TORAH INITIATIVES

OU TORAH INITIATIVES ENRICHING LIVES

THROUGH ACCESSIBLE TORAH

Torah Initiatives comprises a broad array of innovative and impactful Torah programming. With the vision of a community where every adult makes limmud ha-Torah a central part of their life, Torah Initiatives’ diverse approaches and formats provide study opportunities for those from every community and affiliation to further develop their relationship with Hashem.

4,500+

people receive daily OUTorah.org emails

103,000+

total combined downloads of All Daf, All Parsha and All Mishnah apps

140+

semichas chaver locations on 5 continents

ALL MISHNAH, ALL NEW

In December 2021, Torah Initiatives released the All Mishnah app, designed to make learning the two daily mishnayot easier and more accessible. In the Mishnah Yomi program, participants can quickly review the two mishnayot of the day and complete all of Mishnah in under six years.

This latest addition to Torah Initiative’s family of apps features curated content and a clean, userfriendly interface. All Mishnah offers world-class speakers, including Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, Rabbi Fischel Schachter, and Rabbi Zecharia Resnik. Other resources include a Mishnah Yomi calendar, different learning track settings, and a children’s section.

Rabbi Shmuel Silber, top center, together with his SCP talmidim in Baltimore, MD, proudly displaying their certificates.

My son Binyamin and I have been learning Mishnah Yomi using the All Mishnah app since the cycle began and we couldn’t be more grateful - it’s been a game changer for our ability to learn together while in different locations. We especially appreciate the kids’ and adult versions.”

– IAN GLATSTEIN, Woodmere, NY

ALL MISHNAH JUNIOR

This program, which encourages Jr. High students to learn two mishnayot per day, resulted in over 1,000 enthusiastic students in eight schools signing up to participate. Many of these students became mishnayot ambassadors in their schools which included promoting the program, coordinating shiurim, encouraging their friends to learn, distributing free ArtScroll mishnayot and sometimes delivering the shiurim themselves. Students were rewarded with prizes, special events, and of course, awesome swag.

OU TORAH INITIATIVES

All Parsha helps me come into Shabbos prepared to have a meaningful Shabbos meal with my family.

– SHARON STEIN, Los Angeles, CA

Mrs. Esther Wein is part of a diverse group of All Parsha contributors.

7,000+

downloads of the All Mishnah app in the three days following launch With the All Mishnah app, I’m able to stay on track with my daily learning. Life is hectic. This app helps me stay connected. Every day I listen to Rabbi Lebowitz’s amazing shiur on the two mishnayos. Thank you!”

– DAVID KAUFMAN, Brooklyn, NY

CONTINUED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL DAF

As the All Daf platform entered its third year, the momentum increased, and the learning continued to flourish. Additional maggidei shiur and supplemental materials were added to aid in the learning of the daily daf or any masechta one is learning.

A number of new features were added to the app: • New calendar that allows users to track their Daf

Yomi progress • Autoplay option that will automatically advance to the next shiur • Ability to see the full gemara without having to open a shiur—one of the most requested features

The new iPad native app takes advantage of landscape mode with a new look.

Communities that hosted siyumim:

Baltimore, MD Cedarhurst, NY Chicago, IL Englewood, NJ Lakewood, NJ Las Vegas, NV London, UK Manchester, UK Toms River, NJ Woodmere, NY

At the All Daf siyum in Las Vegas, NV. Left to right: Moshe Borvick; Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO, OU Kosher; Idan Malka, former NCSY National Board President; Rabbi Moshe Schwed, director, All Torah; Rabbi Yehuda Maryles, North American director of Olami Launch.

Left to right: Rabbi Moshe Brandsdorfer, director, Torah Initiatives; Rabbi Moshe Schwed, director, All Torah; OU EVP Rabbi Moshe Hauer; Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth; Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO, OU Kosher; Ashley Cohen; Rabbi Simon Taylor, national director, Community Projects & Partnerships. OU leadership met with the Chief Rabbi while in London for an All Daf siyum.

OUTORAH.ORG

Dedicated by the Jacobs and Chill Families in Memory of Harold and Pearl Jacobs

OU Torah is proud to present a number of series originating from live shiurim delivered at the OU Israel Center in Jerusalem. Current offerings include Likutei Halachot by Rabbi Azarya Berzon, Halachic and Hashkafic Issues in Contemporary

FEATURED VIDEOS BRING LEARNING TO LIFE

A featured video introduced us to an Israeli farmer during shemittah that coincided with learning Maseches Shviis in Mishnah Yomi. We met Amir Dromi and Ilana and Doron Toweg, who shut down their farm this year to observe Society by Rabbi Anthony Manning, and The Thought of Rav Soloveitchik by Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider.

The OU’s Shoshana Grossman Nach Yomi began in 2007. In its eighth cycle, the Nach Yomi took a giant step forward with the introduction of Torat Imecha Nach Yomi from the OU Women’s Initiative.

Rabbi Avrohom Reit explains the unique Chalitzah shoe as a mitzvah not regularly performed. He showed how the shoe is created according to the opinions in the gemara, rishonim, and poskim.

shemittah. Other videos explored the complex issues of the international dateline with Rabb Reit and Rabbi Heber, as well as the significance of the curves of the shofar.

Rav Elyada Goldwicht, SCP founder and Maggidshiur, delivering a shiur in Israel.

SEMICHAS CHAVER

The Semichas Chaver Program is the fastest-growing practical halacha chaburah in the world with over 140 locations and over 3,600 weekly participants. SCP’s rich content is meant to be imparted to family members and includes Q&A’s for the Shabbos table and comics for kids. The chaburahs are practical and fun and include a focus on the ta’amei hamitzvos. Upon completion of each topic and exam, every member gets the Semichas Chaver certificate signed by Rav Neventzal, Rishon Le’tzion Rav Shlomo Amar, and Rav Hershel Schachter.

140+

SEMICHAS CHAVER LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE

I’m always trying to learn, but there is such a difference when there is a bechina and I can really substantiate what I’ve learned. It has truly changed my whole family’s Shabbos experience.”

– STEVEN FARBMAN, Woodmere, NY

Rav Dovid Tugendhaft leading a shiur in Hendon, London.

OU TORAH INITIATIVES FINANCIALS

48%

52%

FUNDING SOURCES TOTAL FUNDING: $1,789,000

Dedications & Donations $933,000

OU Contribution $856,000

2%

13%

31%

EXPENSES TOTAL SPEND: $1,789,000

54%

Personnel $962,000

Torah Platforms $557,000

Semichas Chaver Program

$240,000

Other $30,000

The financial information (unaudited) here includes the total communal impact of OU programs worldwide. In addition, the OU provides significant support for all of its programs through facilities, management, and administrative services—e.g., IT, Finance, HR, and Communications. Those expenses are not reflected in the program’s financials.