‘Talent is a communal currency’

Rutgers junior Dani Bank of West Orange helped organize a Friendsgiving meal at the campus Hillel, where he is vice president of religious life. Members of a variety of student Jewish communities and social groups were invited to this pre-Thanksgiving event.

Keeping in mind the lessons he’d just learned in one of his first sessions as an Orthodox Union Emerging Leaders Fellow, Mr. Bank, 21, put a lot of thought into ensuring inclusivity, from planning a multi-option menu to arranging the tables in a way that encouraged attendees to talk to peers with whom they may never have engaged before.

“That kind of thinking is an example of how a little extra sensitivity in planning logistics can make such a big difference in terms of impact,” he said. “It is one of the ideas I’ve already gained from the fellowship.”

The 30 inaugural fellows in the yearlong mentorship and leadership development program were selected from among some 4,200 college-age volunteers involved in the OU’s three major youth outreach divisions — Yachad, NCSY, and JLIC. Ten young men and women were chosen from each of these divisions.

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Yachad offers social and educational programs benefiting Jews with disabilities and their families. NCSY — an acronym that once stood for National Conference of Synagogue Youth but has grown far beyond synagogues — fosters a positive Jewish identity and community ties for teens through social and recreational activities. JLIC — originally Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus — offers religious, educational, and social programming, leadership, and mentorship opportunities to Jewish students and young professionals in North America and Israel, including the student-run Yavneh Fellowship, which focuses on enhancing Jewish life on college campuses.

The Emerging Leaders Fellowship is part of the new OU Pipeline Initiative, a cross-departmental effort to nurture future leaders from within. In addition to Zoom sessions and a Shabbaton for all the fellows, each fellow is in frequent contact with his or her mentors.

OU Chief Human Resources Officer Josh Gottesman explained, “OU mentors have built organizations, navigated challenges, and shaped Jewish life on the ground. Emerging Leaders Fellows gain wisdom earned through years of service and leadership, learning not just the ‘how’ but also the ‘why’ behind decisions and leadership styles, rooting their professional journey in mission and responsibility to the Jewish community.”

Mr. Gottesman said the goal is to develop a steady flow of future leaders who are ready and inspired to step in when needed.

“At the OU, we approach talent development through sustainable infrastructure and by creating clear opportunities and growth pathways,” he said. “The Pipeline Initiative isn’t just about the OU’s needs; it strengthens the entire ecosystem of Jewish communal life by investing in people who can carry that mission forward. Talent is a communal currency. Some fellows will stay with the OU. Others will go on to lead in schools, shuls, federations, startups, or other industries. That’s a win for both the OU and the broader community.”

Mr. Bank, who’d taken leadership roles at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, said he entered Rutgers “wanting to dive into college and be part of the Jewish community. A strong Jewish community was really important to me.”

Accordingly, he got involved in his campus Hillel, Chabad, and JLIC organizations, and he became a Yavneh Fellow in his sophomore year.

“Yavneh helped open my eyes to what we do at Rutgers that others could benefit from and to what others are doing on their campuses that we can benefit from,” he said. “I saw that if we increase communication throughout the United States, Jewish life on campus can really be enhanced. This drove me to the OU Emerging Leaders Fellowship program, which is about strengthening communities and building connections across the country. It’s a great next step for me to work with people at other campuses and do different kinds of programming, all working together under the values of the OU.”

Binyamin Alter of Teaneck, 20, who is majoring in political science, is a Yavneh Fellow at Queens College. Among the programs he helps organize are Shabbaton weekends, leadership training, community building, and mentoring.

“I already started my leadership journey with Yavneh,” he said. “I became a mentor this year for first-year fellows. Another leadership training through the OU will definitely assist me to build on that foundation to be the most strong and capable leader I can be.

“Just being with so many leaders from different Jewish communities is inspiring, and seeing what other people are accomplishing gives me hope. On an individual campus it’s hard to see the big picture of Jewish community, but through the fellowship we meet people from across the country who can relate to our struggles and offer solutions.”

Micah Pickett of Fair Lawn, 21, is a student at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business. He coordinates high school engagement for Yachad New Jersey and supervises clubs at six Jewish high schools in North Jersey and MetroWest — Frisch, TABC, Bruriah, Naaleh, Kushner, and Ma’ayanot — geared to recruiting, developing, and supporting a local volunteer base for Yachad.

“We started a leadership program this year for middle and high school, where they learn inclusive leadership skills for working with individuals with special needs and their siblings, and general leadership skills like conflict management,” he said.

Mr. Pickett spent five years working in Yachad’s summer program, Yad B’Yad, and was boys’ head counselor at Camp Morasha’s Yachad division last summer. “I love working with high schoolers and engaging with the next generation of leaders,” the Frisch graduate said.

Under the guidance of his mentors, Mr. Pickett is planning to introduce a mentorship component within the high school leadership program, drawing on the experience of seasoned college-age Yachad counselors.

Caleb Breda, 21, a Yeshiva University student from Teaneck, holds down two leadership positions with NCSY, one overseeing learning programs for high school boys in the New York-New Jersey area, another working with day school students in South Florida. An aspiring educator, Mr. Breda flies to Florida every couple of weeks to lead a variety of programming for NCSY there.

“My impressions of the Emerging Leaders Fellowship so far are incredible,” he said. “I’ve already spoken to a lot of people at the OU, which means they are putting a lot of effort into this. They set me up with a mentor in South Florida, and that’s huge. I have a lot of ideas for programming, but obviously I don’t live there, so making that connection was tremendously important.”

NCSY National Director of Advisors Anna Kausz noted the initiative has created new opportunities for interdepartmental collaboration.

“It gives advisors the chance to learn from and engage with one another, with mentors, and with their communities,” she said. “We are deeply grateful to the OU for investing in this population, believing in them, and continually finding new ways to support and cultivate the next generation of leaders.”

Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph, who is the OU’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the Pipeline Initiative “reflects the best of who we are — leaders across departments coming together to invest in our people and our shared mission. By building a strong leadership pipeline, we’re not only preparing individuals for future roles, we’re ensuring that collaboration, mentorship, and purpose continue to define our work and strengthen the Jewish community for generations to come.”