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.

Yaakov Menken joined Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in creating Cross-Currents, a journal of traditional Jewish thought, in late 2004. This award-winning web log, or blog, features ten recognized, outstanding Orthodox rabbis and teachers. The name Cross-Currents reflects, in Rav Adlerstein's words, the aspiration "to expose the intersection between two currents: the timeless flow of authentic Torah thought, and the ebb and tide of current affairs."

Rabbi Menken is also the founder and CEO of Capalon Communications, Inc., which offers commercial telephone, data and design services. Through Capalon, Project Genesis is able to tap into a growing pool of talented Internet professionals, who grow their skills on a commercial level while applying their talents to Project Genesis and Jewish outreach.

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.