Orthodox Union

Doubling Down on Simchas Torah In the Sukkot issue of Mishpacha Magazine, our EVP, Rabbi Moshe Hauer, explores how we can celebrate Simchat Torah this year in a way that does not gloss over the experience of this past year. Read the article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dHkXdYjD

Strong leaders don’t just guide - they inspire growth. During his recent appearance on the Keep Hustling Podcast with Aaron Gordon, our EVP and COO Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph reflects on how his career was shaped by having a good mentor and boss who encouraged him to always look for opportunities to grow. If you’re in a leadership role, think about how you can help those you lead find their path to success. Watch full episode. Link in comments

A special Yom Kippur message from our EVP Rabbi Moshe Hauer Tov l’hodot la’Hashem has two meanings: it’s good to express gratitude to God for His kindness, and it’s good to come clean with Him through confession. This Yom Kippur, let’s not only recite ashamnu and al chet but also say thank you. We sustained incomprehensible losses but were blessed to end the year witnessing His protective hand and His astounding blessing of the efforts of chayalei Tzahal. Tov l’hodot la’Hashem. Say viduy and say thank you. Wishing you a meaningful and easy fast.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of stigma around Down syndrome and Avrohom Adler, LCSW, International Director of Yachad, is sharing insights on how we can break it. At Yachad, relationships, education, and employment are pillars of fostering self-worth and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Read Avromie’s OpEd (link in comments) to find out how we can all help break the stigma in these three areas and create a more inclusive community. What is Yachad? Yachad is a leading organization that promotes inclusion and support for individuals with disabilities within the Jewish community.

𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 🎉 ! 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖! 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒋𝒐𝒃?  Check out the summary of the OU's 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 open positions below. See something that interests you? Let's set up a time to talk. Reach out to me at merzelt@ou.org or DM me here. I'll post our career site in the comments to see full job descriptions and salaries for the below-mentioned roles. 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 & 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 🕍: ⚪Baltimore City Director (Yachad) - Baltimore, Hybrid ⚪NCSY Atlanta City Director (NCSY) - Atlanta ⚪NCSY Denver City Director (NCSY) - Denver 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆/𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 🧮: 🔵 AP Associate (OU) - NYC, Hybrid 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋👨💼 👩💼 : ⚪NY Regional Director (Yachad) – NY, Hybrid 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒👩⚕️: 🔵Direct Support Professional (Yachad) – Teaneck, NJ and Brooklyn, NY, In-person 🔵Vocational Coordinator (Yachad) – NY, Hybrid 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓💸: ⚪ Teach Director of Development Operations (Teach Coalition) - NYC, Hybrid ⚪ Major Gifts Officer (Yachad) - Remote ⚪ Greater New York City Director (Teach Coalition) - NYC, Hybrid ⚪ Mid-Atlantic Director (Teach Coalition) - PA or MD, Hybrid ⚪ Director of Sephardic Engagement (Teach Coalition) - NYC, Hybrid ⚪ Boca Raton and Palm Beach County Director (Teach Coalition) - FL, Hybrid ⚪ Yachad Chicago Director of Development (Yachad) - Chicago, Hybrid

Today marks the first anniversary of the horrific Hamas attack on Israel, a day of deep reflection for the Jewish people and the world. At OU HQ, we held a meaningful commemoration and siyum to honor the neshamot of the kedoshim and reflect on the immense loss and resilience of the Jewish people. We were privileged to hear from Rabbi Yaakov Trump of the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst, whose words inspired us as we remembered those who gave their lives in defense of Israel, and explored the lessons we can learn when we look deeper into our daily tefillot. The siyum was completed in memory of Zechariah Pesach Haber HY”D, nephew of our Chief Strategy Officer, Rabbi Ilan Haber, and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our homeland. Thank you to everyone who participated, both in person and virtually. May the memory of the kedoshim be a blessing for us all. Josh Joseph

One year ago, on October 7, 2023, we witnessed unimaginable horror. Families torn apart, lives shattered, and over 1,200 innocent people brutally murdered. Today, we remember every person we lost - each life a story tragically cut short. Today, we join the families of the 101 hostages who still remain in Hamas captivity in continuing to pray and advocate for their safe return. Today, we stand united in our faith and our hope for a stronger future.

Wishing you a Shana Tova, from our OU family to yours! 🍎🍯 We approach Rosh Hashana with hope and determination, as a unified family strengthened by our love for each other and our complete belief in a better future, in a world where the forces of evil will wither and all will join together to do Hashem’s will b’leivav shalem. May we all be blessed with a ktiva vachatima tova.

It’s International Podcast Day!!!🎙️ Watch some VERY unexpected moments from our Oh, You? podcast hosted by our EVP and COO Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph. Want to see more? Catch up on all of the episodes as Josh takes you behind the scenes to meet the people who power our programs and transform Jewish lives. Podcast link in comments Let us know which episode you enjoyed the most in the comments below 🙂

Our Selichot prayers frequently invoke the image of the hostage pleading and yearning for freedom and conclude with the heartfelt plea to God: “We beseech You, in Your abundant mercy, heal our overwhelming pain, so that we are not annihilated in captivity.” We thus pray for the fulfillment of the divine promise we read this Shabbat (Devarim 30:3), “The Lord your God will bring your captives back and have compassion on you; and He will again gather you from among all those where He has scattered you.” Let us all do our part to gather together as one as we express sincere gratitude to Hashem for the downfall of the wicked and pray to Him that He bring the hostages home, the soldiers home, the refugees home, and all of us together b’ahavat Yisrael. Read Rabbi Hauer’s full message: Link in comments