About the Orthodox Union
The Orthodox Union (OU) is one of the largest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. Founded in 1898, the OU supports a network of synagogues, youth programs, Jewish and Religious Zionist advocacy programs, programs for the disabled, localized religious study programs, and international units with locations in Israel and formerly in Ukraine. The OU maintains a kosher certification service, whose circled-U hechsher symbol, is found on the labels of many kosher commercial and consumer food products.
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Our Programs
Strengthening Parents, Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities
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Community Projects & Partnerships
Teach Coalition secures government funding for Jewish day schools and yeshivot.
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Teach Coalition
NCSY is proud to play an important and trusted role in the lives of thousands of Jewish teens each year. Immersive learning and social programs connect teens with their Jewish identity and foster self-confidence.
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NCSY
The OU Advocacy Center is the nonpartisan public policy arm of the OU that advocates on behalf of the Orthodox community nationwide.
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OU Advocacy Center
For over 25 years, JLIC directors have empowered Jewish college students and young professionals through spiritual growth, Torah learning, and leadership development.
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JLIC
Guiding Young Orthodox Professionals Through Life’s Big Transitions
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Emerging Career Professionals
Since 1979, OU Israel has been making a difference in Israel, touching the lives of children and adults, immigrants and native Israelis, visitors and residents, and soldiers and civilians.
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OU Israel
Yachad, an international organization, is dedicated to enhancing the life opportunities of Jewish individuals with disabilities.
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Yachad
Israel Free Spirit Birthright, the OU’s Birthright Israel program, aims to keep the Jewish community vibrant by connecting our young adults, sharing the magic of Israel, and strengthening engagement in Jewish life.
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Israel Free Spirit
OU Kosher combines expertise in halacha with an understanding of modern food production to ensure that kosher food meets the highest quality kashrut supervision.
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OU Kosher
OU Press publishes popular and scholarly works that reflect the broad spectrum of Orthodox Jewish values in the contemporary Jewish community.
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OU Press
Thank you for your generous support of our vital programs.
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Benefactor Circle
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OU Impact Report 2025/5786
OU Lay Leadership – National Officers
Presidency
Chairman
Vice Presidents
Treasurer & Secretary
Board of Directors
Board of Governors
Past Presidents
Mark (Moishe) Bane
Julius Berman
Harvey Blitz
Dr. Bernard Drachman*
Julius H. Dukas*
Moses I. Feuerstein*
Mandell I. Ganchrow, MD
Rabbi Dr. Herbert S. Goldstein*
William B. Herlands*
Harold M. Jacobs*
Rabbi Joseph Karasick*
Dr. Simcha Katz
Professor Sidney Kwestel
Martin Nachimson
Dr. Samuel Nirenstein*
Dr. Henry Pereira Mendes*
Sheldon Rudoff*
Stephen J. Savitsky
Charles H. Shapiro*
Chairman, Board of Directors
Vice Chairman, Board of Directors
Chairman, Board of Governors
Vice Chairman, Board of Governors
Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors
Honorary Vice Chairmen, Board of Directors
Honorary Chairmen, Board of Governors
Elliott Gibber
Lee C. Samson
Honorary Vice Chairmen, Board of Governors
Senior Vice Presidents
Lauri Barbanel
Etta Brandman Klaristenfeld
Shukie Grossman
Rena Kwestel
Manette Mayberg
Menachem Schnaidman
National Vice Presidents
Ezra Friedberg
Chaya Tova Hartman
Dr. Allan Jacob
Esti Kaminetzky
Laizer Kornwasser
Eli Levitin
Chuck Mamiye
Azi Mandel
Elliott Mandelbaum
Raphael Nissel
Moshe Sassover
Mark Silber
Associate Vice Presidents
David Gerstley
Josh Kuhl
Joel Mael
David Safier
Effie Zisblatt
Honorary Vice Presidents
Fred Ehrman
Dr. Michael Elman
Allen Fagin
Yitzchak Fund
Barbara Lehmann Siegel
Dr. David Luchins
Avery E. Neumark
Isabelle Novak
Henry I. Rothman
Gerald Schreck
Esther Williams
Michael Wimpfheimer
Directors-at-Large
Ari Adlerstein
Natan Bane
Ahuva Basch
Aliza Bixon
Zev Blumenfrucht
Bluma Broner
Deborah Chames Cohen
Jeff Cohen
Jeff Eisenberg
Yechiel Eisenstadt
Josh Goldberg
Stacey Goldman
Miriam Greenspan
Stuart Hershkowitz
George Karasick
Daniel Lowy
Vivian Luchins
Morris Massel
Eitan Milgram
Cal Nathan
Dr. Joshua Penn
Yakov Polatsek
Yitzie Pretter
Dr. Rachel Rabinovitch
Nomi Rotblat
Dr. Roz Sherman
Jeffery Silver
Benzion Zlotnick
Board of Governors
Leon Achar
Max Berlin
Marvin Bienenfeld
Stuart Cantor
Daniel Chill
Dr. Ben Chouake
Pace Cooper
Shirley Feuerstein
Debra Hartman
Yosi Heber
Stanley Hillelsohn
Lance Hirt
Dr. David Hurwitz
Melanie Renchner Kaminetsky
Ira Kellman
Jonah Kupietzky
Albert Laboz
Deborah Schick Laufer
Jeffrey Lefkovits
Morey Levovitz
Mrs. Joseph K. Miller
Rabbi Michael Miller
Irwin Nachimson
David Novak
Terry Novetsky
Steven Orlow
Adam Parkoff
Dr. Harry Peled
Allen Pfeiffer
Paul Pinkus
Barry Ray
Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Rebecca Samson
Zvi Sand
Marsha Strazynski
Gary Weiss
Howard Wengrow
Joyce Werthheimer
Harvey Wolinetz
David Woolf