JUNE 8 • 2023 | 9

M

ore than 150 
experienced and 
emerging female 
lay leaders from 40 cities 
across the U.S. and Israel 
recently drew inspiration, 
exchanged ideas and fostered 
connections at the Orthodox 
Union’s Women’s Initiative 
Leadership Summit at the 
Sheraton Eatontown Hotel in 
Eatontown, New Jersey. 
Geared for community 
builders of all ages, the 
two-day biennial summit 
launched in 2019 offers 
participants a chance to 
learn, grow and network 
with fellow professionals 
while learning best practices 
and honing communication, 
leadership and fundraising 
skills in a relaxed environ-
ment.
“Seeing so many 
impressive women leaders 
gathered in one room to 
invest in themselves and 
their communities gives me 

a sense of optimism for our 
future,” said OU Women’s 
Initiative Director Rebbetzin 
Dr. Adina Shmidman, a 
featured speaker who also 
delivered the opening and 
closing remarks.
Rivka Ravitz, who 
served as chief of staff to 
former Israeli President 
Reuven Rivlin, delivered 
the keynote address on 
“Behind the Scenes of State 
Leadership — A Personal 
View.” Participants were 
moved by her personal story 
of raising 12 children while 
maintaining her high-profile 
role and remaining steadfast 
in her faith. 

Collectively, the 
participants lead more 
than 150 organizations 
and represent diverse 
communities, demographics, 
hashkafic views and 
professions. Each one is 
a leader who impacts the 
community in a meaningful 

way, dedicating time, energy 
and funds to the community. 
“It was such an inspiring 
and powerful feeling to have 
the chance to connect with 
150 Jewish, talented, driven 
and accomplished women,” 
said Chaya Tova Hartman 
of Chicago, Ill. Hartman is 
an OU Board of Directors 
national vice president and 
on the board of directors 
for Keshet, a nonprofit that 
supports individuals with 
disabilities and their families. 
“To come together and 
to learn from one another 
about how to be there for 
Klal Yisroel (the Jewish 
people) in the best way 
possible made me proud 
of our Jewish communities 
and created a broad vision of 
hope for a strong Jewish life 
in the future.” 
Attendees chose from 33 
sessions including “Trust or 
Bust: Building the Critical 
Foundation for Successful 
Organizations,” “The Art 
of Productive Nonprofit 
Boards,” “Effecting Change: 
Leadership Lessons from 
Women in Tanach,” and 
“Crowdfunding for the First 
Time.” Themes focused on 
collaboration, addressing 
common challenges, achiev-
ing successes and making a 
communal impact. Topics 
ranged from budgeting and 
effective communication to 
team-building and volunteer 
retention. 
Said OU Executive 
Vice President and Chief 
Operating Officer Rabbi 
Dr. Josh Joseph: “The 
energy at the summit was 
palpable. I was blown 
away by the quality of the 
programming and the level 
of detail-orientation that 
the conference planners 
actualized.” 

OUR COMMUNITY

Rachel Adler of Detroit, community volunteer involved in Bikur 
Cholim and Tomchei Shabbos, and Linda S. Elman, immediate 
past president of the Women’s Institute of Torah

ORTHODOX UNION

Female lay leaders find inspiration at 
Orthodox Union’s Women’s Initiative 
Leadership Summit 2023.

Women’s 
Leadership 
Summit

Hillel of Metro Detroit 
Receives Grant
The Donald R. 
and Esther Simon 
Foundation has 
awarded a grant 
of $27,500 to 
Hillel of Metro 
Detroit (HMD) 
for use toward the 
2023-2024 staff-
ing of on-campus 
Rabbi-Educator 
Michele Faudem. 
The Donald R. and Esther 
Simon Foundation is built upon 
the legacy and philanthropy of 
Donald R. and Esther Simon and 
their children. The foundation 
supports projects that address 
Jewish life and identity, cancer 
research and support services, 
the cultural arts and social jus-
tice issues that make a positive 
impact in the lives of this gener-
ation and the next. 
For Hillel of Metro Detroit, 
the presence of Rabbi Faudem 
significantly influences the stu-
dents’ experiences by providing 
ready access to Jewish learning, 
thought-provoking program-
ming, personal counseling/guid-
ance and the opportunity for 
students to develop a meaningful 
relationship with a rabbi. 
Rabbi Faudem embraces 
teaching and mentoring students 
from the most observant to sec-
ular, giving them opportunities 
to explore their connections to 
Judaism. 
“I want to keep exploring 
Judaism and learning from 
Rabbi (Faudem) surrounding 
the things I do in my everyday 
life” said Alex F., a Wayne State 
University Sophomore. 
Hillel of Metro Detroit 
impacts Jewish students at six 
local college campuses: Wayne 
State University, Oakland 
University, Oakland Community 
College, Lawrence Technological 
University, University of Detroit-
Mercy, and the University of 
Michigan-Dearborn. 

Rabbi Michele 
Faudem

