About Momentum
Our Mission – to empower women to change the world through Jewish values that transform ourselves, our families, and our communities.
In 2008, eight Jewish women from different walks of life, affiliations, observance, and ages (who are fondly known as the Utah 8) came together to make a difference. They agreed that it was time to empower and inspire women with the rich beauty of their Jewish heritage, and Momentum was born.
Momentum seeks to inspire women to transform themselves, transform their families, their communities, and the world. Our flagship program, the MOMentum Journey of Growth, empowers women to connect to Jewish values, engage with Israel, take action, and foster unity, without uniformity.
Inspire a woman,
you inspire a family.
Inspire enough families, you inspire a community.
Inspire enough communities, you can change the world.
our goals
The MOMentum Journey of Growth empowers women to:
Connect to Jewish Values
Living our lives through the lens of Jewish values fuels meaning and impact for ourselves and those around us. Momentum’s Core Jewish Values are unity, generosity, peace and wholeness in the home, dignity, courage, faithfulness and trust, gratitude, and learning and growth.
Engage with Israel
A relationship to the land, the people, and the State of Israel is integral to our Jewish identity and history. Our global sisterhood is strengthened by a powerful connection between our sisters around the world and our sisters in Israel.
Take action
By setting personal goals, becoming role models to our children, and growing as leaders, we can make a difference for ourselves, our families, our communities, and the world.
Foster unity,
without uniformity
When we emphasize the values that we share, we are able to embrace our global Jewish family. Even with our differences, we honor each other because we are all created in the image of God.
Our Results Are Extraordinary
How Have Their Lives Changed One Year After the MOMentum Journey of Growth?
2023 Results
Strongly agree or agree that Momentum helps connect them and their family to Jewish life
Have taken on a new or expanded formal or informal role within an organization or their community, or plan to do so
Say their Momentum experience has enabled them to bring more meaning to their Jewish practice
Feel extremely or very connected to the land of Israel
Find ways to help their children connect to Jewish values
Made a new or increased contribution to local Jewish cause
Began or increased volunteering for a local Jewish organization
THESE ORGANIZATIONS DID NOT EXIST BEFORE MOMENTUM:
Support our Vision - Donate Today
Eight women from different backgrounds and affiliations gather in Utah for a shared purpose – to empower women to change the world through Jewish values that transform ourselves, our families, and our communities. The “Utah 8” creates Momentum.
Back Row (left to right): Dana Sicherman, Lori Palatnik, Rebecca Dorfman, Cindy Zitelman
Front Row (left to right): Manette Mayberg, Michelle Leader, Lara Novack, Jeanie Milbauer
Momentum launches its inaugural MOMentum Trips. Three trips, with 100 women each, explore their souls, their heritage, and the Jewish homeland.
Momentum welcomes more Partner Organizations. Our Partner Organizations double from 12 to 24, and the Momentum community expands to include Latin America.
Israeli women join Momentum. During their MOMentum Journey of Growth, Israeli women explore their Jewish identity and strengthen their connection to the Jewish people, while serving as a living bridge between Israel and their sisters all over the world.
Momentum hosts its first North American Momentum Conference in Washington, D.C., bringing 75 women together for leadership skill-building sessions; discussions with international educators, motivational speakers, and entrepreneurs; and continued growth opportunities.
Momentum launches its first MoMENtum Trip for Men with 85 men, answering its community’s growing demands. An effective complement to our MOMentum Journey of Growth for women, the MoMENtum Trip for Men is a boot camp for living awesome lives that are guided by Jewish values.
An official partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs enables Momentum to bring more women to Israel. The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs shares Momentum’s vision that women can and will positively transform the world through Jewish values.
With new Partner Organizations in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe, Momentum inspires more Jewish women through Jewish values, impacting families across the world.
In a year of many firsts, Momentum launches its first Influencer Trip – a Fashion Trip for women in the fashion industry. We publish our Year of Growth curriculum, partner with 20 Jewish Federations, and welcome our 10,000th Momentum Trip participant.
