The Shmorg 2, named, as it was last year, in reference to a full “shmorg” at simchas, packs an entertainment punch like never before. It has something for everyone to enjoy, from the very young to the young at heart.

The Full Version of the Shmorg 2, which is available only for donors of $36 or more to Oorah’s Auction, includes some of the most talented names in Jewish entertainment today. The double disc package includes a CD with ten incredible tracks by seasoned names in the music industry such as Yehuda Green, Lipa Schmeltzer and Lev Tahor; and a DVD with productions made especially for Oorah.

Pull up a chair and enjoy some of the most innovative material in kosher entertainment today. See which animals were mentioned in the Torah, with a fascinating presentation by the Living Torah. Watch Moshe Yess’s timeless classic, My Zaidy, brought to life. Wondered what happens to Dr. Midos and his crew since last year? Follow the third and final installment of Marvelous Middos Machine and find out! Who won this year’s Auditions contest? See for yourself as the finalists face off in the studio for a coveted slot on the Shmorg CD.

This year, Oorah is proud to present the Mashal Man, a brand new and exclusive presentation by Chananya Kramer. Join the Mashal Man as he explains three famous mashalim (parables), complete with a very singable and entertaining score. Adults and children alike will appreciate the humor and talent that is sure to be watched again and again.

Have you found Fiveish yet? Look no further – he’s right on this year’s DVD! Watch all his hysterical characters on the Auction animation. It’s what everyone’s talking about!

Never, ever watched any of Oorah’s stuff before? View the sampler on Oorah’s YouTube channel right here!

As a kiruv organization, Oorah has garnered a unique reputation in the fundraising world for always being on the cutting edge. The collection of original productions in the second Oorah Auction mailing comes not only to entertain, but to remind everyone of the vitally important mission of our generation – to reach out to millions of disconnected Jewish souls and help them find their rightful place in Klal Yisrael.

By enrolling children in yeshiva, giving them a meaningful summer at BoyZone or GirlZone camps, learning Torah with their parents, helping them learn to observe Shabbos and celebrate Yomim Tovim and so much more, Oorah has taken on the mission. Each Auction dollar helps support these effective, successful programs, making every donor a vital part of the kiruv journey for the more than 2,300 families Oorah serves.

For more information please contact Oorah by visiting them online at Oorah.org, or by calling 877-7-AUCTION.

Josh Brown first came in contact with Oorah during the summer of 2007. The 28-year-old accountant, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, was seeking information on the Hebrew language when he came across Oorah’s GotTorah website.  “My wife spoke Hebrew but I didn’t at all so I signed up,” Josh recalls. “I ended up having a wonderful conversation with Rabbi Mordechai Beer from Oorah who, in turn, set me up with a knowledgeable Torah Mate. My curiosity grew from the Hebrew language to Jewish culture.” In time, a Torah Mate via telephone wasn’t enough for Brown, a man of deep intellectual curiosity, so a face-to-face chevrusa was established.  “Now I meet with Rabbi Nesanel Berkowitz every week,” Josh says. He proudly adds, “We’ve covered 1,000 years of Jewish history in just one year, and of course we stop to learn about each holiday as it approaches.”

A casual conversation with Josh Brown makes it clear that the impact of learning on his life has been slow and steady.  Indeed, he flew in from California with his wife and three-year-old son just to experience a real Shabbos with Oorah first hand. He’s both conscious and conscientious of the process. “Am I fully observant?” he asks. “No. I want to learn more. But I’m certainly more aware than I used to be.”  Not only more aware but more committed. It’s no longer “just study” for Brown—it’s practice.

Unlike Brown, Lawrence Margolin didn’t have far to travel to join Shabbat with Oorah.  The 41-year-old catering rep and manager from Edison, NJ, first came into contact with the kiruv organization when he applied to send his small sons (then 10 and to BoyZone. Lawrence and his wife report that they were so impressed with what they saw from their children that summer that they decided to get in on the action.

“After the boys came home from camp, my wife and I started learning with Torah Mates, as did our children,” explains Margolin. “Everyone started learning last year and we’ve faithfully kept up with it. I’m currently learning Pesachim with Rabbi Moshe Danziger – we first met at a Shabboton that Oorah held.” Lawrence’s wife has also been steadily learning with an Oorah chavrusa. “She decided to go to Lakewood to meet her Torah Mate and now they’ve become very close,” says Lawrence. “Oorah has become like extended family.”

