About Momentum

Our Story A Decade of Momentum OUR PEOPLE OUR SUPPORTERS

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 Year-Long Journey, 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 Year-Long Journey 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 Year-Long Journey?
2017 Results

92%

Feel Jewish Values are more relevant to their daily life

96%

Feel Jewish continuity is very important

100%

Increased attendance at Jewish classes

94%

Light Shabbat Candles

80%

More connected to the Jewish community in their area

88%

Celebrate Jewish Holidays

94%

Jewish continuity is important to me

View Impact Report

THESE ORGANIZATIONS DID NOT EXIST BEFORE MOMENTUM:

Inspiring Stories

"I am forever changed and on a new spiritual path with life. Thank you for lighting my soul on fire. Thank you for your honesty. For your passion. Thank you for selecting me." Melissa G,
New York, NY, USA
“I realized my value as a Jewish woman, and I learned that when we mothers feel good about ourselves, the people in our lives feel good, too. I returned home feeling like a completely new person.” Lea S.
Panama City, Panama
"I'm incredibly thankful for the experience. It was unforgettable. The women I have met on MOMentum have become my Jewish community. We continue to get together, share our lives and inspire one another." Marina O.
Pearland, TX, USA
"Growing up, only my grandparents had Jewish names. My family had lost touch with its Jewish roots. Because of Soviet times, we were disconnected from each other, from religion, and from having pride in our Jewish identity. During my MOMentum experience, I chose the Hebrew name, Ora, which means light. I want to bring light to my family, my community, my friends, and my business partners. I don’t yet know exactly who I am. But I do know that I want to reconnect and empower my Jewish and feminine self.” Rita A.
Estonia
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  • $18,000
2008

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
2009

Momentum launches its inaugural MOMentum Trips. Three trips, with 100 women each, explore their souls, their heritage, and the Jewish homeland.

2010

Momentum welcomes more Partner Organizations. Our Partner Organizations double from 12 to 24, and the Momentum community expands to include Latin America.

2011

Israeli women join Momentum. During their MOMentum Year-Long Journey, 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.

2012

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.

2013

Momentum launches its first MoMENtum Trip for Men with 85 men, answering its community’s growing demands. An effective complement to our MOMentum Year-Long Journey for women, the MoMENtum Trip for Men is a boot camp for living awesome lives that are guided by Jewish values.

2014

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.

2015

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.

2016

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.

2017

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.

2018

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 2021. 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

The Marcus Foundation Inc.
Mary Ellen and Drew Weissman
Anonymous

VISIONARY ($1,000,000+)

Michelle Leader
Debra and David Magerman
Mayberg Family Foundation
William Davidson Foundation
Zalik Foundation Fund

TRAILBLAZER ($100,000 - $499,999)

Pamela and Aba Claman
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)

Debra and Dennis Berman
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)

Diana and Michael Epstein
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)

Anonymous
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

THIS WEBSITE WAS CREATED IN LOVING MEMORY OF RITA KRAKOWER MARGOLIS

Choose your Journey

For Jewish mothers with children age 18 and under

FREE (excl. airfare)

Each woman receives a $3650 scholarship

Partner organization contributes $800 per woman

The Israeli Government contributes $700 per woman

To participate in the Momentum Year-Long Journey, women must live in close proximity to a Partner Organization. See our partners list here. Please notify your Community Leader with any updates to your application

APPLY NOW

Mainly for the husbands of Momentum sisters

$900 for Momentum husbands

Each man get a scholarship of $2,100-$2,400

Partner Organization contributes $700 per man

The Israeli Government does not contribute to the Men’s Trips

To participate, men must live in close proximity to a Partner Organization. See our partners list here. Please notify your Community Leader with any updates to your application

APPLY NOW

Momentum Grand – October 23-30, 2023 –  is an exclusive, transformational, spiritual, and uplifting journey for women looking to invest in themselves and help us continue to build the Momentum movement.

Please note: This trip is not subsidized.

APPLY NOW