Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin has dedicated his entire life to serving the Jewish people. His visionary contributions to Israel and world Jewry over the course of the past half-century have impacted upon the lives of thousands while redefining Modern Orthodox leadership, shaping the face of contemporary Jewish education, and in many cases, literally changing the direction of Jewish history.

Rabbi Riskin made Aliya to become the founding rabbi of Efrat, a city which did not yet even exist, but is now home to over 12,000 residents. Efrat was also where Rabbi Riskin established the first school in what would eventually become Ohr Torah Stone (OTS), a comprehensive network of 27 unique educational institutions, women’s empowerment programs, leadership development, outreach initiatives, and social action projects.

It is because of Rabbi Riskin’s belief in the relevance and beauty of Judaism’s past – and its crucial importance for the future of humanity – that hundreds of OTS outreach rabbis and educators, men and women, are committed to serving Jewish communities, campuses and congregations all over the world.

Thousands of secular Israelis are willingly participating in Jewish programming, exploring and reclaiming their Jewish heritage; young adults with special needs can now spend a year in Israel delving into their history and roots; hundreds of individuals have been warmly and lovingly embraced in their sincere quest to join the Jewish faith; and each year, over 3,000 additional OTS students are being charged with a pride in their faith, a dedication to the Jewish people and a responsibility to the world at large.

Furthermore, because of Rabbi Riskin, doors that had been closed to Jewish women have been pried open, empowering Jewish women to partake in the highest levels of Jewish learning, spiritual leadership, halakhic discourse, meaningful service in the Israeli Defense Forces and rabbinical court advocacy on behalf of agunot.

In 1983 Rabbi Riskin made Aliyah from New York.