As evident at Shabbat with Oorah, Lawrence and his family’s experiences with Oorah have been so positive and uplifting that they can’t seem to get enough. “We attended last year’s Shabbat with Oorah, too, and had an amazing time,” he reports. “That’s why we’re back. And we have friends through our children’s school that are also going [to Oorah’s events] now. Oorah creates a community around the people they are involved with—everything from the YomTov packages to events like this… It just keeps wowing us.” Lawrence recounts how he grew up in a conservative home and environment. “It just wasn’t like this. There was no unity. Everyone at Oorah seems connected—and they all go above and beyond our expectations—from the camp to the Torah Mates. They don’t just make a connection; afterwards they stay with you, with trips and Shabbatons for the kids and regular learning partners. They make everything a special experience and a connected experience.”

Staten Island residents were also well-represented at Shabbat with Oorah—among them, the Guterman family. Jason Guterman, who works in Atlantic City as stage hand–has attended HaRav Chaim Mintz’s Tuesday night classes at Oorah’s Torah Spot on Staten Island since the program began one year ago. The 35-year-old and his small children consider Torah Spot a home away from home. “I go to the classes because I like to be enlightened,” says Jason, “but it’s also a very warm environment.” The result? “I’ve upped my religious studies in the past year substantially,” Jason reports.

What is it that attracts so many types of Jews to an organization like Oorah? Jason can’t say for sure, but he speculates it’s a combination of the warmth and the truth. “I never realized there was outreach like this–I thought you had to be born to good circumstances or you were out of luck… I was in a conservative synagogue, making a mishabeirach for my grandfather, when it dawned on me that were no young people there. I thought to myself, why wait until the later part of life to come to terms with one’s Judasim? It’s been a slow journey for me—for the past five years I’ve been looking to increase my awareness and my practice of Judasim. Now I have several chavrusas, I attend classes, and Oorah’s classes and events are part of my ongoing Jewish curriculum. I don’t want to wait until I’m old before these things become important.”

The nearly 600 Jews who attended Shabbat with Oorah—Jews from as many backgrounds as you could count—seemed to echo Jason Guterman’s sentiments. The moment wasn’t lost on Rav Chaim Mintz. “Hashem wants us to unite,” he said Shabbos evening. “Look around at the unity. We are all coming together, and Hashem is coming closer to us.”

 
Can you help someone who wants to start learning? To volunteer for Oorah’s Torah Mates call 732-730-1000 ext. 116

A warehouse that Oorah uses was broken into two nights ago and Oorah sustained considerable damage.

“While this was not our main building, it was still a facility where we stored a great deal of items,” said Yehudah Meth, spokesman for the organization. “Boruch Hashem, the 2,000 sets of lulavim and esrogim that we were preparing were undamaged. These lulavim and esrogim were shipped today to the families of children who attend our camps and benefit from our tuition programs, as well as the many families that Oorah has reached through its TorahMates program, allowing them to fully participate in the YomTovim and fulfill the mitzvah of benching lulav and esrog.”

Many of the children that Oorah works with just began attending yeshivas and are just now learning about Sukkos for first time. In addition, many newcomers to Torah are uncomfortable with the process of buying esrogim. Providing them with their first lulav and esrog allows Oorah to enhance the relationships with these families.

“Everyone at Oorah is grateful to the Ribbono Shel Olam for allowing us to succeed in this mission. We’re also grateful to the Jewish community for the many calls and emails we’ve received as a show of support following the attack on our property.”

The campaign comes as a final reminder and countdown to Oorah-thon 2009. Act now to get a chance to win 46 fabulous prizes for only $5 per ticket! Donors of $250 or more receive a choice of 15 fantastic Free Gifts. In addition, there is a special bonus for entering online, as you will automatically be entered to win $500.

Oorah, which means ‘awaken,’ does just that: it rouses Jewish kids and their families out of a deep spiritual slumber, and shows them the beauty of their own rich heritage. By enrolling children in yeshiva, giving them a meaningful summer at BoyZone or GirlZone camps, learning Torah with their parents, helping them learn to observe Shabbos and celebrate Yomim Tovim and so much more, Oorah has taken on the mission. Every Auction dollar helps support these effective, successful programs, making every donor a vital part of the kiruv journey for the nearly 2,000 families Oorah serves.

Mark down Motzei Shabbos, May 16, to join co-hosts Country Yossi and Rav Moshe Meir Weiss shlita live from Oorah, as they broadcast the final hours to the live Auction drawing. But time is running out. The seconds tick by, and countdown is on: hurry and enter here now for a chance to win!