Orthodox Union

We @OUAdvocacy thank @ArchbishpSample @USCCB for this important & strong statement. In times such as these, people of good faith - of all faiths - must stand together.

Once again, a house of worship has been shattered by an act of violence intended to kill Jews. We are outraged and shaken by the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Our prayers are with the security guard who was injured while protecting the community, and we pray for his full and speedy recovery. The swift actions of those on the scene helped prevent what could have been a far more tragic outcome. This incident is a stark and frightening reminder that Jewish institutions across the United States continue to face serious and persistent threats, and the escalating hateful rhetoric in the public discourse puts a target on the backs of all Jews. Enough is enough. The time has come for our elected officials and people of good conscience to stand up and demand action, including sufficient funding for security at Jewish institutions. We express gratitude to federal and local authorities and private security guards across the country for standing between us and those that intend to harm us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Detroit Jewish community today.

Today, our EVP and COO, Rabbi Dr. @joshjoseph00, and Chief of Staff, Yoni Cohen, had the privilege of meeting with Ambassador @OfirAkunis, Consul General of Israel in New York, to strengthen our shared commitment to Israel and the values we stand for. Thank you, Ambassador Akunis, for the meaningful conversation and your leadership.

This one hits close to home. *Maayan, an active teen at our OU Teen Center, is in the hospital recovering from a direct ballistic missile strike on her home in Beit Shemesh. In one instant, she lost her mother, sister, and friends. When she recovers, our teen center will be there as her support system. She is one story of many of our teens who have been dealing with grief from recent attacks. Our teen centers are there to stand steady. To surround teens in crisis with trusted adults. With structure. With strength. With hope. Today, we are counting on you to help protect teens like Maayan across Israel. Please donate: ou.org/iranemergencyr… *Name has been changed for privacy.

We @OUAdvocacy continue to pray for the safety of the brave @usairforce @USNavy soldiers fighting Iranian tyranny. We mourn the loss of these valiant fighters and wish their families sincerest condolences.

Our hearts and prayers are with those who were murdered and injured in today’s attacks in Israel and their families. Please continue to daven for our brothers and sisters in Israel and for the safety of all of Am Yisrael.

Purim in Our Time: Standing up to Iranian Tyranny This week, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Purim. We will read the Bible’s story of Esther and Mordechai overcoming the genocidal plans of Haman who sought to destroy the Jewish people. Today, in coordination with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the IDF, President Trump and the US Armed Forces took decisive action to silence a modern threat from the same ancestral land of Haman. For decades, Iran’s Islamic regime has sown death and destruction including the murder of American citizens, the murder of Jews and Israelis globally, and the murder of their own citizens who dare stand up for freedom. Iran’s insatiable aspirations to become a nuclear power cannot be tolerated and today’s action in eliminating the Ayatollah is an important step in ensuring it doesn’t happen. God bless President Trump. God bless the United States of America and its courageous military servicemen and women conducting this noble mission, may you all return home in peace. To the brave women and men of the IDF: We support you. We pray to the Almighty to keep you safe and aid you in prevailing over our enemies. May God protect the people and defenders of Israel. We call upon all members of our community to increase your tefillot in the coming days and hours and do all we can to support our brothers and sisters in Israel.

“I saw a lot of my friends get married. I felt it was time for me.” In a new @JNS_org feature, Daniella and Shlomo Meyers, both with Down syndrome, share how they met, married, and built a Jewish home together. Avromie Adler, International Director of Yachad, explains that the Orthodox disabilities conversation has evolved — no longer focused only on education and programming, but increasingly on long-term relationships and marriage. As Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month comes to a close, their story reflects what inclusion truly looks like. Read more in JNS. jns.org/i-saw-a-lot-of…

She Started Without a Plan and Built a Movement Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman, Director of the OU Women’s Initiative, joins our EVP and COO, Rabbi Dr. @joshjoseph00, on the Oh, You? podcast to share the unexpected beginnings of what would become one of the most impactful platforms for women’s Torah learning. Guided by a mission to listen to communities and understand their needs, Rebbetzin Dr. Shmidman reflects on her journey joining the OU and how that approach helped shape global initiatives like Torat Imecha Nach Yomi. Watch the full episode to hear the story behind it all 👉🏼 ou.org/ohyou Catch past episodes of the Oh, You? Podcast on Apple and Spotify.

