NCYI

What NCYI does

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI), founded in 1912 and headquartered in Paramus, New Jersey, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella organization coordinating approximately 150 affiliated Orthodox branch synagogues across the United States, Canada, and Israel on behalf of more than 25,000 member families. Its mission centers on fostering Torah-true Judaism, instilling ethical and spiritual values in American Jewish youth, and advocating for the Orthodox community through coordinated political action, including amicus briefs in cases such as Groff v. DeJoy and Carson v. Makin.

NCYI delivers a portfolio of religious, educational, and communal services rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include the Va'ad Halacha rabbinic council led by Rabbi Mordechai Willig; the "Rabbi Willig Answers" bi-weekly halachic Q&A call; educational content such as Parsha Nation (youth parsha publications), the "4 Minutes of Torah" weekly video series reaching 20,000+ recipients, and an annual Torah Journal series (Tishrei, Pesach, Chanukah); the Benevolent Association providing reserved cemetery plots in four New York-area cemeteries and a $2,000 per couple funeral stipend; the NCYI Job Board with 5,000+ active members; a National Speakers Bureau; and the Star-D kosher certification program administered in conjunction with STAR-K. Israel-focused programs include the Judaic Heritage Program for the Deaf, Get-Refusal Prevention, Mental Health Programs, and IDF support initiatives such as Sifrei Torah delivery to outposts.

Revenue is generated through member donations, Benevolent Association initiation fees structured by age bracket (ranging from $0 for ages 21-29 to $6,500 for ages 75-79) plus an $85 annual family membership, and targeted fundraising campaigns including the current Swords of Iron campaign for Israel. Distribution relies on the branch synagogue network, a digital hub at youngisrael.org, email communications, and national conferences such as the Regional Synagogue Leadership Days. The organization is privately governed by a Board of Directors under President Rabbi David Warshaw, with no parent company, venture capital backing, or publicly disclosed financials.

Name

NCYI

Legal name

National Council of Young Israel

Website

https://youngisrael.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit umbrella organization founded in 1912 that coordinates approximately 150 Orthodox branch synagogues across the US, Canada, and Israel, serving more than 25,000 member families through religious, educational, advocacy, and communal programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (813110), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAJ

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Orthodox Jewish community services
• Religious education programs
• Kosher certification services
• Rabbinic placement services
• Communal advocacy campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Paramus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from members and supporters. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.
2. Benevolent Association Membership Fees: One-time initiation fees based on age brackets (ranging from $0 for ages 21-29 to $6,500 for ages 75-79) plus annual membership fee of $85 per family. Provides burial plots and funeral stipends.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates a federation of approximately 150 Orthodox branch synagogues across the United States, Canada, and Israel, serving more than 25,000 member families. Its core offerings include rabbinic training and placement, youth religious education materials (Parsha Nation), weekly Torah video content (4 Minutes of Torah), halachic guidance via the Va'ad Halacha council, a burial society (Benevolent Association), kosher certification (Star-D), community job board, Israel advocacy, and Torah journal publications.

