Orthodox Union

"The country we knew, founded on the values of liberty and fairness and characterized by its kindness and caring, welcomed us here and encouraged us to live and to thrive as Jews. Does that America still exist, and if so, for how much longer?"

Read EVP Rabbi Moshe Hauer's full July Fourth message at:

A Reflection on July 4th, 2024 - Orthodox Union The past year has been disorienting for American Jews. The country we knew, founded on the values of liberty and fairness and characterized by its

How many bags did NCSY Summer pack at their annual packing day at OU HQ?👇🏼

Today is the first full day of summer and do you know what that means!?!? Our summer programs are right around the corner! This week, the NCSY team packed all of the bags and boxes for their 18 incredible summer programs in the US, Israel, and Europe. How many bags and boxes do you think they packed?

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"The current nightmare began on October 7, Simchat Torah — a holiday when Jews everywhere gather in synagogues in joyous celebration of the completion of the annual cycle of Torah reading. Carrying their children on their shoulders and Torah scrolls in their arms, participants sing and dance in a joyous celebration of family and faith, and — most of all — the values that define them as a community.

The words — the value statements — sung repeatedly on that day express deep appreciation for the blessings of true Jewish identity, and for the good fortune to continue the mission of Abraham and the Jewish people to do good, to be good, to study, to live by God’s word, and to bring light to the world. They sing, they dance, they conclude the reading of the Torah, and then they immediately begin studying it again, demonstrating their true character as the People of the Book."

Read EVP Rabbi Moshe Hauer's full article in The Algemeiner

Why This Year’s Shavuot Is One of the Most Important Ever Shavuot. Ruth in Boaz’s Field by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, oil on canvas, 1828; National Gallery, London. Photo: Wikipedia. Beginning …

She's a Rebbetzin, mikvah co-chair and an attendant, kallah teacher and founding director of the OU Women's Initiative. How does Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman do it all?

Find out in this Philadelphia Jewish Exponent piece:

Rebbetzin Adina Shmidman Leads Orthodox Union’s Women’s Initiative - Jewish Exponent Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman is the founding director of the Orthodox Union’s Women’s Initiative, which creates programming for women.

"Har HaBayit B'Yadeinu!"

This joyful cry from the chill-inducing, tear invoking footage that shows IDF soldiers reclaiming the old city of Jerusalem in 1967 is unforgettable to any who have watched it.

This morning, another remarkable scene unfolded in Yerushalayim as 1,500 people, many of whom are new olim from around the world, gathered for OU Israel's annual Musical Yom Yerushalayim Tefillah at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, which overlooks the Old City and Har HaBayit.

The sounds of Hallel rang out, proclaiming that even though our hearts are heavier this Yom Yerushalayim, we still express our sincere appreciation for the incredible victory of the Six Day war and that Jews continue to live in freedom and continue to thrive and to build in the holy city.

EVP Rabbi Moshe Hauer addressed the crowd: "Fifty-seven years ago, with G-d's kindness, we merited the liberation of Yerushalayim and the return of the Jewish people to the Old City and the Kotel. Today, we stand here at the Armon HaNatziv Promenade from where we can see the location of the Beit HaMikdash and we thank G-d for the victory of the Six Day War, and we pray that with His help we will win this war. May it be that next year we will be able to pray together with those who had been taken hostage and with all of Klal Yisrael at the Holy Temple."

Also in attendance were OU Israel Executive Director Rabbi Avi Berman, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Arie King and Director of the Israel Heritage Department of the Jerusalem municipality, Yehuda Naftali.

We didn't know what to expect from this year's Israel Day on 5th Parade.

Would people come? Would the parade be marred by protests? Could we show our love for Israel while still being mindful of the continuing war in Gaza and with our hostages still being held by Hamas?

The answers to these questions was overwhelmingly positive.

We saw and heard the waves and cheers from the crowds lining the east side of 5th Avenue in an incredible display of support for our homeland and our nation.

We are grateful to our OU family for marching with us in unprecedented numbers, especially those who joined us from NCSY, TJJ for Moms, and Yachad.

