The Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative hosted its inaugural leadership summit this past Monday and Tuesday in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. The conference focused on the development of lay leadership; the 100 participants were nominated by 56 communities around the United States, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Sessions focused on strategy and communication for leaders, public speaking, engaging and retaining volunteers, creating compelling programming, effective use of social media, honing and growing one’s personal leadership strengths and work-life balance, community spiritual growth, board and donor relations and other lay-leadership challenges that Orthodox women face.
“The goals of the program were to nurture lay leadership, enhance leadership skills and create a collaborative space,” said Dr. Adina Shmidman, founding director of the OU Women’s Initiative. “It was inspiring to see a group of women, incredibly diverse in age, experience and hashkafa, coming together to share their passion for the Jewish community.”
Executive Vice President of the OU Allen Fagin addressed the summit and recognized the many contributions of the successful professional women in the room who volunteer in their communities in a wide variety of community groups and institutions.
“You each recognize what I believe is the most important lesson of leadership, and that is the power of one: the ability of one person. One person with the right drive, energy, skill and ambition to single-handedly inspire a community, transform a shul, propel a yeshiva to new heights and drive organizational change through the formulation of strategy and mission.”
Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane added: “These women exemplify the oskim b’tzarchei tzibur be’emuna, building our communal ‘homes’ with passion and wisdom.”
The now-18-months-old OU Women’s Initiative works with Orthodox communities to identify and address women’s spiritual, educational, communal and leadership needs by expanding and enhancing Torah-learning opportunities by women and for women and by creating innovative programming to meet the needs of women at all ages and phases.
