What Does Orthodox Union Do?

Total employees462
HeadquartersNew York
Founded1898

The Orthodox Union (OU) is one of the largest and most influential Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States and globally. Founded in 1898, the OU plays a critical role in communal life, offering a wide array of services and programs. Its most recognized division, OU Kosher, is the world's largest and most respected kosher certification agency, supervising products in over 100 countries. Beyond kashrut, the OU is deeply involved in youth engagement through NCSY, provides vital community and synagogue services, advocates for Jewish interests through OU Advocacy, supports individuals with disabilities via Yachad, and offers numerous educational and outreach programs. The OU's mission is to engage, strengthen, and lead the Orthodox Jewish community, and to inspire a broader commitment to Jewish life and values.

Where Is Orthodox Union's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the central administrative and operational hub for the OU's diverse global activities, including OU Kosher, NCSY, OU Advocacy, community services, and international programs. Key decision-making, strategic planning, and coordination of resources occur here.

Notable Features:

Located in a modern office building in Lower Manhattan, providing accessibility and a professional environment for its staff and visitors. The location itself is significant, placing it in a key business and historical district.

Work Culture:

The work culture at the OU headquarters is mission-driven, characterized by a strong commitment to Jewish values, community service, and professional excellence. Employees often share a dedication to the organization's goals of strengthening Jewish life.

HQ Significance:

The New York headquarters is the nerve center for the OU's extensive network, symbolizing its leadership role within the Orthodox Jewish world and its commitment to serving communities across North America and globally.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' operations reflect the OU's values of leadership, community, tradition, and innovation, by housing the teams that develop and implement programs furthering these principles.

Location:

The Orthodox Union maintains a significant global presence, primarily driven by its OU Kosher division, which certifies products in over 10,000 plants in more than 100 countries. Beyond kosher certification, the OU has a strong operational base in Israel (OU Israel) offering a wide range of community and youth programs. Its advocacy efforts also have an international dimension, particularly concerning U.S.-Israel relations and issues affecting global Jewry. Through partnerships and programs, the OU's influence extends to Jewish communities worldwide, supporting Jewish education, outreach, and communal development on an international scale.

Street Address:

40 Rector Street, 4th Floor

City:

New York

State/Province:

NY

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Orthodox Union Operate Around the World?

Jerusalem, Israel

Address: OU Israel Center, 22 Keren HaYesod St., Jerusalem, Israel

To connect with and serve the large Orthodox community in Israel, foster connections between American Jewry and Israel, and implement programs that address the unique needs and opportunities within Israeli society.

Washington, D.C., USA

Address: Strategic office presence in Washington D.C. focused on federal advocacy efforts.

To directly engage with legislators, government agencies, and other policy stakeholders to advocate for policies that support and protect the Orthodox Jewish community and its institutions.

Los Angeles, California, USA

Address: OU West Coast Regional Office, 9900 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035, USA

To provide localized support, resources, and programming for the Orthodox Jewish communities on the West Coast, ensuring strong regional presence and responsiveness.

Buying Intent Signals for Orthodox Union

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Orthodox Union? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Orthodox Union' leadership includes:

Moishe Bane - President
Rabbi Moshe Hauer - Executive Vice President (EVP)
Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph - Executive Vice President (EVP) & Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Rabbi Menachem Genack - CEO, OU Kosher
Sam Kricsfeld - Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Shlomo Schwartz - Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
Nathan Diament - Executive Director, OU Advocacy Center

Who's Investing in Orthodox Union?

Orthodox Union has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

As a non-profit organization, the Orthodox Union is primarily supported by individual donations, foundation grants, program revenue (including kosher certification fees), and communal allocations. It does not have 'investors' in the commercial sense but relies on philanthropic support to fund its diverse programs and services.

What Leadership Changes Has Orthodox Union Seen Recently?

Hire3
Exits0

The Orthodox Union has seen key appointments in the last 12-18 months, including a new Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Human Resources Officer, reflecting a focus on strengthening its operational and administrative capacities. There have also been significant leadership appointments within its program divisions like NCSY.

New Appointments:

Sam Kricsfeld, Sam Kricsfeld appointed as new Chief Financial Officer.
Shlomo Schwartz, Shlomo Schwartz appointed as new Chief Human Resources Officer.
Rabbi Simon Taylor, Rabbi Simon Taylor appointed to a key national role within NCSY.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byOrthodox Union?

Discover the tools Orthodox Union uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Orthodox Union Email Formats and Examples

The Orthodox Union typically uses a standardized email format for its employees, commonly combining the employee's last name and first initial with the organization's domain, ou.org.

[last_name][first_initial]@ou.org

Format

doej@ou.org

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Orthodox Union?

OU.org (Orthodox Union)May 8, 2024

Orthodox Union News: OU Kosher Announces Renewal of Partnership with Starbucks

OU Kosher, the world's largest kosher certification agency, announced the renewal of its longstanding partnership with Starbucks, continuing to certify a wide range of Starbucks products and ingredients as kosher....more

OU.org (Orthodox Union)April 25, 2024

Orthodox Union News: OU Condemns Antisemitic Incidents on College Campuses, Calls for Swift Action

The Orthodox Union issued a strong condemnation of the rise in antisemitic incidents on U.S. college campuses, calling on university administrators to take immediate and decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish students....more

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