Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

In 1898 Rabbi Henry Pereira Mendes of Shearith Israel and representatives of fifty Orthodox congregations founded the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (UOJCA), also widely known as the Orthodox Union (OU). The organization’s founding mission was to perpetuate and preserve Modern Orthodox Judaism and to unify Jewish immigrant populations by connecting and strengthening Orthodox synagogue congregations across the United States, as well as Canada. The UOJCA steadily grew in scope and influence, especially following World War II.

From its inception, the UOJCA has worked to integrate Orthodox traditions more seamlessly and in pace with changing American lifestyles. Their success is due to the breadth of their efforts and approaches. They have standardized and enabled easy access to trustworthy information – in lending their easy-to-spot kosher insignia to food labels and in the regular publication (and now web presence) of a kosher products directory and mikvah directory. Starting in 1956 they commissioned designs for prefabricated synagogues, which could then be quickly erected by new congregations, especially in suburban communities. At that same time regional branches were developed to encourage cooperation between synagogues in shared locales in order to better solidify communities outside of major metropolitan areas and strengthen the presence of the Orthodox community in suburban America. In response to rising rates of intermarriage, the UOJCA began organizing singles events. The UOJCA has also actively supported Jewish education with scholarships (particularly for American college students studying abroad in Israel), lectures and educational programs.

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