Orthodox union
Community Engagement
Program During Jewish Disabilities Awareness & Inclusion Month Designed to Encourage Inclusion
Nearly 40 teens from across the United States met virtually to receive training focused on becoming ambassadors for making Jewish communal life more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. The Orthodox Union’s (OU) Yachad, the leading organization for individuals with disabilities, organized the sessions. The program coincides with Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) celebrated annually in February.
After attending two of the virtual training sessions, teen-participants will receive a certificate as an “inclusion ambassador” to help their schools and communities become more inclusive environments for individuals with disabilities. The first seminar took place Feb. 7, and the second session will take place Feb. 21. While certification requires the attendance of both sessions, teens who missed out on the first are still
Orthodox union
Community Engagement
New Cohort Addresses Philanthropy, Cremation, Female Creativity & Education
NEW YORK – The Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, has announced its third cohort of six winning nonprofit organizations that it will support through its Impact Accelerator. The organizations chosen for this year’s cohort are working to address issues that impact the Jewish community including charitable engagement, promoting religious female creativity, reducing the number of Jewish bodies cremated, and education.
The OU Impact Accelerator is designed to provide mentorship-based growth and early-stage funding for Jewish nonprofit entrepreneurs with the next groundbreaking ideas, over the course of a 12-month program.
Orthodox union
Community Engagement
Women s Initiative
Over 1,200 Participants Celebrating the Completion of Nevi’im Achronim as Part of the OU Women’s Initiative Nach Yomi Torat Imecha Series
New Daily Learning Program to Begin Sefer Tehillim Following Virtual Siyum
NEW YORK – An estimated 1,200 participants will be completing Nevi’im Achronim next week with the Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative’s Torat Imecha Nach Yomi series that launched one year ago. The two-part virtual siyum will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 19th. The group will finish the final chapter of Nevi’im Achronim on Friday, Jan. 22nd, and begin the next part of the daily learning program with Sefer Tehillim on Motzei Shabbos, Jan. 23rd.
Orthodox union
Community Engagement
Event to Honor Teaneck’s ‘Coach Gila’ and Fair Lawn’s Benjy & Shifra Leibowitz; And Pay Tribute to Donny Hain z”l
TEANECK, New Jersey – Yachad New Jersey, the local branch of the leading organization for individuals with disabilities in the Orthodox community, will hold its annual gala on Saturday evening, Jan. 9, where the honorees will be “Coach Gila” Guzman of Teaneck and Rabbi Dr. Benjy and Shifra Leibowitz of Fair Lawn.
The event is being held virtually this year in order to maintain the safety of all participants. The program will begin with an inspiring musical Havdalah and mini concert with Simcha Leiner, followed by a special video tribute program to honor those who have made a difference in the lives of those with disabilities. There will also be special presentations to high school seniors who have demonstrated a strong commitment to Yachad, by volunteering at ongoing programs in The Mendel Balk Yachad Center.
Orthodox Union’s Yachad Raises Record $1.6 Million in 2020 Year-End Giving Day Campaign
NEW YORK – More than 2,500 people came together to support the Orthodox Union’s (OU) Yachad, the leading organization for individuals with disabilities, in a late 2020 campaign to raise much-needed funds to increase services, programs and scholarships for individuals with disabilities. The group raised a grand total of $1,614,239 within the 36-hour campaign.
The funds will go toward increasing daily virtual programming on Yachad on Demand, the group’s virtual platform; expanding clinical support services to families, including parent groups, sibling support for multiple age groups and “wellness check-ins” to Yachad participants; and increasing home delivery packages for individuals with disabilities isolating at home. Funds will also go towards providing access to digital devices for those who need them in order to connect to Yachad’s virtual programs; necessary support services to