SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 23

T

he Orthodox Union 
(OU) Women’s 
Initiative hosted a 
conference in Stamford, 
Conn., at the end of July with 
a goal of creating the first-
of-its-kind fellowship to help 
rebbetzins (rabbis’ wives) assist 
women in the communities 
they serve to deal with mental 
health issues.
Jenna Beltser of Southfield, 
who’s actively involved with 
the Orthodox community 
in Michigan, attended the 
conference and expressed the 
importance of this program.
“I felt like the conference 
gave those who participated 
strength just knowing that 
they’re not alone. A lot of the 
people in a leadership position 
sometimes feel like the world 
is on their shoulders. Having 
this fellowship can give them 
a sense of support,” Beltser 
explained. 
During the conference, 
Beltser says there were a 
variety of topics talked about 
in regard to mental health 
and more, where participants 

were able to learn new tools, 
language and resources to 
share with their community. 
“What was amazing about 
this conference and this 
women’s initiative is that it’s 
really becoming this central 
hub of resources, education, 
networking and support 
for women in leadership 
positions,” she said. 
The OU Women’s Initiative’s 
mission has been providing 
support for women to deal 
with difficult scenarios ever 
since it was launched by the 
Orthodox Union in 2017.
Sarah F., a rebbetzin 
in a Midwestern Jewish 
community, says she had faced 
a woman in her community 
caught in the grip of severe 
depression and was hesitant 
when encouraging her to get 
professional help. When Sarah 
saw an ad for the OU Women’s 
Initiative’s Fellowship she says 
she applied right away. 
“During the course of the 
fellowship, I learned helpful 
ways to phrase advice so that 
people could be more receptive 

to it,” Sarah explained. 
“I learned to say, ‘I know a 
number of people struggling 
with similar issues as you who 
have found therapy really 
helpful,’ and ‘what do you 
think?’ By phrasing things in 
this way to the wife who was 
struggling with depression, 
the woman felt empowered to 
seek therapy. I would not have 
worded my advice that way 
before I participated in the 
fellowship, and I wouldn’t have 

been effective.”
Experts presented on 
topics such as contemporary 
communal challenges, many 
of which are exacerbated in 
the wake of the pandemic 
and the current social and 
economic uncertainty.
More than 100 participants 
from different communities 
came out to the two-day in- 
person inaugural conference 
where they got to participate 
in an exclusive afternoon of 
programming.
“There is no greater 
investment we can make 
than in the women who 
act as the first responders 
to critical issues facing 
individuals and families in our 
communities,” noted Dr. Adina 
Shmidman, Women’s Initiative 
director. “The OU sees it as 
our responsibility to help 
women fill their toolbox with 
the resources and relationships 
that will help them help 
others with confidence and 
sensitivity.” 

For more information, visit: ou.org/

departments/womens-initiative.

OUR COMMUNITY

Orthodox Union’s 
Women’s Initiative 
offers program 
to empower women 
by teaching them 
critical skills.

OU Launches 
Empowerment 
Program 

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jenna Beltser 
of Southfield at 
the Women’s 
Conference

Women were able to network with each other 
at the Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative.

