OLAMI INFLUENCING FUTURE JEWISH LEADERS WORLDWIDE 

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icture a room with hundreds of young Jews all united in one mission — getting closer to Judaism, reconnecting to its meaning, and bringing that excitement back home with them to share with others. That’s exactly what the Olami Impact Accelerator conference creates. Every year, through powerful workshops, speakers, and personal connections, with both peers and role models, a new group of leaders from around the world is chosen to meet and then return home to countries across the globe to implement what they’ve learned — and to continue their own personal journeys of Jewish growth. The most recent Impact Accelerator conference was held from May 26 to June 2, in Spain.

Olami was created 18 years ago by Zev Wolfson and Elie Horn, two esteemed Jewish philanthropists, with a goal of educating young secular Jews about the significance of including Jewish principles and awareness in their daily lives. Although Wolfson passed away in 2012, his family has continued to be heavily involved in his initiatives and projects. The Wolfsons and Horn were driven by the desire to make a difference and perpetuate Jewish identity and continuity, especially in secular communities. They’ve been funding various organizations for decades, but about three and a half years ago, they realized they’d have more impact if they fused into one branded entity, which led to the creation of Olami.

Olami now funds a whopping 320 organizations, all focusing on unaffiliated Jews, in order to propel their exploration of Jewish learning, and culture. A key aspect of their work is focused on the yearlong Impact Accelerator program where they promote and inspire the leadership component. Jackie Engel, Olami’s director of leadership development, explains that the goal of their programs is to give Jews clarity and direction about the things they care about. “Torah can impact you in a very positive way, whether it’s through your career, friendships, dating, or overall happiness,” she says. “We try to show people how Jewish wisdom is relevant to their lives now.”

The launch of Olami was monumental for Jewish leadership globally, as it initiated a strong link with hundreds of organizations, all united with the common goal of strengthening and educating secular Jewry. Engel says that Olami works on “galvanizing young leaders to help make an impact and form connections among Jews.” Olami’s branding tactic touts the leadership of young Jewish adults and students, rather than that of rabbinical or counseling figures. She explains that involving young adult ambassadors is a crucial aspect of their programming. “The next generation is being inspired and empowered by their peers, rather than by rabbis, in order to show the living proof of the benefits of Jewish education and affiliation,” she says. “The ambassadors themselves are evidence of the improvements that Olami will bring to your life.” Olami chooses its most valued ambassadors to partake in a yearlong Impact Accelerator program. Each year, the program culminates in a big conference. It’s an event that further instills Jewish pride and leadership within them. “It moves them to a place of unwavering certainty in their roles as Jewish leaders,” Engel says. “They emerge from the conference with a newfound sense of understanding of the potential of their impact. We want them to have the courage to stand up for what they believe in. We provide them with peer support, inspiration, and clarity of vision for what they’re doing.” Michal Nordmann, the director of marketing at Olami, echoes the sentiment. “The conference offers the students Jewish leadership training, a sense of family, belonging, and community,” she says. “We have a huge network so we can connect them with business, career, and mentorship opportunities. The conference is all about building personal connections with people, and we infuse that into everything.”