OU has come a long way in its first 125 years

The Orthodox Union’s achievements since its inception as a kosher certification agency 125 years ago were showcased at a gala honoring some of the people behind its success.

“The Sinai vision for the Jewish people was that we be uplifted and uplifting, a mamlechet kohanim v’goy kadosh (a nation of priests and holy people),” says OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer. The OU works “towards that shared vision for our community, ensuring that our connection to G-d, Klal Yisrael and Torah impacts our values and choices, he said.

About 275 OU supporters, board members and their families, lay leaders, shul representatives, NCSY participants, and OU professionals gathered for “An Evening of Appreciation: Beyond the OU Symbol”.

The gala, at Cipriani Wall Street, included a keynote address by prominent Israeli media personality Sivan Rahav Meir, who spoke about the positive evolution of Jewish identity since Oct. 7, and touched upon her personal connection to the OU, particularly as a speaker for the OU Women’s Initiative.

Rabbi Moshe Hauer and shared the OU’s strategy and vision for addressing the community’s ongoing needs, and advancing communal solutions, and beneficiaries of OU programs introduced videos highlighting the origins and growth of the OU and OU Kosher, sharing how these initiatives have profoundly impacted their lives.

“From our humble beginnings at the OU with advocacy efforts and launching OU Kosher, to the over 20 programs we proudly offer today, the OU’s impact on the community has only strengthened over time,” said OU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph.

He referred to programs such as NCSY, Yachad, JLIC and All Daf, and said that the organization is “looking to strategically meet the needs of emerging career professionals and Anglo communities in Israel.”

The gala followed the OU’s Biennial Convention, which saw the election and installation of the 2025-2026 OU Board of Directors and Board of Governors, including 10 new board members: Natan Bane of Far Rockaway, Jeff Eisenberg of Lawrence, Morris Massel of New York, Josh Goldberg of Englewood, Miriam Greenspan of Teaneck, Ari Adlerstein of Merion Station (PA), Ahuva Basch of Montreal, Aliza Bixon of Miami Beach, Stuart Hershkowitz of Jerusalem, and Jeffery Silver of Toronto.

Several of the new board members “are already deeply involved in our programs, and the others are communal leaders who have declared their commitment to serve and represent the OU with dedication and purpose,” explained OU President Mitchel Aeder.

Ahuva Basch cited the value of tzarchei tzibbur (community service) as a key motivation for joining the OU board.

“Chessed and ahavas Yisrael are values that I grew up with and that my husband and I aim to instill in our children,” says Basch, CEO of Logix ITS, a company that creates innovative traffic safety, speed enforcement, and parking lot solutions. “What better way to teach our children than to lead by example?”

A national board member of JWE (Jewish Women Entrepreneur), which mentors female entrepreneurs and executives, Basch said that “joining this remarkable group of board members makes me feel that any time and effort I dedicate to the community will have a far greater impact than anything I could achieve alone.”

“OU Israel Executive Director Rabbi Avi Berman has been a longstanding friend and a force behind the Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults, named in memory of my father,” said Jeffrey Silver. “Our relationship certainly influenced my decision to serve on the board. The OU represents a vision with which our family is aligned.”

New board member Aliza Bixon said she felt energized after meeting and learning from her fellow members at the convention. The international health coach and co-owner of Pilates on the Beach and Absolute Collagen — an OU-Kosher certified product — first met OU professionals through OU Kosher.

Bixon led two women’s missions in support of OU Israel and the OU, and ran subsequent fundraisers for the OU’s war efforts and international programing.

“Many mission participants were surprised at the depth of the OU’s reach and initiatives,” she said. “They thought of the OU exclusively in terms of kosher certification. Yet the OU also fills the spiritual and educational needs of the entire Jewish community, serving every demographic from children to seniors.”

Founded in 1898, the Orthodox Union is a voice of American Orthodox Jewry, with over 400 congregations in its synagogue network. The OU is at the forefront of advocacy work on both state and federal levels, outreach to Jewish teens and young professionals through NCSY and Birthright Israel/Israel Free Spirit trip organizer, and Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, among many other divisions and programs.

News supplied by the OU.