get to know oorah A full spectrum of support for growth-oriented Jewish families.

“Warm, dedicated & knowledgeable people are the heart of Oorah.”

Rabbi Chaim Mintz

Founder, Director, Spiritual Leader & Advisor Rabbi Chaim Mintz

As the director and spiritual leader of Oorah, Rabbi Chaim Mintz’s vision of a close-knit community has become a reality. While the organization was founded in Staten Island, it has since expanded with a vast range of programs throughout the country. Rabbi Mintz’s fifty years of experience in both education and community outreach, when coupled with his warmth and compassionate nature, make him the ultimate scholar in residence. He leads a weekly Torah class each Tuesday night, followed by a session of Ask the Rabbi, and is involved in all aspects of Oorah’s programs nationwide.

    Founder

  • Rabbi Chaim Mintz
  • Executive

  • Eliyohu Mintz
    CEO
  • Rabbi Yitzchok Kornblau
    COO
  • Ben Turin
    General Counsel
  • Rabbi Yehoshua Weinstein
    President
  • Board

  • Rabbi Chaim Mintz
    Eliyohu Mintz
    Avraham Biderman
    Rabbi Tzvi (Heshy) Forster
    Elli Bohm

    Leadership

  • Rabbi Tzvi Yoffe
    Senior Kiruv Coordinator
  • Rabbi Chaim Reichman
    Kiruv Development
  • Ms. Tzipora Kahan
    Tuition Program Director
  • Ms. Aliza Perles
    Little Star Pre-School Program Director
  • Rabbi Yisroel Mayer Hoberman
    Director of TorahMates
  • Mrs. Raizelle Serebrowski
    Rebbetzins Director
  • Mrs. Shayndy Abrahamson
    Director of Events

Oorah staff

our history

Rabbi Mintz
|

1972

Rabbi Chaim Mintz begins Jewish Outreach

Shabbat packages
|

1974

Rabbi Mintz distributes Shabbat Packages in his Staten Island community

menorah distribution
|

1975

Oorah delegations begin distributing Chanukah menorahs to Jewish families

sukkah distribution
|

1980

  • Oorah distributes Sukkahs within the tri-state area
  • Oorah hosts its first Purim seudah
first tuition scholarship
|

1984

Oorah awards its first tuition scholarship

Kars4Kids founded
|

1995

  • Kars4Kids is founded
  • The annual Oorah Auction kicks off its first year
Cucumber Communications founded
|

1996

  • Cucumber Communications is founded
  • The oorah.org website is launched
Rabbi's endorsment
|

2002

Oorah is endorsed by 50 Jewish leaders

Holiday gifts first sent out
|

2004

  • GirlZone opens in the Poconos
  • Oorah hosts their first Shabbat with 80 Participants
  • Jewish holiday gifts are sent out
TorahMates launched
|

2005

  • The TorahMates Program is launched
  • Oorah expands to 100+ Employees
BoyZone opens
|

2006

  • GirlZone moves to Gilboa, NY
  • BoyZone begins in Stamford, NY
  • Oorah launches programs in Canada and Israel
Fiveish created
|

2007

  • Fiveish is created
  • The Rebbetzins network for singles is launched
First Chanukah Concert
|

2008

Oorah’s first annual Chanukah concert is held

Cucumber Communications
|

2009

  • The first Shmorg is released
  • Oorah hosts Sukkos for the first time
  • TorahSpot weekly classes begin with Rav Chaim Mintz
  • ChillZone begins in Brooklyn
Little Star Preschool opens
|

2010

  • TorahMates begin earning rewards for every minute learned
  • Oorah’s Little Star Preschool opens in Staten Island
First Pesach with Oorah
|

2011

  • TorahMates exceeds 1000 pairs
  • Oorah hosts Pesach for the first time
  • Shabbat with Oorah exceeds 600 Participants!
ChillZone
|

2012

ChillZone expands to over 30 locations

Ask the Rabbi on Zoom
|

2020

  • Ask the rabbi expands to Zoom
  • The Dira opens in Lakewood, New Jersey
  • TorahMates Jewish Resources library is launched
Junior TorahMates
|

2021

The Junior TorahMates program is launched

Kollel stipend program
|

2022

Oorah begins the kollel stipend program to help support their cherished alumni who have gone on to attend kollel

Shteigers
|

2024

Oorah's program for students studying in yeshiva/seminary in Israel is rebranded as Shteigers

Crowds at TheZone resort

Present

  • TorahMates Over 13,000 TorahMates learn weekly
  • Rebbetzins The Rebbetzins program boasts over 1554 engagements
  • ChillZone Over 65 ChillZone locations are open across the US and Canada
  • TheZone 1000+ campers attend TheZone each summer
  • Oorah Tuition Oorah awards scholarships to over 2,000 students annually,
    allowing them to attend yeshiva and day schools across the country.

Contact Us

USA Address

1805 Swarthmore Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Phone

Tel. 732.730.1000
Intl: 866.472.8623
Email: oorah@oorah.org