Meet Rebbetzins, Kallah Teachers, Kiruv and Chizuk Professionals from cities across North America, with varied experience, perspectives and insights, and build lasting relationships.
Brainstorm and strategize with women facing similar challenges in their communities. Gain a deeper understanding of challenges facing our communities, and an approach to dealing with the situations you face as a first responder.
Keynote presentations, Q&A sessions, fireside chats, panel discussions, small group discussions and informal schmoozing opportunities will make the event dynamic, engaging, and invigorating.
Meet representatives from a variety of organizations which provide guidance and resources in specialized areas. Gain an understanding of counseling concepts and how to refer when necessary.
Spend two days in a modern beautiful hotel, with exquisite catering by Prime Events by Mindel Chaya, socialize with women across the country. Enjoy inspirational shiurim and a variety of recreational activities.
Meet and learn from some of the most impactful leaders in our community, in the rabbinate, communal roles and mental health fields.
Confirmed Speakers
- Mrs. Carly Chodosh, MSS, LSW, Licensed therapist and social worker; Director, Lower Merion Community Mikvah, Lower Merion, PA.
- Mrs. Lianne Forman, JD, Founder and Executive Director, CCSA (Communities Confronting Substance Use & Addiction)
- Mrs. Debbie Fox, LCSW, Founder and Executive Director, Magen Yeladim Child Safety Institute; Founder and Director of the internationally recognized Safety Kid program, Los Angeles, CA.
- Alexandra Fleksher, Educator; Op-ed Columnist, Mishpacha Magazine; Co-host @ dmc.podcast;l Creative Director, @faces.of.orthodoxy
- Dr. Shoshannah Frydman, PhD, LCSW, Executive Director, Shalom Task Force
- Mrs. Sarah Halpern, JD, CST, LMFT, Marriage and Family Therapist, Sex Therapist, Bala Cynwyd, PA
- Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Executive Vice President, The Orthodox Union
- Dr. Bea Hollander-Goldfein, Director, Trauma Project under the auspices of The Council for Relationships; Senior Staff Therapist, Instructor, and Supervisor in the Post Graduate Certificate Program, Council for Relationships, Philadelphia, PA
- Dr. Jessica Kalmar, Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of Psychology Lab and Honors Program Coordinator, Lakeland University; Rebbetzin, ASKT (Anshei Sfard Kehillat Torah), Milwaukee, WI
- Dr. Rachel Levine, Psychologist, EFT (Emotion Focused Therapy); Rebbetzin, The Jewish Center, New York, NY
- Mrs. Melissa Rosen, Director Community Education, Sharsheret
- Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, Rabbi, Congregation Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ; Director of Professional Rabbinics, RIETS, Yeshiva University
- Rebbetzin Dr. Efrat Sobolofsky, Director, YUConnects; Rebbetzin, Congregation Ohr HaTorah, Bergenfield, NJ
- Rabbi Dr. Ari Sytner, Marriage Therapist; Professor of Social Work, Yeshiva Univsersity; Author, The Ultimate Relationship Workbook for Couples, The Kidney Donor’s Journey
- Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President, Emeritus of the Orthodox Union, Clinical Psychologist
Session Topics Include
- Building an inspired community
- Emotional path of a leader – navigating compassion fatigue
- Listening skills and counseling concepts
- Understanding, destigmatizing and providing communal support for those suffering from mental health issues and addictions and for those families with a family member in an in-patient program
- How do I tell people things they don't want to hear?
- Mental health triage for Kallah teachers - identifying red flags, referring and supporting
- Mental health issues and kiruv work - identifying red flags, supporting and referring
- Mental health issues in the educational setting (red flags, how to support and refer)
- Code of ethics: considerations for women in communal roles (Divulging sensitive information, privacy, confidentiality)
- Intensive training options with certificate of completion: Shalom Task Force, Sharsheret
- Contemporary challenges of marriage divorce: how women in communal roles can be supportive both on an individual and communal level
- Financial health and its impact on Shalom Bayis
- Women’s health: cancer, perinatal and postpartum mental health issues, intimacy, abusive relationships
- Eating Disorders: awareness, support, referral
- Grief and trauma: how to be supportive and when to refer
- Addiction, alcohol and substance use and mental health issues: awareness, resources, and support
- Mental health - a Torah perspective
- Singles - understanding, supporting and taking action
- Destigmatizing mental health in our communities
- Chizuk for women in communal roles
- Shiurim
- Fostering Community Connections
- What's next? How to "take home" and incorporate what you have learned into your communal work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the conference begin and end?
The conference will begin on Tuesday, July 19, with registration at 8:30 AM and breakfast at 8:45 AM, and end on Wednesday, July 20 at 5:00 PM.
What is the fee for the conference and what is included in the fee?
The fee is $350 which includes a hotel room on Tuesday evening (your own room), all sessions, meals and activities. Please note that this is highly subsidized by the OU Women’s Initiative.
Can I share a room with a friend? Will the conference fee be reduced?
If you share a room with a friend who will also be joining the conference, the cost will be $275 each (reduction of $75).
May I bring my husband or other family members?
This conference is for women only and the OU Women's Initiative subsidies are directed only to those women participating in the conference.
May I bring a nursing infant?
Yes. We are happy to support mothers with infants. Some babysitting options will be available. Please reach out to Adeena Mayerfeld at mayerfelda@ou.org for more information.
If I sleep at home, and not at the hotel, will the conference fee be reduced?
If you do not sleep at the hotel, the cost will be $275 (reduction of $75).
If I am flying, is there a recommended way to book tickets?
The closest airport is Westchester County airport, a small local airport with minimal flights. It is approximately a 20-minute drive from the hotel. LA Guardia is the closest major airport, approximately a 40-minute drive without traffic (can be significantly longer in rush hour traffic). Newark is approximately an hour and 10-minute drive without traffic (can be significantly longer in rush hour traffic), or 1 hour 20 minutes to Stamford, CT via Amtrak train. John F. Kennedy airport is approximately a 55-minute drive without traffic, but expect it to take closer to 2-2.5 hours as there is generally heavy traffic.
How can I coordinate travel with other women attending the conference?
We will create a Conference travel WhatsApp group where you can be in touch with other women traveling to the conference.
I live locally and can offer rides/ I would like to share rides to the conference:
We will create a Conference travel WhatsApp group where you can be in touch with other women traveling to the conference.
I would like to arrive Monday evening, will rooms be available at the hotel?
We welcome you to join us at the hotel on Monday evening beginning at 7:00 PM. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM. Please note: We will be running a 1-day program for our fellowship participants on Monday at the hotel. Some of the evening programming may be open to all guests. If we have a large number of women joining us on Monday evening, we will provide parallel program options. The additional cost is $230.
Who should I contact with further questions?
For further questions, please reach out to Mrs. Adeena Mayerfeld, Program and Operations Manager, OU Women’s Initiative, at mayerfelda@ou.org.