What is OR San Diego?

OR San Diego is a Jewish, non-denominational, yet strictly Torah-observant, group totally dedicated to Jewish outreach, specifically here in San Diego. We believe that every G-d fearning Jew is responsible and is able to do Jewish outreach in his or her unique way.

We encourage any adults, or even teens, who are able and willing to lecture or teach classes on any topic in Judaism, such as Chumash, Talmud, Halacha (law), Chassidut, Mussar, etc. to do so as part of OR San Diego.

Also, we hope to arrange study partners and groups to learn either weekly or daily based on their schedules, in order to further Jewish education in our community.

Furthermore, we hope to organize groups of dedicated youth, both boys and girls, to get together and do hands on outreach through various mitzvah campaigns or mivtzayim. This includes handing out Shabbat candles and laying tefillin on Jews at various locations across San Diego. On holidays, there will be special campaigns aimed at the particular mitzvot of that holiday such as handing out candle-lighting kits on Chanukkah, and distributing matzot before Pesach.

What is the meaning of "OR"?

OR means light in Hebrew, and is an acronym for the word outreach. Our goal is to reach out and spread the light of Judaism across San Diego.

Shouldnt this task of outreach be left to people more qualified such as Rabbis and Rabbinical students?

In essence, this approach may be correct, that this task should be left to Rabbis and Rabbinical students, however there remain many problems with this. Many Rabbis have their own communities and families to care for, and most of San Diego's Rabbinical students do not reside in San Diego for most of the year.

Therefore, we base our approach of calling upon each and every Torah-observant Jew to come forth and help spread the word of G-d to His people, based on the agreement and approbations of our Rabbis' who lead us faithfully in every single generation.

In his book on Jewish ethics, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler zt"l writes:

"In war-time, promising candidates are taken from the ranks of ordinary soldies, and by prodigious instruction are turned into officers in a fraction of the time normally required. So too, in times such as ours, when capable men are scarce, anyone who shows willingness to tackle a vital problem has Divine assistance heaped upon him. He turns the incapable into successful men, not because they deserve it, but because the world needs them." - (Strive for Truth, Vol. 1, Introduction)

The Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l said: "If you know an alef, teach an alef" - regardless of how little you may know, dwell on what you do know, and take on the sacred task of teaching it to others. One need not be a scholar nor ordained rabbi to pass on the torch of our faith, rather one must just be a dedicated Jew who is willing to give everything he knows to others.

(For more approbations and quotes of Torah leaders on this matter, click here.)

Therefore, the only requirements and qualifications one must meet in order to become an:

OR San Diego Member (includes all campaigns/projects)

1. Must be Jewish.

Official OR San Diego Lecturer (for Project Torah)

1. Must be a G-d-fearing Jew, whose values and beliefs remain true to those that were passed down to us by our ancestors, generation after generation, since the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

2. Must adhere to ALL halachot (law) of the Torah without compromise.

Official OR San Diego Affiliated Organization

1. All organizations values and beliefs must remain true to those that were passed down to us by our ancestors, generation after generation, since the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

2. Must adhere to ALL halachot (law) of the Torah without compromise.

We urge every individual who is willing to take part in OR San Diego, either by giving classes, arranging private study sessions, taking part in mitzvah campaigns, or anyone who has any other possible ideas for OR San Diego, to please contact us.

We invite all who are willing to take part in a revolution - one that will transfrom the Jewish San Diego of today into that of Mashiach!