We are thankful to JCRC officials for their meticulous planning and to the NYPD for ensuring our safety.

We’re so excited to show love and support for our homeland at this year’s parade THIS Sunday in NYC! Will you be there? Who are you marching with? Tag them in the comments!

And remember to tag us on Sunday if you see us!

Can you put contact lenses in solution on Shabbat? Swipe to find out 👉🏼

Rabbi Jack Abramowitz, Director of Torah Content, explains the halachot behind using contact lense solution on Shabbat.

Interested in learning more about hilchot Shabbat? Check out outorah.org/shabbos

“Amidst the distortions of this politicized world in which we live, Lag Ba’Omer brings a welcome perspective. The day celebrates the legacy of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, a man who did not care for politics, who called out the evils of the powerful, did only what was right, and never pulled punches for diplomatic purposes.”

Read our EVP Rabbi Hauer’s full message - Lag Ba’Omer, Politics, and International Courts: ou.org

A Heart2Heart with our TJJ moms 💙

Last week, NCSY’s of NY & NJ hosted a brunch at OU headquarters to welcome delegates from , an organization dedicated to helping IDF veterans with PTSD. These brave soldiers traveled here from Israel to share their incredible stories of resilience and triumph, providing a powerful and inspiring experience for all the TJJ moms who attended.

TJJ for Moms, an NCSY program, offers Jewish mothers an eight-day transformative trip to Israel followed by a year of monthly gatherings to deepen their connection to Jewish heritage and community. Learn more about TJJ for Moms: https://tjjformoms.ncsy.org/

Join Arutz Sheva - Israel National News on Sun, June 2nd for its annual Jerusalem Conference in NYC, following the Celebrate Israel Parade. The event features guest speakers from both Israel & the US, including our EVP Rabbi Moshe Hauer. Register with the promotion code “OU24” to receive 65% off the cost of the event tickets.

Register👉🏼 https://meet.inf.events/event/jerusalem-conference-new-york-2024-2024-06-02-246/register?user=2

Are you proud to be a Jew in America today?

In the post-October 7th era we’ve witnessed a rising wave of antisemitism and attacks on our Jewish identity. Hate crimes against Jews have surged, ranging from vandalism of synagogues to violent attacks on individuals. Aggressive protests on college campuses have prevented Jewish students from attending their classes. Online platforms spread hate speech and conspiracy theories exponentially, fueling the antisemitic attacks as we lose our sense of security in the US. Despite all the noise, are you still proud of your Jewish heritage? How do you show it or what do you do to ensure that you don’t lose your identity?

Reliving our favorite Yom Ha’atzmaut moments with our programs from around the world. 💙🇮🇱

Recognize someone? Tag your JLIC, JSU, or NCSY friend 👇🏼

Yom Hazikaron is a day dedicated to remembering today’s holy harugei Lod, the soldiers who gave their lives for Eretz Yisrael. It is a day of intense mourning for the families and communities of those who serve. This year, when so many are grieving their raw and fresh losses, it is a special opportunity for pure and unadulterated empathy, nesius b’ol im chaveiro, as we try our hardest to understand and to relate to the experience of those who have sacrificed their lives for us, for Klal Yisrael, שאין כל בריה יכול לעמוד במחיצתן, whom no one in the world can approach in their greatness.

Our OU team joined together to learn Mishnayos and Tanach in memory of Master Sergeant (res.) Zechariah Pesach Haber HY”D, nephew of our Chief Strategy Officer, Rabbi Ilan Haber and all of those who gave their lives. Today, on Yom Hazikaron, we made a siyum on the completion of our learning. We were privileged to have Rabbi Yaakov Neurburger, Rosh Yeshiva, RIETS, and Rav, Congregation Beth Abraham, join us for this meaningful commemoration.

Yom Hazikaron is a day dedicated to remembering today’s holy harugei Lod, the soldiers who gave their lives for Eretz Yisrael. It is a day of intense mourning for the families and communities of those who serve. This year, when so many are grieving their raw and fresh losses, it is a special opportunity for pure and unadulterated empathy, nesius b’ol im chaveiro, as we try our hardest to understand and to relate to the experience of those who have sacrificed their lives for us, for Klal Yisrael, שאין כל בריה יכול לעמוד במחיצתן, whom no one in the world can approach in their greatness.

