Jerusalem U is now OpenDor Media

Why we changed our name from Jerusalem U to OpenDor Media

In January 2020, we announced that we were changing the name of our organization from Jerusalem U to OpenDor Media. There were two reasons behind our decision:

Our old name was confusing

Jerusalem U, the name we began using in 2009, was causing confusion among our donors and partners. Many thought we were a university, an online university, an extension of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem – or a combination of all three. We are none of the above. Though we had offered accredited online Jewish learning video courses for a brief period in the late 2000s, at our core we are, and have always been, an educational media company with a global agenda.

Our mission has evolved

We needed a name that better expressed our organization’s vision and mission today. Digital platforms have given us an unprecedented ability to reach every young person on the planet. OpenDor Media reflects our mission to throw open the doors of Jewish and Israeli history and culture to the connected generation. Dor also means ‘generation’ in Hebrew – underscoring our belief that education is a generational phenomenon, passed on through historical narrative from parent to child, and from teacher to student.

We are proud of our Jewish heritage and identity and excited to embrace our role in helping to ensure the continuity of future generations through high quality, film-based educational content.

We hope that OpenDor Media will embolden our sense of purpose and serve as a rallying call to our many donors and supporters who stand shoulder to shoulder with us on our mission.

New Name Better Reflects Company’s Mission of Opening the Door to Jewish Education for a Global Audience

Nonprofit educational media company Jerusalem U announced today that it will rename the organization OpenDor Media. 

The new name focuses on OpenDor Media’s mission of informing and educating the current generation – dor in Hebrew – through media. This name replaces Jerusalem U, which often was confused with a university. 

The name change also comes after a two-year investment expanding the types of content produced by the non-profit. In 2018 OpenDor Media launched a 54-part series on modern Israeli history on its YouTube channel Unpacked. The same year, it also launched a new robust online resource, Upacked for Educators, making past and present content easily available online. The production and distribution of feature-length documentaries under the Imagination Productions name will continue , reaching millions of viewers through digital platforms like Netflix and Amazon.

Accompanying the name change is a new visual identity and revamped website that showcases the company’s evolution and highlights its three divisions, Unpacked, Unpacked for Educators and Imagination Productions. 

Since its founding in 2009, OpenDor Media has grown to be a leader in educational film and video creation for the Jewish world.“While we’re incredibly proud of what we achieved as Jerusalem U, we know that with this new name, we’ll be able to take on so much more,” said founder Raphael Shore.

“We live in a world where technology has removed barriers to education.  Learners now have instant access to a growing digital library of  Judaism and Israel-focused resources. We are opening the door for people to access Jewish education whenever and however they want to learn.”  said Dina Rabhan, CEO of OpenDor Media. 

At OpenDor, we’re using digital media to connect to, and influence, a new generation” continued Rabhan. “Never before have we been able to contemplate reaching every single Jewish person who wants to learn. It’s an exciting time for us and for the Jewish community.

For more information, please visit opendormedia.​org


About OpenDor Media

OpenDor Media (formerly Jerusalem U) has been the leading creator of Jewish film content since 2009. It brings Jewish ideas, values and stories to life through quality filmmaking, delivering them to a global audience of millions using today’s most popular digital platforms. Its production company, Imagination Productions, produces award-winning documentary films including Beneath the Helmet, Hummus! The Movie and Sustainable Nation. Its digital edutainment brand, Unpacked, reaches millions of viewers annually with its short video content on YouTube and Instagram. Content from both entities, accompanied by extensive educational resources, is featured on Unpacked for Educators, a digital resource that reaches educational institutions around the globe.

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