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ONLINE SMICHA
Suffern, NY · EIN 464206937 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE X30 · Religion-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · onlinesmicha.com
revenue
$244K
expenses
$179K
net assets
$239K
employees
1
program ratio
93%
mission · from form 990

TO TEACHANDORDAINRABBIS

profile · synthesized from sources

Online Smicha is a religious education institution that teaches and ordains rabbis through structured online courses in Halacha. It offers flexible, interactive programs tailored for working professionals, yeshiva students, and others seeking rabbinical ordination (Smicha) or advanced Jewish legal study (Dayanus). The organization delivers live and recorded classes using web conferencing technology, with a focus on accessibility and rigorous scholarship.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Accelerated / Bochurim Program
Fast-paced ordination track for full-time yeshiva students (bochurim) covering core Halacha topics in an intensive format with monthly progression through defined course units
Dayanus
Advanced program in Jewish law focusing on Choshen Mishpat, designed to train rabbinical judges; includes 2.5–3 years of study with live interactive classes and periodic sessions with experienced Dayanim
Hilchos Shabbos
Ongoing course on the laws of Shabbat, featuring weekly live classes on Thursday nights with contemporary applications related to cooking, medicine, and Muktze
Marriage (Chuppah and Kiddushin)
Course on the laws and rituals of Jewish marriage, part of a broader set of practical Halacha offerings
Other Torah Courses
Additional classes in Mishna, Talmud (Gemara), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Chassidus, and periodic Yom Tov preparation sessions
Standard Smicha
Structured rabbinical ordination program with twice-weekly live classes, designed for working professionals and individuals with limited time; covers key areas of Halacha including Shabbos, Kashrut, and Bassar B'Chalav
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Jewish Advanced Torah Education 2 activities
    • Examinations and Ordination
      Administers written exams and oral tests at the end of each course or topic, with oral testing conducted by expert rabbis. The organization confers smicha and has a history of ordaining rabbis, with Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm serving as the primary educator and ordaining authority.
    • Online Smicha and Dayanus Programs
      Offers structured online programs in Halacha leading to rabbinic ordination (smicha) and rabbinical judgeship (dayanus), including standard, accelerated, and specialized tracks with live, interactive classes and comprehensive curriculum. Programs are designed for flexible, home-based learning and serve a global student body of diverse backgrounds.
  • Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 2 activities
    • Specialized Halacha Courses
      Offers a range of focused online courses in specific areas of Jewish law, including Shabbat, kashrut (Melicha, Bassar B’Chalav, Taaruvos, Maacholei Akum), Hilchos Hagolas, Tevilas Kelim, and Hilchos Dagim, with defined durations and structured curricula. Courses include live instruction, recorded sessions, and supplementary materials such as charts and review tools.
    • Weekly Torah and Halacha Classes
      Provides regular weekly live classes on topics including the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and practical halachic issues, with access to recordings and supplementary resources through a student portal. Classes are conducted via web video conferencing and supported by visual aids and interactive tools.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Student Support and Communication
      Offers multiple channels for student-instructor communication, including email, phone, and a dedicated WhatsApp group, to support ongoing learning and halachic guidance.
    • Supplemental Educational Resources
      Provides students with supplementary materials including kitzurim, charts, review questions, mock tests, and access to recorded lectures. These resources support long-term retention and ongoing learning in practical halachic knowledge.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$244K
Contributions & grants$243K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$179K
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$12K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$239K
Cash$239K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$239K
Liquid reserves16.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +1.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
NACHMAN WILHELM DIRECTOR 10 $11K
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Agudas Harabonim of the USA and Canada Partner — Faculty member Rav Sholom Shuchat serves as a Dayan in its Beis Din, indicating institutional affiliation.
  • Bais Din Rabbonei Chabad in Eretz Yisroel Partner — Rabbi Mendel Gluckowsky serves as deputy secretary
  • Bais Din in The Hague Partner — Rabbi Shmuel Katzman serves as a member and community leader
  • Chabad Yeshiva in Monsey Partner — Rabbi Boroch Lesches serves as Rosh Yeshiva
  • Congregation Tzemach Tzedek Partner — Rabbi Boroch Lesches serves as Rov
  • PayPal Government — Processes auto-billed payments for tuition
  • PayPal Partner — Uses PayPal for course payment processing.
  • Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm Partner — Rosh Yeshiva and lead teacher of Online Smicha, responsible for directing the program and providing instruction and mentorship.
  • Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm Partner — Rosh Yeshiva and lead teacher of Online Smicha, responsible for instruction and program direction.
  • Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm Partner — Rosh Yeshiva and lead teacher of the Online Smicha program, providing instruction and ongoing halachic guidance to students.
  • Rabbi Wilhelm Partner — Lead instructor and central figure in the Online Smicha program, delivering live shiurim and mentoring students.
  • Rabbi Wilhelm Partner — Lead instructor and maggid shiur for the Online Smicha program.
  • WhatsApp Partner — Uses WhatsApp for communication with participants.
  • WhatsApp Partner — Uses WhatsApp for communication with students and prospective participants.
  • YouTube Partner — Hosts instructional videos on YouTube for course promotion and engagement.
  • הרב זלמן נחמיה גולדברג Partner — Rabbinic authority who reviewed and endorsed the institution's curriculum and methodology.
  • הרב נחמן ווילהאלם Partner — Head of the partner yeshiva and collaborator with Online Smicha.
  • ישיבת מכון להוראה – הליכות עולם Partner — Partner yeshiva associated with Online Smicha, led by Rabbi Nachman Willhelm.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Democratized Access to Advanced Halachic Education
    methodology: democratic_access_to_halachic_education
    By removing geographic, institutional, and socioeconomic barriers to rabbinical ordination, we enable broader participation in high-level Torah study because open access to structured, practical Halacha education empowers individuals across diverse backgrounds to engage deeply with Jewish law.
  • Development of Analytical Reasoning in Halachic Study
    methodology: critical_thinking_in_halachic_study
    By focusing on critical thinking and in-depth textual analysis rather than rote memorization, we produce deeper mastery of Halacha because students learn to reason through legal principles, enabling lifelong application and judgment in practical Jewish law.
  • Online Yeshiva Model with Interactive Engagement
    methodology: online_yeshiva_model
    By delivering live, interactive Torah and Halachic education online with visual aids and discussion forums, we produce high-level rabbinical training remotely because engagement and understanding are enhanced through real-time interaction and structured digital pedagogy that replicates the traditional Yeshiva environment.