6 | JANUARY 26 • 2023
1942 - 2023
Covering and Connecting
Jewish Detroit Every Week
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PURELY COMMENTARY
guest column
The Secret to Being Relevant
Today and Tomorrow
I
t’s both humbling and
elevating to look back on
the staying power of our
organization for more than a
century. As we begin this new
year, I reflect
on this 143rd
year since our
founding and
the elements
that have
permitted
the global
educational
network ORT to provide
educational services to the
Jewish world since 1880, while
expanding and deepening our
work.
From an initial mandate
to assist Russian Jews out of
poverty through vocational
training, ORT has evolved
into a sophisticated global
network that provides a
high-quality, technology-rich
education for thousands of
young people in Israel, the
former Soviet Union, Latin
America, Europe, Africa and
other countries.
I often wonder what is the
secret of our organization
that has enabled it to survive,
and even thrive, through the
vicissitudes of modern history
that have been punctuated
by the rise and fall of
governments, two world wars,
the fall of the Iron Curtain, a
global pandemic, worldwide
terror and rising antisemitism,
and the war in Ukraine.
The question we ask
ourselves is how we stay
relevant at a time when we
are witnessing the closing of
many legacy businesses and
organizations. The answer
to that question, I believe,
is what will also sustain the
organization moving forward.
ORT has consistently
demonstrated the ability
Dr. Conrad
Giles
Students working on robotics at the D. Dan and Betty Kahn STEAM
Center in Kiryat Yam.
NITZAN ZOHAR