halacha and Jewish life, nurturing a proud, grounded generation rooted in Torah and unity.

Empowering English-Speaking Olim

The same infrastructure that supports Israel’s population also strengthens Israel’s growing Anglo community by empowering English-speaking olim and their families to live Torah-driven lives while actively contributing to Israeli society. Serving every life stage — from youth and soldiers to parents and retirees — the department fosters Torah learning, creates culturally familiar spaces that ease absorption, and equips olim with tools to thrive. Its core programs include NCSY, Camp Dror, Torah Initiatives, Women’s Division, Yachad Israel, and JLIC.

By the Numbers

3.5M

copies of Torah Tidbits distributed

436,107+

views of Torah content

459,583+

YouTube video views across OU Israel platforms

1,200

regular participants in Women’s Division activities

11,000+

kashrut questions answered (Gustave & Carol Jacobs Center)

500

Anglo Community Programs regular participants; 6,000 at one-time events

10,000+

teens reached through OU Israel Teen Centers

803

NCSY teen participants

207

Camp Dror campers

Moments of Resilience & Renewal

Kiryat Shemona: A Community Rebuilt

For nearly two years, the teens of Kiryat Shemona, a town near the Israel–Lebanon border, were scattered across Israel, evacuated from their homes and communities. Cut off from friends and familiar routines, they lived through a period marked by trauma, loss, and uncertainty. In March 2025, families began returning, yet 40% of the population remained displaced. The return home was anything but simple. Those who returned found empty neighborhoods, fractured friendships, and the lingering fear of instability.

To meet the moment, OU’s Teen Centers served as the bridge that kept young people connected throughout displacement and beyond. Even when their hometown was silent, these programs ensured that their community stayed alive. When it came time to return, those bonds made the transition smoother, giving teens the strength to face their new reality with resilience, a sense of belonging, and hope. Today, the Teen Centers continue to provide stability, friendship, and a lifeline for healing — a safe space where young people can rebuild trust, rediscover joy, and know they are not alone.

Madricha learning with teens during evening program (placeholder) — Madricha learning with teens during evening program

The Zula — A Lifeline That Endures

Before Elul, one alumna of the Pearl and Harold Jacobs Zula Outreach Center found herself in India, surrounded by influences that pulled her far from the light she once knew. Overwhelmed and searching for clarity, she reached out to her Zula mentors, Yehuda and Hadar, who became her steady source of guidance and strength from afar.

They encouraged her to return home and join Zula’s Elul opening event, which included visiting the gravesites of tzadikim. When she arrived at the burial site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, she broke down in tears, releasing the pain and confusion she had carried. Later, she immersed in the mikvah, renewed and whole. Her story reflects Zula’s enduring power: a place of love, faith, and belonging that continues to guide its teens and alumni throughout life, helping them reconnect with Hashem and with themselves.

Girls lighting candles at the Zula, creating a warm and spiritual atmosphere

Torah Learning & Halachic Guidance

The Gustave & Carol Jacobs Center for Kashrut Education

Alongside its youth and community programs, the OU in Israel continues to elevate Jewish life through Torah learning and halachic education. The Gustave and Carol Jacobs Center for Kashrut Education has become a trusted address for kashrut guidance and understanding throughout Israel. Through classes, resources, and personalized support, the Center has already answered more than 11,000 questions, empowering families, educators, and institutions to observe kashrut with confidence and clarity.

OU Israel’s Safrut Program

Safeguarding and elevating Torah observance through education and community engagement.

Finding Belonging in a New Land — The Anglo Department

Challenging in its own right is the process of making aliyah. For thousands of English-speaking families, the move to Israel is filled with excitement, hope, and challenge. The OU’s Anglo Department stands beside them through every stage of that journey — supporting olim and second-generation English speakers as they build vibrant, Torah-rooted lives in Israel. The programs span generations to ensure that every stage of life is met with meaningful opportunities for growth and belonging.

The department operates on two levels. First, it brings the OU’s most beloved programs from North America to Israel, thoughtfully adapted for the unique needs of life in Israel. Youth and teens grow through NCSY and Camp Dror, where they develop leadership skills, friendships, and a love of Torah. Families benefit from Torah Initiatives and communal programming, while the Women’s Division offers networks of support and inspiration. Yachad Israel creates inclusive spaces for individuals with disabilities and their families, and JLIC sustains vibrant, supportive Torah-centered communities on 11 campuses in Israel and beyond, serving over 3,000 college students and young professionals in Israel.

Second, the department drives innovation through its structured OU Israel Innovation Hub, which combines research, community input, and a clear methodology for piloting initiatives. Three new programs are set to launch in the coming year, each addressing priority needs identified through data and community feedback. This ensures programming remains relevant, scalable, and sustainable.

Through this dual strategy — adapting proven programs and developing new ones — the OU Israel’s Anglo Department builds culturally familiar, Torah-driven spaces that empower olim and Anglos to flourish, integrate fully, and contribute meaningfully to Israel’s spiritual, social, and civic life.

OU Israel Women’s Division: A New Era of Growth

The past year marked a turning point for the OU Israel Women’s Division as it embarked on a new mission: to reach and inspire women and girls across the country. What began as Jerusalem-centered programming is now a growing nationwide movement of connection and community. A new hub in Rechavia continues to serve Jerusalem’s dedicated participants, while expanded mother–daughter programs in six communities around Israel bring Torah learning and meaningful shared experiences to more families.

In Beit Shemesh, a groundbreaking citywide partnership with the local government will launch in the coming year, with co-sponsored programs that bring women of all ages together for Rosh Chodesh gatherings and tiyulim. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in the division’s reach across diverse communities throughout Israel. New data-driven insights have also led to the development of a regional model that brings together communities for shared programming. This approach is now being explored in both northern and southern Israel.

The OU in Israel Strengthening Communities, Inspiring Belonging, and Meeting the Moment Across Am Yisrael