(Courtesy of OU) In her decade of communal service in Europe and North America, Rebbetzin Sarah Proops has observed a commonality among her communities’ post-college constituents: a significant percentage, she says, reported feeling like they could not find their place in the Jewish community due to a lack of exposure to customized programs and tailored initiatives that align with their specific life stage. “Many people go through the yeshiva day school system and then on to Israel and university, and after that there aren’t necessarily as many opportunities for growth and connection,” said Proops. She and her husband, Rabbi James Proops, currently serve as the rabbinic couple at the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, following similar roles in the UK and Los Angeles.

“The post-college demographic is highly diverse, encompassing individuals at various life stages … seeking a wide range of programming options” she added. “So many people feel unseen. Looking ahead to the next generation of American Jewry, it’s vital that this demographic feels connected to and valued by the Jewish community.”

Aiming to fill this much needed void, the Orthodox Union recently launched the Emerging Career Professionals (ECP) department, with Proops as its director. Geared towards Orthodox singles, couples and young parents who are post-college through their late 30s, ECP strives to create opportunities for emerging career professionals to live vibrant Jewish lives, connected to their community via chesed, learning, social, advocacy and professional networking opportunities that will either be co-ed or gender-specific, depending on the program.

“We don’t want to simply replicate what others are doing,” said Proops. “Our goal is to collaborate with and support current initiatives while addressing unmet needs by offering meaningful and impactful opportunities that directly benefit the ECP community.”

ECP will be peer-driven, and Proops is in the process of assembling an executive committee, the ECP Pillars. She is seeking young community members who take initiative, are eager to help build the new department, be impactful and who can relay which programs this demographic feels are missing from its Jewish experience.

“This population hasn’t had the opportunity to serve on shul or school boards yet,” said Proops. “Serving on the ECP Pillars will give members the opportunity to learn valuable leadership skills and introduce them to the breadth and scope of the OU. Baruch Hashem, many people have already reached out and expressed interest in getting involved.”

In the short time since she began her new role, Proops has run a challah-bake for 80 women at Congregation Magen David of Manhattan and cultivated partnerships with the Young Professionals Shteiging Program, and BlindFate.

As with ECP, the Young Professional Shteiging Program was created with the goal of helping young adults maintain their connection to the Jewish community post-college. Founded by Rabbi Yaakov Lichtenstein a year ago, the program boasts a WhatsApp group with 450 members and runs three initiatives for the ECP demographic on Manhattan’s Upper West Side: a Tuesday night program featuring chabura learning, inspiring speakers and dinner; a daily program featuring Shacharit, chabura learning and a shiur, and a Sunday breakfast. Now, thanks to partnership with the OU, a new Wednesday night women’s learning program similar in format to the men’s weekly gathering is being offered.

“I learned that many yeshiva day school graduates lack meaningful opportunities to connect to Yiddishkeit once they graduate university, but the fire within them is burning,” said Rabbi Lichtenstein. “I’m so thrilled to have the OU as a partner. Working with the OU will enable us to expand the program even more and take it to the next level. Our hope is to be able to offer programming beyond New York State in the near future.”

The second partnership, BlindFate, is similarly aligned with the ECP department’s mission. BlindFate is a matchmaking organization run by Rivkah Fox, who was inspired to develop the initiative as an innovative solution to the dating process, which she says might feel difficult and rigid at times. Through unique, interactive, in-person events and online social media dating games geared toward all demographics, BlindFate aims to make dating a positive, fun experience. On Chanukah, BlindFate and the ECP department held their first joint event in Miami for frum professionals ages 25 to 35. Over 120 participants from North America, South America, Israel and Australia enjoyed a memorable evening, which resulted in many dates.

“Seeing the importance of our mission for the continuity of Am Yisrael, the OU offered to partner with us to help bring BlindFate to a broader audience,” said Fox. “I am very excited to collaborate with the OU and their new ECP department. By marrying BlindFate with the ECP’s resources, there is an even greater opportunity to connect more people.”

Proops is also looking forward to collaborating with other OU departments on joint initiatives. In July, ECP will participate in an OU Relief Mission to Romania, together with Shabbat Angels, an organization committed to helping Jewish families with finances for Shabbat and Yamim Tovim, and to assist with young professional chesed opportunities. In Romania, the groups will lead programs, outings and a special Shabbat experience for youth at the Tikvah Orphanage.

For her part, Proops says she is thrilled to be part of the OU team and to be working with the ECP population.

“It’s a true honor to help magnify existing programs while also creating new infrastructure that will support the growth and connection of this demographic,” she said. “These individuals are the future leaders of the Jewish community and this programming is vital to their development. The potential of this department is immense. It’s not about what we should do, but about determining where to begin. I’m deeply honored to be part of this exciting new initiative.”

Rabbi Joshua Ross, managing director of the OU’s Collegiate & Young Professionals Division, is also excited about the department’s launch.

“Supporting the needs of emerging career professionals is crucial for building a strong and vibrant Jewish future,” he said. “I’m thrilled to support Sarah as she takes on this important work, creating meaningful opportunities for connection and engagement for this vital demographic.”

To learn how you can get involved in the ECP Department, email [email protected].