Rabbi Menken earned his Bachelor's degree from Princeton University in Computer Science, and pursued Rabbinic studies in Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, Beth Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood and Jerusalem, and the Mirrer Yeshiva Jerusalem, before founding Project Genesis in 1993.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken has been called a 'visionary' in the field of Jewish Outreach. Project Genesis supports outreach organizations worldwide, while operating Torah.org, the Internet's premier Jewish learning web site. Both Yaakov Menken and his organization maintain open communication with Jews at all levels of learning and education, and Project Genesis is endorsed by Jewish leaders from across the Jewish spectrum.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is the author of a recent book in the "Everything" series from Adams Media; The Everything Torah Book is a general introduction to Torah beliefs, philosophy, and history, with a generous mix of Torah thoughts originally published on Torah.org.

Rabbi Menken is a veteran analyst of the global Jewish scene. Project Genesis has helped with the hosting of Jewish World Review since its inception, and Yaakov Menken has contributed articles to JWR on tolerance, the value of life, the risks of the Internet (which also appeared elsewhere) and other topics.

Recently, Rabbi Menken led the technical development of Contact Loved Ones, an open voicemail system for those displaced by recent natural disasters. This story was picked up by the general media and especially by technical publications.