Enhance the visibility of Women’s American ORT in your community.

Increase awareness of how ORT programs change people’s lives.

ORT Shabbat is a flexible, easy-to-implement, nationwide program. The suggested date is the third weekend of November (or another weekend at your convenience, preferably close to that date).

Surefire Suggestions for a Successful Seventh Day:

• Establish an ORT Shabbat committee and select a chair.
• Enlist the support and involvement of your synagogue’s rabbi and provide literature about ORT programs (available upon request from the National Office, 800.51.WAORT, ext. 221).
• Contact local WAO members (i.e., current or former Officers or Board Members) or even an ORT student or graduate to address the congregation at Shabbat services or any of the gatherings suggested below. The latter suggestion is especially good for chapters located near our three U.S. schools: Bramson ORT College in Forest Hills, N.Y., Zarem/Golde ORT Technical Institute in Chicago and Los Angeles ORT Technical Institute (LAOTI).
• As part of the ORT Shabbat celebration, your chapter or region may wish to donate books to your synagogue, a Jewish day school library or a Jewish community center. For suggestions on contributing books, see the Women’s American ORT “Adopt-A-Shelf” campaign guidelines.
• ORT Shabbat may consist of several events. Below is a sampling. Select one or more and tailor them to your congregation. Or come up with your own – whatever works for you. A WAO speaker would be appropriate at any of these gatherings. A prepared speech about ORT, including a d’var Torah (discourse on the week’s Torah portion), is available from the National Office.

Friday Evening

• Evening Service – participation of WAO members in the service.
• Oneg Shabbat – Friday evening program with refreshments following services.
• Host a Shabbat dinner.

Saturday Morning

• Participation of WAO members in the service.
• A sermon by the rabbi incorporating mention of WAO and ORT programs.
• A WAO-sponsored kiddush or lunch following services.

Saturday Evening (after Shabbat)

• Hold a Malava Malka (an informal post-Shabbat gathering) and serve light refreshments or a meal. You may wish to show slides or an ORT video from a recent mission. Another idea is to hold a raffle of Shabbat related articles (e.g., candlesticks, challah cover, wine goblet).

Spread the Word

• Advertise ORT Shabbat in your chapter bulletin. A pre-designed ORT Shabbat flyer is available. Just fill in your local information and use as an ad.
• List the event in your synagogue newsletter. Place an ad in the newsletter (use the same flyer) accompanied by an article about ORT.
• Send out flyers or “Save the Date” cards to congregants and WAO members.
• Ask the rabbi to announce ORT Shabbat at the conclusion of the prior week’s service, when upcoming events are mentioned.
• In conjunction with your synagogue, place a calendar listing in your local Jewish and daily newspapers.