Shabbat

Comfortable, warm, relaxing and uplifting – Oorah’s many Shabbat programs are there for everyone who wants to share the experience.

Shabbat With Oorah

Shabbat is a treasure, and Shabbat With Oorah is the perfect way to share it. Families from all walks of life come together at a resort hotel, dine together on fresh gourmet food, enjoy inspiring Shabbat prayers and songs, hear informative speakers and enjoy top-notch programs for the entire family.

For those who want to learn about Judaism, there are dozens of friendly families eager to share their knowledge. For children, there are games, storytellers and on Sunday, a carnival. Teens appreciate the teens-only “Ask the Rabbi” question-and-answer session. And everyone loves the star-studded post-Shabbat concert.
The most recent Shabbat With Oorah brought together 600 people – many of whom were returning for a second, third or fourth time. For families that observe Shabbat at home. or those that just want to see what it’s all about, Shabbat With Oorah promises an unforgettable weekend.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Shabbat Experience

The Shabbat Experience

Anyone who wants to experience a warm, homey Shabbat with a Shabbat-observant family has the opportunity to do so through The Shabbat Experience. With a little bit of skillful matchmaking, Oorah puts together just the right guests with the just the right hosts to make a comfortable, joyful Shabbos experience for all. The Shabbat Experience has succeeded in giving many families a sweet taste of an authentic Shabbat table, complete with delicious, homemade food, friendly conversation, words of Torah and singing. But the real success is in the many friendships created at the Shabbat table – friendships that truly make a difference in the hosts’ and the guests’ lives.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Kids Shabbatons

Kids Only Shabbatons

Oorah has made a mission out of making children happy. At camp, at holiday get-togethers and trips, in school and out, Oorah makes sure there’s a smile on every face. And that’s why Oorah’s Shabbatons especially for kids succeed in providing their young guests with a Shabbat of pure delight. Whether the children know each other from camp or other Oorah events, the excitement of reconnecting is plain to see. Add that to kid-friendly programming, the world’s biggest Shabbat party spread, singing, dancing and entertainment, and there isn’t a kid around who wouldn’t want to be part of an Oorah Shabbaton.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Shabbazone

A The Zone’s girl’s division summer leaves its campers with one overriding memory – the amazing camp Shabbat. Ten months is too long to wait for another taste of those great Friday night meals, the Shabbat lunch singing, the special foods, smells and sights of this special day of the week. That’s why Oorah opened its own home-away-from¬-home Shabbat retreat called Shabbazone, where girls can come and spend a camp-type Shabbat with friends. Well-planned and supervised, Shabbazone is there for any The Zone’s girl’s division girl who wants to rekindle that special Shabbat feeling. Reservations are needed, as space is limited.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Mentoring Jewish Families

Guidance and Mentoring

Today, families seek out plenty of resources to navigate the treacherous waters of family life. But at Oorah, the main resources are a listening ear and a caring heart. From Oorah’s founder, Rabbi Chaim Mintz, to its camp counselors, learning partners and volunteers, Oorah does its best to be there for its “family.”

The Zone’s boys’ and girls’ division counselors speak to their campers on a weekly basis. Some help their campers with homework, some take them out for pizza or a game of basketball, all to maintain the bond that formed during camp. The adult Torahmates program, as well, creates many close mentoring relationships.

When Rabbi Mintz started Oorah, his goal was simple: find out what each Jewish child needs to grow up wholesome and productive, and provide it. Today, everyone associated with Oorah shares in his mission. That’s why Oorah is a family – because family listens, family helps, and family cares!

Counseling Jewish Singles

Pre-Marriage Counseling

When people think of a matchmaker, they often think of Yenta, the comical old busy-body in “The Fiddler on the Roof,” who shamelessly pushes her clients into disastrous marriages. Yet today, a matchmaker can play a crucial role in preparing young people for marriage, helping them clarify what their real priorities are, assisting them in finding suitable dates and guiding them in their decision-making. Why has Oorah become a matchmaker? Oorah’s involvement with children and young people eventually extended to the next natural step – involvement with young men and women seeking to get married. So, Oorah did what it does best – it formed a new program to answer the need.

