About Ora

Ora Academy is Upstate New York's premier center for Torah education for all Jewish women.   Ora's flagship program is Ora Academy high school for girls. 

Founded in 1996 and located in Rochester, New York, Ora continues to serve students and their families from Rochester and across the country.  Our rigorous dual curriculum of Judaic and secular studies, along with our warm, inclusive atmosphere and full range of extracurricular programming, provide our students with core values, academic excellence and lifelong friendships.  This develops a strong commitment to Torah, community and Israel, and prepares Ora graduates to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Ora's ever-expanding divisions and programs now include: Meoros - Advanced Torah Learning for Women, Ora-lite - incredible programming for today's Jewish teen, Ora Big Sisters - peer-to-peer mentoring, Ora Chessed - Community Service, Ora Alumnae - Maintaining the unique Ora connection.
Contact Us

Ora Administration 

and Faculty

Rabbi Eliezer Y. Lehrer

Headmaster
Executive Director

Mrs. Esti Lagunov

Menaheles

Mrs. Laurie Morphet

Secretary

Ora Mission

Ora Academy builds exceptional Jewish women. Those who attend Ora programs develop into proud, dynamic Jews with a lifelong passion for personal and communal growth, a thirst for ongoing study, and a strong moral compass.

At its core, Ora Academy is an educational institution. Ora’s robust suite of divisions and programs is a fulfilment of the belief that all Jewish women – regardless of affiliation or level of religious observance – should be connected with the timeless treasure of Jewish knowledge, scholarship and values. 

Thoughtful study of our sacred texts permeates every aspect of what we do, binding every participant with our Jewish heritage and significantly increasing Jewish pride.

The presence of Ora and its girls in our community continues to enrich the lives of hundreds – as it has for the past twenty-three years. Ora sets the standard and raises the bar for Jewish women’s education and chessed. Ora graduates influence, inspire, enthuse, enrich and transform entire communities around the globe.

Ora builds the Jewish people’s engines.

By partnering with Ora, you are building the Jewish women of tomorrow.

We invite you to join us and be a builder too!

“It is not about what we can’t do or what is beyond our ability. That attitude cripples the mind and spirit. True accomplish-ment comes when we focus on what we can do, what we do have, on the opportunities that are available to us.
This is what we call ‘the Ora attitude.’”
 - C. N., Ora Class of '17, 21st Anniversary Dinner