Product overview

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) is a multi-faceted Orthodox Jewish organization serving approximately 150 branch synagogues across the United States, Canada, and Israel, with over 25,000 member families. Rather than a unified technology product, NCYI offers a portfolio of religious, educational, and community services including: Parsha Nation (youth Torah education materials), 4 Minutes of Torah (weekly video series), Rabbi Willig Answers (halachic Q&A conference calls), National Speakers Bureau, NCYI Job Board (employment bulletin), Benevolent Association (burial services), Torah Journal publications (Tishrei, Pesach, Chanukah), Va'ad Halacha (rabbinic council), Star-D kosher certification, Rabbinic Training Program, and various advocacy and youth programming initiatives. These programs serve synagogues, rabbis, and community members through a network-based model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parsha Nation A weekly parsha publication for youth containing stories, games, parsha questions, and resources to help youth leaders teach the weekly Torah portion to children. Available in standard and tabloid formats.
• 4 Minutes of Torah Weekly video series featuring 4-minute D'var Torah from branch rabbanim, distributed to over 20,000 Young Israelites each week.
• Rabbi Willig Answers (Shailos with Rabbi Willig) Bi-weekly conference call where Rabbi Mordechai Willig answers halachic questions from National Council rabbonim, with audio recordings and written transcripts provided.
• National Speakers Bureau Connects Young Israel network synagogues with unique and compelling speakers for events and programs.
• NCYI Job Board Free email-based employment bulletin board with over 5,000 active members, serving Jewish communities in the US, Israel, and worldwide.
• Benevolent Association (YIBA) Burial society for Young Israel synagogue members offering graves in New York area cemeteries (New Montefiore, Wellwood, Beth Israel, Floral Park), grave reservations, and $2,000 per couple funeral stipend for Tier II members.
• Va'ad Halacha (Young Israel Council of Rabbis) Rabbinic arm of NCYI, comprised of distinguished rabbis providing spiritual and religious guidance to NCYI and its branch synagogues, with Rabbi Willig as Yoshev Rosh.
• Tishrei Torah Journal Annual publication providing insights on Teshuva and Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur/Sukkot prayers, distributed to 100+ Young Israel branches nationwide.
• Pesach Torah Journal Annual publication with Divrei Torah from Young Israel Rabbanim for the Pesach holiday, part of the Torah Journal series.
• Chanukah Torah Journal Second publication in the Torah Journal series, released annually for the Chanukah holiday.
• Young Israel in Israel Programs Programs in Israel including Judaic Heritage Program for Deaf, Get-Refusal Prevention Project, Mental Health Programs, and IDF Support, plus facilitating Sifrei Torah donations to IDF outposts.
• Star-D Kosher Certification Kosher supervision program administered by STAR-K, with Star-D products following Cholov Stam (not Cholov Yisroel) standards.
• Rabbinic Training Program Program to enhance competence and caliber of young rabbis entering the American Rabbinate, uniquely suited given Young Israel's broad spectrum of yeshivos.
• Communal Affairs and Political Action Campaigns Advocacy efforts engaging governmental leaders on legislative matters important to Orthodox Jewish constituents, including grassroots advocacy and coordinated campaigns.
• Newlyweds Networking Networking program run by National Program Director Avi Frier in conjunction with YUConnects to help newly married couples connect.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ branch synagogues served across the United States, Canada, and Israel
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ArtScroll/MesorahminorOthersArtScroll is listed as a content contributor for Parsha Nation 2.0 educational materials for youth programming. Content creator contributing Torah educational resources.
• Torah ComicsminorOthersTorah Comics is listed as a content contributor for Parsha Nation 2.0 educational materials for youth programming. Content creator contributing Torah educational resources.
• Nishma ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNishma Research conducted a shul member survey for Young Israel branches, offering free surveys to branch synagogues to better understand member demographics and needs.
• YUConnectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCYI partners with YUConnects for the Newlyweds Networking program, run by National Program Director Avi Frier, to facilitate connections among newly married couples in the Young Israel community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chabad-Lubavitch: Global Hasidic movement with thousands of outreach centers providing synagogue services, youth programming, and educational content. Operates at much larger scale than NCYI but serves an adjacent Orthodox segment (Hasidic rather than Modern Orthodox).
• Jewish Federations of North America: Umbrella body for 146 Jewish federations across North America, coordinating fundraising and communal services. Overlaps with NCYI in fundraising coordination and Israel advocacy but operates at greater cross-denominational scale.

Others

• AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee): Leading pro-Israel advocacy organization running political campaigns on issues similar to NCYI's grassroots advocacy efforts. Not a direct peer but operates in adjacent advocacy space targeting Jewish and broader pro-Israel constituencies.
• Yeshiva University (YU): Flagship Modern Orthodox institution closely tied to NCYI's rabbinic leadership (Rabbi Willig is RIETS professor). Partnered with NCYI via YUConnects for Newlyweds Networking; provides rabbinic training pipeline for NCYI-affiliated synagogues.

Direct peers

• Agudath Israel of America: Orthodox Jewish advocacy and communal services organization with overlapping missions in political action, rabbinic coordination, and community programming. Competes directly with NCYI in advocacy campaigns and rabbinic services targeting Modern Orthodox communities.
• Rabbinical Council of America (RCA): Professional rabbinic association serving Modern Orthodox rabbis, providing rabbinic placement, conventions, and halachic guidance. Closely aligned with NCYI's Va'ad Halacha and rabbinic training/placement services.
• Orthodox Union (OU): Largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization in North America, operating kashrut certification (parallel to NCYI's Star-D), synagogue services, youth programming (NCSY), and advocacy. Directly competes for member synagogues and donor dollars within the same Orthodox segment NCYI serves.
• Mizrachi (Religious Zionist): Worldwide Religious Zionist organization partnered with NCYI via the Mizrachi-YI Shuls Network in Israel. Operates parallel youth, educational, and Israel advocacy programs for the same Modern Orthodox demographic.

Regional players

• World Jewish Congress (WJC): International federation of Jewish communities and organizations representing Jewish interests globally. Comparable in federation structure and Israel advocacy mission, with broader geographic and denominational scope than NCYI.
• B'nai B'rith International: Historic Jewish service and advocacy organization founded in 1843, providing humanitarian aid, advocacy, and community programming. Comparable in longevity and federation-style structure but operates with broader cross-denominational Jewish scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4oLqwPqvNJS0xKxMnLdN0Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/youngisrael
• Instagraminstagram.com/youngisrael
• Xx.com/NCYIYoungIsrael

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NCYI