OU Israel
The Seymor J. Abrams Jerusalem World Center is the home to OU Israel. The Center provides a warm and spiritual environment, offering a wide variety of Torah shiurim for everyone. It focuses on reaching out to all Jews by offering something for everyone, whether you are an advanced Talmud scholar, a beginner, a new immigrant, someone wanting to borrow reading material from our library or a tourist wanting to tour the land.
Our mission is to strengthen the bond between Jews with the Torah, Eretz Yisrael and the Jewish people.
The OU Israel Center is also the home to many nationwide projects that continuously work on connecting them to The Jewish people:
Connecting our Soldiers to their Heritage and to the Land
Mashiv HaRuach OU Israel’s Chayalim Program
Mashiv HaRuach is a unique program that reaches thousands of Israelis in uniform each year, drawing them closer to their Jewish and Zionist heritage. Together with Israel’s chief rabbinate and the IDF’s education branch, OU Israel created and intensive educational an experiential excursion for the soldiers in Gush Etzion, just outside of Jerusalem….
16,000 IDF soldiers are brought each year to Gush Etzion through the ‘Mashiv HaRuach’ program, which provides seminars and workshops to instill a connection to Jewish heritage, Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael.
Connecting teens with their inner light
The Zula
The Zula, OU Israel’s drop-in-center in downtown Jerusalem, provides a safe haven for hundreds of formerly observant Jewish youngsters looking to find meaning in their lives. At the Zula, teenagers reconnect with their precious Neshama through therapeutic activities, workshops, and the sound of Jewish music. Caring counselors help the young people restore their faith in themselves, in others, and in Jewish tradition. A safe house for girls and a further education program are recent additions to the range of services offered.
Connecting Unaffiliated North American Young Adults to their Jewish Identity and to the Land of Israel
OU Israel Free Spirit Birthright Program
This unique 10-day Israel experience is a first-time, peer group educational trip to Israel for Jewish young adults from North America. Designed to strengthen participants’ Jewish identity, our trip emphasizes the connection between the Land of Israel, the people of Israel, and our vibrant Jewish tradition. We ran 36 amazing trips for close to 1500 participants during 2011 and expect to reach 45 groups during 2012.
Connecting youth throughout Israel with their roots and heritage
Makom Balev
Makom Balev has 13 youth centers countrywide where we welcome youngsters into a warm and embracing atmosphere. At Makom Balev, children connect with each other and their spiritual roots. They learn to take pride in themselves and their country and to give back to their communities.
Connecting “down-and-out” kids to society
The Oraita - The Jack E. Gindi Oraita Program
D’oraita centers, established in distressed communities in Israel’s development towns, are a place where isolated teenagers feel comfortable. At The Oraita, the teens play pool and pray; they discover warmth and Jewish wisdom. In The Oraita’s nurturing environment, dedicated madrichim help the youngsters uncover their strengths and connect to their communities. The teens learn to believe in themselves, and return to their studies and to the workforce.