This Yom Hazikaron, we will have a siyum with our team members who completed learning Mishnayos and Tanach in memory of Master Sergeant (res.) Zechariah Pesach Haber HY”D, nephew of our Chief Strategy Officer, Rabbi Ilan Haber and for all those who gave their lives.

Join us this Monday, May 13, at 12pm-1pm for this very special moment.
Link 👉🏻 ou.org/yomhazikaronlivestream

Did you know these facts about Chodesh Iyar? Scroll 👉🏻 and let us know in the comments below.

“Today is Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. The choice to mark this day during the Jewish month of Nisan was made because of the desire to include in its commemoration of the Holocaust the courage of the Warsaw Ghetto resistance fighters whose rebellion was initiated on Pesach. Theirs is a story of people who courageously stood up to evil but whose powerlessness made their effort doomed to fail.

What we have been seeing too often in the government response to the continued anarchy on campus is the very opposite: a government with all the power and the tools but lacking the courage. We tried it before, they say, and it did not end well.

Is the lesson of the campus protests of the 60’s and the BLM rallies of 2020 that law enforcement must always stand down? Must we allow violent rallies because we are fearful of being accused of suppressing the truly sacred right of peaceful protest? Does our concern for police overreach move us to handcuff law enforcement? Does our sensitivity to racism and Islamophobia justify our acceptance of Islamically-driven hatred and violent antisemitism?”

Read our EVP, Rabbi Moshe Hauer’s, full Yom Hashoah message here: https://www.ou.org/the-feds-power-and-courage-reflections-on-yom-hashoah-2024/

Rav Moshe zt”l, compares the Sefirah scenario to one discussed by the Taz. The Taz ruled that if a shul didn’t have a shofar on Rosh Hashanah and they accepted Shabbat before sunset and then a Shofar arrived, they could still blow the shofar, arguing that accepting Shabbat early doesn’t end Rosh Hashanah.

Similarly, Rav Moshe rules that Shabbat’s early acceptance doesn’t affect the timing of the act (counting Sefirah) and so one can count the Omer on Friday afternoon before sunset, even after accepting an early Shabbat.

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The current lack of moral clarity is painful. The world – including some of our best friends and many of our own people – cannot seem to see why this nation is different than those it is fighting for its very survival. It is the perfect time for Pesach, the festival of ma nishtana, of noticing distinctions and underscoring differences to achieve moral clarity.

Read Rabbi Hauer’s full message 👉🏼 ou.org/from-ma-nishtana-to-ma-nishtanu-we-are-different/

Wishing you a Chag Kasher V’Sameach from our OU family to yours.

This morning, the following guidance was shared with the students in our JLIC and Yavneh programs by Rabbi Elie Buechler of OU-JLIC at Columbia Barnard:

Dear Yavneh,

What we are witnessing in and around campus is terrible and tragic. The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University’s Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy.

It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved.

It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus. No one should have to endure this level of hatred, let alone at school.

If you need assistance please reach out to me.

May we see better days on campus soon.

Chag Kasher vSameach*,
Rav Elie Buechler
Director OU-JLIC at Columbia/Barnard

We completely and totally stand behind Rabbi Buechler’s message. The anarchy inside and outside Columbia’s campus is disturbing, disorienting, and frightening for all of us to witness, but it has been downright dangerous for the Jewish students experiencing it. While OU-JLIC – like our campus partners in Hillel and Chabad – will continue to steadfastly support Jewish students on campus, we do not believe that it is the responsibility of the Jewish students either at Columbia or elsewhere to be heroes. As Rabbi Buechler wrote, “no one should have to endure this level of hatred, let alone at school.” They deserve to celebrate the festival of freedom without the intense stress and fear that defines the current environment at Columbia.

