Oorah (organization)
Founder | Rabbi Chaim Mintz |
---|---|
Headquarters | Lakewood (CDP), New Jersey, New Jersey, U.S. |
Website |
oorah |
Oorah, or sometimes Oorah Kiruv Rechokim, Hebrew for "awaken and bring in those who are far" (a reference to educating non-observant Jews), is an incorporated Orthodox Jewish kiruv (outreach) organization founded in 1980 "with the goal of awakening Jewish children and their families to their heritage."[1] It is a United States based 501(C)3 non-profit organization.[2]
History
Oorah, Inc. was founded by Rabbi Chaim Mintz and its day-to-day operation is run by Rabbi Eliyohu Mintz (son of the founder) out of Lakewood, New Jersey.[3][4]
Programs
Oorah operates and/or funds 49 different programs that target Jewish outreach (Kiruv) and learning, family support, personal growth, and relationship counseling. It promotes family support and development.[5][6] It runs summer camps for boys and girls, Jewish holiday enrichment, early, primary, and secondary educational support and enrichment, as examples.
Fundraising
Oorah employs a number of different fund-raising entities to keep its many programs running. They operate Kars4Kids (a car-donation program) and run an annual "Chinese auction," offering tickets for a variety of prizes at five dollars each. They have a mascot named Fiveish, a five dollar bill who has starred in YouTube videos in both animated and costume version. As a bonus to purchasing auction tickets, donors can receive a DVD and or CD of that year's edition of the "shmorg."
Legal issues
In the summer of 2007, 31 undocumented workers doing work for a subcontractor at Oorah's summer camp were arrested in a raid by ICE and local law enforcement.[7] Camp director Eliyohu Mintz stated that the organization was not aware that the workers lacked employment authorization.[8]
On September 11, 2010, Oorah's website was hacked by radical Islamists posting antisemitic messages.[9]
References
- ↑ "Oorah.org". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ "Oorah.org - Tax exempt status". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ "Leadership and team members at Oorah". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ "Rabbi Chaim Mintz". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ "Oorah Programs". Oorah. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ↑ Oorah's self-published December 2008 news bulletin, pages 90-91
- ↑ Palmateer, Jake (July 12, 2007). "Neighbors surprised by ICE raid". The Daily Star. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ↑ Immigration News Briefs. "Immigration News Briefs - NY: Raid at Upstate Summer Camp". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ Oorah’s Children’s Camp Site Attacked by Radical Islamists on Anniversary of 9/11, September 14, 2010