The landscape of aliyah is changing, as a growing number of young English-speaking olim choose new cities beyond traditional Anglo hubs—reshaping community needs across Israel. Esti Moskovitz-Kalman, OU in Israel Director of Anglo Engagement and Programming, explores what this demographic shift means for long-term community planning and how initiatives such as OU-JLIC are helping strengthen support for emerging communities. Read her OpEd in @Jerusalem_Post here: jpost.com/opinion/articl… @ouisraelcenter

It All Started With One App Asher Tesser, All Torah Project Manager, joins our EVP and COO, Rabbi Dr. @joshjoseph00, on the Oh, You? podcast to reflect on the ripple effect of one platform — and how it helped spark a growing Torah learning community. He shares how a message from a 13-year-old helped turn a five-minute-a-day idea into All Mishnah Junior, reaching students across 30 schools. Watch the episode 👉🏼 ou.org/ohyou Catch past episodes of the Oh, You? Podcast on Apple and Spotify.

We stand with the Chabad community and are thankful to the Almighty that there were no injuries in the disturbing car-ramming incident outside 770 Eastern Parkway, a place that holds deep meaning for many Jews around the world. This incident is the latest reminder of the sacred responsibility of those in positions of authority to prioritize the safety and security of the Jewish community, especially during this time of unprecedented threats.

Today on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember our six million brothers and sisters who were murdered for being Jewish. In their memory, we must continue living proudly as Jews and make sure the whole world knows, NEVER AGAIN.

Today, we greet the return to Israel of the body of Sergeant Ran Gvili H”yd, with a complicated combination of feelings. We are grateful to President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, relieved for the Gvili family who can now experience some painful closure, and proud of the brave soldiers who made this possible. Today’s events also echo an ancient Jewish story that should fill each of us with hope and faith. Thirty years before Yetziat Mitzrayim, members of the tribe of Ephraim attempted to leave Egypt prematurely. They were massacred, and their bones were left scattered in the desert and remained unburied. Centuries later, during the Babylonian exile, the prophet Yechezkel was shown a haunting vision: a valley of dry bones that suddenly came to life. The Talmud records a startling tradition - these were not symbolic bones, but the actual remains of B’nei Ephraim. Their dream had failed in their lifetime, but G-d refused to let it die. Rabbi Moshe Trani explains that G-d was teaching a timeless truth: human dreams may be delayed, but sacred dreams are never lost. When the Jews finally left Egypt, they brought with them another set of bones, those of Yosef who imbued in the Jewish people a dream of ultimate redemption. For too long, Gaza has been a valley of Jewish bones, of soldiers and innocent civilians murdered with unimaginable cruelty. Since 2014, Israeli hostages have been held in Gaza, and as war raged, hope of bringing everyone back seemed to fade. Yet, today, one more soul, the final soul, has returned home. Jewish history does not end in valleys. Those brave soldiers who marched into Gaza dreamed of a people living peacefully, “each under their vine and under their fig tree.” May we merit to see the full flowering of those dreams, with an end to the tyrannical rule of Hamas in Gaza, and the realization of the complete and ultimate redemption speedily in our days.

After 843 days, the last hostage has finally been returned home. The Orthodox Union joins with klal Yisrael in mourning the loss of Sergeant First Class Ran Gvili. May his neshama have an aliyah.

Fighting Fire With Fire In the wake of the recent burning of Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, our EVP, Rabbi Dr. @joshjoseph00, reflects on a powerful truth: the most meaningful response to hate is not fear or retreat, but a deeper commitment to Jewish life, learning, and connection. Read his OpEd in @eJPhil article here: ejewishphilanthropy.com/fighting-fire-…

The flames of Congregation Beth Israel in Jackson, Mississippi echo some of the darkest images in both Jewish and American history. This fire is the latest manifestation of the violent rhetoric directed at Jews on the street, in classrooms, and on social media. This past Shabbat we read in the weekly Torah portion about the burning bush which was not consumed by fire. It is a powerful metaphor for the resilience of the Jewish people who go on despite fighting the constant battle of antisemitism. It is a lesson that the Jackson community of 1967 understood following the bombing of its synagogue, and a lesson for all of us as we face hate today. We stand with the Jewish community of Jackson as they move forward and rebuild.

Read our joint statement on Mayor Mamdani's executive actions with @JCRCNY, @AJCGlobal, @ADL and @ADL_NYNJ, @AgudahNews, @OrthodoxUnion, and the New York Board of Rabbis.