Our Inaugural Momentum Fellowship invites 16 women around the world to turn their passion into action. We launch our first Latin American Momentum Conference, Conferencia Momentum, and expand the Momentum experience, welcoming women of all backgrounds and ages on Momentum Grand. Our second influencer trip, Media Magnets, brings 30 leading North American Jewish women influencers to Israel. The Momentum Community in Israel blossoms to 500 people.
We host two Momentum Conferences – the North American Momentum Conference and the Israel/CIS Momentum Conference. Two new Momentum Grand Experiences explore Jewish values on an extraordinary, five-star journey to Israel. Momentum reaches a total of 15,000 participants.
With deep gratitude
We are deeply grateful to the members of our community who contributed to Momentum in 2023. With your support, countless families live inspired Jewish lives, engage with Israel, take action in their communities, and foster unity without uniformity.
We would especially like to extend our gratitude to our major supporters.
Thank you!
PARTNER
Mary Ellen and Drew Weissman
Anonymous
VISIONARY ($1,000,000+)
Debra and David Magerman
Mayberg Family Foundation
William Davidson Foundation
Zalik Foundation Fund
TRAILBLAZER ($100,000 - $499,999)
Judy and David Hager
Andrea and Stuart Hytman
Edna and Amir Jaffa
Evelyn and Shmuel Katz
Jeanie Milbauer and William Knapp
Paul E. Singer Foundation
Lillian and Moris Tabacinic
Cindy and Rick Zitelman
PIONEER ($50,000-$99,999)
Cheri Fox
Linda and Steven Hurwitz
Tracey and Todd Hirsch
Melinda Goldrich
Timothy Kaliban
Gloria Kaylie and Family
Amy and Alan Meltzer
Debra and Eitan Milgram
Sherrie Savett
Staenberg Family Foundation
Connie and Cindy Smukler
GUARDIAN ($25,000-$49,999)
Sheryl and Gerald Hartman
Michele and David Hirsch
Connie and Jay Krupin
Cheryl and Bruce Leon
Susan and Moses Libitzky
Connie and Erik Lindenauer
Judith and Bud Newman
Danielle and Scott Ruthfield
Kellie and Jeffrey Singer
Sitchin Family Foundation
SUPPORTER ($10,000-$24,999)
Vicki and Gerry Benjamin
Dafna and Brian Berman
Rachel and Larry Chafetz
Marcia and Philip Cohen
Alyce and Philip De Toledo
Michelle and Bob Diener
Jolie and Brent Eisen
Susan and Ben Farahi
Darlynn and Thomas Fellman
Irma and Chris Fralic
Rosalind nad Arthur Gilbert Foundation
Barrie and Richard Galanti
Paula and Bill Glazer
Marc Goldman
Stacey and Amir Goldman
Anne and Jerry Gontownik
Andrea and Richard Gottlieb
Gabriela and Peter Gottlieb
Lisa and Seth Greenberg
Cindy and Larry Halpern
Rebecca and David Heller
Deborah and Benjamin Hochberg
Amy and Elliot Holtz
Rivka Kidron
Irving I Stone Foundation
The Jake Aronov Charitable Foundation
Judith and David Wachs Family Foundation
Barbara Bauman Kamensky and Allan Kamensky
Caroline and Daniel Katz
Rena and Josh Kopelman
Michele and Robert Levin
Carol and Larry Mizel
Millie and Larry Magid
Solomon Margolis
Erin Miller and Steve Collis
Shlomo Nahmias
Elaine and Trevor Pearlman
Heidi and Brian Pergament
Aimee and Joel Plotkin
Lynda and Jonas Prince
Debbie and Neil Schwartz
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Deborah and Larry Silver
Linda and Mark Silberman
Marjorie and Jonathan Slass
Wendy Lovell-Smith and Colin Smith
Raya Zalik