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O U I M PAC T R E P ORT 2020
FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH When the coronavirus struck, it came fast and furious, sending the world into a tailspin— economically, emotionally, spiritually. COVID-19 created a crisis that no one could have predicted or prepared for. And yet, thanks to its ever-widening circle of influence, born of trust and an infrastructure that has been growing for over 120 years, the Orthodox Union was uniquely prepared to deal with this crisis. It responded to COVID-19 in much the same way it has responded to the many challenges it has faced since its inception: stepping in and stepping up, swiftly and decisively. In 1898 it was indeed a crisis—if not of sickness and death but of Jewish spiritual survival—that brought 12 American Orthodox synagogues together to form the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. The battle was to preserve and strengthen traditional Judaism and fight for the religious rights of Jews in America. It was the OU that obtained permission for Jewish soldiers in the Spanish-American War to receive furloughs for yom tov; helped Sabbath observers find jobs via the OU’s employment bureau; fought the blue laws; created a Youth Division and a Women’s Branch. And it was in the late 1920s that Women’s Branch representatives began personally inspecting foodmanufacturing plants and pressing the OU rabbinical leadership to expand its kashrut supervision efforts, which led to what the OU is best known for: its kosher seal of approval. And so, in March, when it became starkly clear that the coronavirus was not a passing phase, the OU responded immediately on both a communal and an individual level. We asked ourselves: What do
communities need now and how can we provide it? What do individuals—children, parents, the elderly, people with disabilities—need, and how can we help them? It began with listening to our OU partners and constituents as they shared their concerns, fears, needs, and wishes. Then followed phone calls and discussions at all hours, sleepless nights, departments joining forces, leaders and lay leaders checking in with employees and coworkers. Decisions made, programs overhauled, revamped, and recreated in a matter of hours and days, meeting the community’s needs in creative, out-of-the-box ways, using technology and our connections around the globe. We helped bring shuls and rabbis clarity, direction, and guidance as centers for our dispersed community and for the leaders who, in many cases, needed help guiding their congregations. Our virtual conference with Dr. Anthony Fauci helped clarify shul guidelines, which have evolved through consultation with other top infectious disease specialists including the U.S. Surgeon General, spiritual leaders, and rabbanim from across the country. Recognizing the severe economic toll the pandemic was taking on our community, the OU Advocacy Center was able to affect fast-moving federal and local legislation: the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act ensured that our Jewish schools and shuls would get as much monetary relief as possible. The OU Advocacy Center continues its tireless work to maximize monetary relief for our community.