We have shared Rabbi Buechler’s message with those at the White House, Congress, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Education, with whom we have been in ongoing contact about the deteriorating situation on campus. The fact that Jewish students must seek refuge from their university campus is shameful evidence of the failure of the university and every level of government to effectively address the growing horror of domestic antisemitism.
We call upon leadership at all levels to move beyond expressions of dismay to effective actions that will promptly restore safety to our students.

The Orthodox Union (OU) is the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization.

The Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) helps young men and women thrive and observe key aspects of Jewish life on university campuses across the United States, Canada and Israel. Yavneh, a division of JLIC, is comprised of a group of passionate and inspired student leaders committed to building and sharing Jewish life on campuses around the world.

*”Chag Kasher Vsameach” is the traditional pre-Passover greeting, wishing everyone a kosher and happy holiday. The celebration of Passover begins on Monday evening, April 22nd.

Link to our full statement:

Statement from The Orthodox Union and the Orthodox Union-Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus - Orthodox Union This morning, the following guidance was shared with the students in our JLIC and Yavneh programs by Rabbi Elie Buechler of OU-JLIC at Columbia Barnard: Dear Yavneh, What we are […]

“Dearest Hostage Families,
Everything you have taught us over these six torturous months can be summarized in a biblical phrase: Vayima’ein l’hitnacheim – ‘He refused to be consoled.’ You dedicate every moment to advocating, traveling, and speaking on behalf of your captive loved ones, putting your own lives on hold. You have demonstrated what true commitment to family looks like. It is a lesson we badly needed, and we hope we have begun to learn it.”

Read the full letter from Rabbi Hauer to the families of the hostages in the The Jerusalem Post 👉 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-798012

Swipe 👉🏼 to learn the top 7 things you need to know about Bedikat Chametz.

We are grateful that, with Hashem’s help, tonight’s massive airstrikes from Iran were successfully intercepted and repelled by Israel and its allies.

We recognize that this attack represents a significant escalation of the conflict and that we must pray for Hashem’s continued protection and for success in ending the multi-pronged threat from Iran.

As we continue our ongoing prayers, please include Tehillim chapters 100 and 20.

A Conversation With Families of the Hostages

Join an inspiring pre-Pesach webinar with families of the hostages on Sunday, April 14, at 10 AM EDT. The presentation will feature our EVP Rabbi Moshe Hauer and Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel.

Register 👉 bit.ly/kesher-yehudi-webinar-OU

Looking for some Shabbos reads to print out?

Read about our recent campaign in articles from around the world. Links 👇🏼

VINnews

vinnews.com/2024/04/04/orthodox-union-delivers-180000-letters-to-white-house-calls-for-continued-support-for-israel/

Jewish Chronicle

thejc.com/news/usa/jewish-group-sends-100-000-letters-to-biden-urging-continued-support-of-israel-awe60iub

JInsider

jewishinsider.com/2024/04/orthodox-union-biden-administration-letters-hostages-hamas/

The Jerusalem Post
jpost.com/diaspora/article-795406

5 Towns Central

https://5townscentral.com/2024/04/03/orthodox-union-delivers-180000-letters-to-white-house-calls-for-continued-support-for-israel/

JNS.org

jns.org/orthodox-union-delivers-100000-pro-israel-letters-to-white-house/

CBS Austin

cbsaustin.com/news/nation-world/jewish-union-will-deliver-nearly-200k-letters-to-biden-urging-support-for-israel-orthodox-union-executive-vice-president-rabbi-moshe-hauer-democrats-president-washington-dc-capitol-capital-

Join us in NYC THIS Sunday, April 7th on E 47th Street and 2nd Avenue as we rally together to advocate for the release of our hostages. BRING THEM HOME!

WE DID IT! 🎉💥🇮🇱

Earlier today, we gathered in Washington, DC, to publicly state our case to President Biden, and to hand deliver the 180,000 letters you wrote to the White House.

We cannot thank you enough for your participation. We are grateful to each and every one of you and to all of the national and local organizations, shuls and schools too numerous to mention, and so many dedicated and influential individuals, who partnered with us to make this happen.

Watch the full press conference video 👉 https://youtu.be/HgjTvtKvnxs?si=Kl_KKEuQ_P5SHCE-