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