Oorah’s program is comprised of a network of men and women across the country, devoted to guiding young people to the chuppah with the utmost care and the brightest hopes for a successful future. They perform all the roles involved in the task, getting to know each prospective match as an individual, finding out what his or her priorities are, helping to clarify issues, finding appropriate people for the person to date and helping to assess the future prospects for each match. Oorah and matchmaking – a match made in Heaven! Visit Oorah's Rebbetzins program website to find out more!

Home Visits

Whether a family is involved with Oorah because their children are The Zone’s girl’s division or The Zone’s boys’ division campers, because Oorah has helped them place their children in yeshiva or day school or because the parents have Torahmates learning partners, Oorah’s follow-through is second to none. Our staff stays in touch through personal visits or by phone to make sure that any snags or potential difficulties are cleared up right away, and that families are getting all the resources they want to build a vibrant, Jewish home.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Shalom Chesed Fund

Jewish tradition teaches that “If there is no bread, there is no Torah.” In other words, Jewish education and enrichment are secondary concerns when people are struggling for survival. In keeping with the Talmud’s maxim, Oorah has established a special fund that distributes tens of thousands of dollars a year to families in need.

Whether the need is related to Jewish traditions – such as supplies and groceries needed for Peach – or related to simple economic hardship, Oorah finds out what is needed and does its best to help. Clothing, food, household goods, financial assistance and religious articles all help to bring “shalom” – peace of mind – to Oorah families that are facing financial difficulties.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Koshering

Tevilas Keilim, Koshering Kitchens

Kosher food has been called food for the Jewish soul, and many families who have begun to keep kosher agree that it has an uplifting effect on their lives. But turning a kitchen kosher is a job that requires both elbow-grease and expertise.

Oorah's volunteer kashering teams arrive at a family's home ready and able to fulfill the mission. They will also help families immerse their pots, pans, glasses, silver and dishes into a keli mikvah – a special pool of water that imparts a new level of sanctity onto the utensils used to prepare and serve a Jewish family's food.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Outreach

Families seeking a Jewish learning resource will find Oorah – either through friends, through the web or through some other means. But what about all those families who are interested, who have children they want to raise with a strong Jewish identity, but they just haven't yet reached out? Oorah's outreach team extends a hand to them.

Several times a year, Oorah volunteers visit Jewish families throughout the tri-state area, knocking on doors to bring holiday gifts, informational material and an open invitation to contact Oorah. In more than two decades of door-to-door outreach, Oorah has discovered that when doors open, hearts open too.

Learning partners are powerful ambassadors for a Torah life.
The personal connection between Torah Mates motivates growth on both sides of the partnership.
Parents who learn are strongly supportive of their children's chinuch.

Oorah's families speak...

"I can go on and on, but let's just say Oorah has changed our lives for the better in so many ways" Laura Grella

Shabbat has become something special for us

Oorah's involvement in our family's life has uplifted us all spiritually. After my daughter attended Oorah's camp for two years, she started wearing skirts for Shabbat and invited me to light the candles Friday night with her. Shabbat has become something special for us, a time to pause after the rushing of the week, and reconnect with each other and with our roots.

Rachel Sharabani

looking forward to this year's Shabbaton

Because of Oorah my parents have joined the amazing Torah Mates program and have been learning for a year now. They really enjoy it! We've not only grown as a family, but we've also become part of the large Oorah family. We attended Shabbat With Oorah last year, and had a wonderful time. My whole family is really looking forward to this year's Shabbaton.

Devorah Shamanova

traditional Jewish lifestyle

The entire family has benefited from Oorah. My children have been greatly influenced by the traditional Jewish lifestyle that they've seen at events and are able to appreciate the beauty of living as Jews. Oorah has welcomed our family into theirs and it has given my children a sense of belonging to something special.

Jeanine Ehrlich

strong Jewish value

The influence that Oorah has had on my family is indescribable. If it were not for Oorah, my kids most likely would have gone to public school and we would not have to strong Jewish value that we have now. I probably would not be shomer Shabbos. I can go on and on, but let's just say Oorah has changed our lives for the better in so many ways.

Laura Grella