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 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?
2024 Results

80%

Consider Jewish values when making important choices in their life

77%

Find ways to help my family/ children connect to Jewish values.

83%

Feel that the Momentum Journey of Growth has enabled them to bring more meaning to their Jewish practice

78%

Feel confident speaking with others about the significance of Israel to the Jewish people

50%

Engaged their children in Israel-related activities

44%

Feel confident to take on a leadership role in my Jewish community

40%

Because of Momentum, mobilized others to take action to positively impact the Jewish people.

View the 2024 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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Support our Vision - Donate Today

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 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.

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 Journey of Growth 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 thank the members of our community who supported Momentum in 2024. Because of your generosity, thousands more Jewish individuals and their families are living inspired Jewish lives, engaging with Israel, taking action in their communities, and fostering unity without uniformity.

We would especially like to extend our gratitude to our major supporters.

Thank you!

VISIONARY ($1,000,000+)

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

PARTNER ($500K-$999K)

Anonymous
Mary Ellen and Drew Weissman
The Marcus Foundation Inc.

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

Pamela and Aba Claman
Crown Family Philanthropies
Andrea and Stuart Hytman
Evelyn and Shmuel Katz
Millie and Larry Magid
Jeanie Milbauer and William Knapp
Beatrice and Steve Rosedale
Paul E. Singer Foundation
Lillian and Moris Tabacinic

PIONEER ($50,000-$99,999)

Debra and Dennis Berman
Daily Giving Inc.
Edna and Amir Jaffa
Lauren and Ezra Kest
Victoria and Ronald Simms
Staenberg Family Foundation
Cindy and Richard Zitelman

GUARDIAN ($25,000-$49,999)

Steve Collis and Erin Miller
Michelle and Robert Diener
Jennifer and Grant Dinner
Diana and Michael Epstein
Irma and Chris Fralic
Debbie and Benjamin Hochberg
Jack Miller Family Foundation
Lesley and Norman Leben
Susan and Moses Libitzky
Connie and Erik Lindenauer
Amy and Alan Meltzer
Danielle and Scott Ruthfield
Kellie and Jeffrey Singer
Wendy Lovell-Smith and Colin Smith
Bonnie Vozar
Mrs. Elizabeth Walder
Walder Foundation
Sora and Jerry Wolasky

SUPPORTER ($10,000-$24,999)

Gisela and Daniel Ades
Anonymous
Jake Aronov
Debbie and Glenn August
Dafna and Brian Berman
Rachel and Larry Chafetz
Susan and Ben Farahi
Darlynn and Thomas Fellman
Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
Paula and Bill Glazer
Marc Goldman
Stacey and Amir Goldman
Sheryl and Gerald Hartman
Allan Kamensky
Rena and Josh Kopelman
Rebecca and Baruch Lambert
Michele and Robert Levin
Helaine Milberg Leibowitz
Andrea and Steven Mail
Jay Minkoff
Carol and Larry Mizel
Kristi and Zev Oman
Elaine and Trevor Pearlman
Lynda and Jonas Prince
Sherrie Savett
Sol Margolis
Linda and Mark Silberman
Majorie and Jonathan Slass
Helen Marie Stern Fund
Irving I Stone Foundation
Rebekah and Mark Wasserman
The Weiss Family Foundation

MOMENTUM PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL

Momentum’s President’s Council is a group of the most dynamic and philanthropic supporters who join the president of the board and past presidents to advance Momentum’s global vision. We are especially grateful to this group who have supported Momentum at the highest levels over many years.

Anonymous
Debra and Dennis Berman
Pamela and Aba Claman
Crown Family Philanthropies
Cheri Fox z”l
Judy and David Hager
Debbie and Benjamin Hochberg
Andrea and Stuart Hytamn
Edna and Amir Jaffa
Joleen and Mitch Julis
Evelyn and Shmuel Katz
Lauren and Ezra Kest
Michelle Leader
Debra and David Magerman
Andrea and Steven Mail
Manette and Louis Mayberg, Mayberg Foundation
Jeanie Milbauer and Bill Knapp
Paul E. Singer Foundation
Beatrice and Steve Rosedale
Lillian and Moris Tabacinic
The Marcus Foundation Inc.
Mary Ellen and Drew Weissman
Karen Davidson, William Davidson Foundation
Helen and David Zalik, Zalik Foundation Fund
Cindy and Rick Zitelman