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Oorah (organization)

Oorah Kiruv Rechokim, Inc (Hebrew: עורה קירבו רחוקים; "awaken and bring in those who are far"), better known as Oorah is an incorporated Orthodox Jewish outreach (kiruv) organization.[1] It is a United States–based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[2]

History

Oorah, Inc. was founded by Chaim Mintz and is based in Lakewood. Day-to-day operations are overseen by his son, Eliyohu Mintz of New Jersey.[3][4]

Programs

Oorah operates and/or funds 49 individual programs that target Jewish outreach (Kiruv) and learning, family support, personal growth, and relationship counseling. It promotes family support and development.[5][6] It runs summer camps for boys and girls, Jewish holiday enrichment, early, primary, and secondary educational support and enrichment, as examples. One of their main programs involves an anthropomorphic $5 bill, named Fiveish.

In the summer of 2007, 31 undocumented workers doing work for a subcontractor at Oorah's summer camp were arrested in a raid by ICE and local law enforcement.[7] Camp director Eliyohu Mintz stated that the organization was not aware that the workers lacked employment authorization.[8]

In September 2010, a website for some of Oorah's camps was hacked.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Oorah.org". Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  2. ^ "Oorah.org - Tax exempt status". Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  3. ^ Genia Gould (February 4, 2007). "With Curls and a Haircut, a Billboard Is Reborn". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. ^ "About Oorah | Jewish Outreach". www.oorah.org. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  5. ^ "Oorah Programs". Oorah. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Oorah's self-published December 2008 news bulletin, pages 90-91
  7. ^ Palmateer, Jake (July 12, 2007). "Neighbors surprised by ICE raid". The Daily Star. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  8. ^ Immigration News Briefs (July 22, 2007). "Immigration News Briefs - NY: Raid at Upstate Summer Camp". Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  9. ^ '"Oorah's Children's Camp Site Attacked by Radical Islamists on Anniversary of 9/11". The Yeshiva World. September 14, 2010.