JLIC (Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus)

Annabel left a career path in New York to build her life in Israel. She's now a social worker in Kfar Saba, part of a thriving community of young professionals, students, and olim in Herzliya. Three years ago, moving to Israel after college was unusual. Today, her friends are on the same train to Tel Aviv every morning. JLIC Herzliya made that possible, a place where young Jewish professionals find community, support, and each other. Watch her story. https://lnkd.in/g9REgm5G

Nobody told these students to show up. No requirement. No extra credit. No outside pressure. Around 20 students at JLIC BGU gather every week to learn in depth. Students committed to formal halacha study alongside their regular coursework. Meanwhile, a group of women hosts Torah learning in each other's apartments every other week. Dinner first. Learning after. Led by the students themselves. Over 100 students. Dozens of programs. One community choosing to grow. That's what Rabbi Idan and Prielle Rakovsky built at JLIC BGU 👇 https://lnkd.in/gwVZguhY

Is Israel a complex topic on your campus? 🤯 Rabbis Don Canter & Alex Ozar unpack the challenges faced by Jewish students and explore how to navigate tough conversations. 🤔 Listen to the Torat JLIC podcast now for insights & solutions! https://lnkd.in/ery5vexk #JewishLife #Israel #College #Torah

🇮🇱 From Mexico to Medicine: A Journey of Purpose Meet Jacobo Alfie, whose path from Mexico to Ariel University's International Medical Sciences Program shows what's possible when you follow your vision for the future. After starting medical studies in Mexico, Jacobo made the bold decision to make Aliyah, serve in the IDF's Givati Brigade, and pursue his medical dreams in Israel. Now in his first year at Ariel University, he's found more than just education—he's found community. What makes Ariel University special for international students? ✅ Small, personalized classes ✅ English-language medical program ✅ Dedicated faculty who invest in student success ✅ Strong JLIC community support ✅ Diverse international student body "The lecturers are more involved with the students. They really want us to learn — not just pass the test," Jacobo shares. For prospective students considering Israel: Research thoroughly, understand the requirements, and remember that making Aliyah can provide financial support for your education. Jacobo's goal? Specializing in orthopedics while using his multilingual skills to help fellow olim receive the best medical care possible. "It's amazing — wherever you go, you meet incredible people. We have a unique connection. This is our nation." 👏 Stories like Jacobo's remind us that education is about more than degrees—it's about building the future you envision. https://lnkd.in/dn_ipNTF #MedicalEducation #ArielUniversity #InternationalStudents #Israel #MedicalSchool

They gave sessions. They answered hard questions about Jewish identity, college, and raising kids who stay connected. However... What Rabbi Shlomo and Kyra Ashkanazy will remember most about their Scholars-in-Residence Shabbat at Young Israel of Great Neck was eating at the Shabbos tables of their own students. That's the JLIC model. The relationship goes further than campus. https://lnkd.in/gtrsU47p

Moshe grew up in Barcelona. Being Jewish there meant keeping a low profile. He came to Reichman and realized he didn't have to do that anymore. He'll tell you the thing he'll remember most isn't a class or a program. It's a barbecue at his rabbi's house where everyone who showed up didn't want to leave. That's the community JLIC built in Herzliya. https://lnkd.in/gsfWjYYu

📚✡️ PROFESSIONAL PATHS WITH PURPOSE How do observant Jewish students navigate the demands of medical and law school while maintaining their religious practices? JLIC West's recent MedConnect panel brought together successful Jewish graduate students from USC, UCLA, UCSF, Loyola and more to share their journeys with undergrads planning similar paths. "It's not just cutthroat competitive. They really care. They want to help." Our latest blog post reveals how these mentorship connections are building the next generation of Jewish healthcare and legal professionals. From managing Shabbat during residency to finding religious community on campus, these students are showing it's possible to thrive professionally while staying true to your faith. Read the full story at https://lnkd.in/evEgipKF and share with students in your life who might benefit from this support network! #JewishProfessionals #MedicalSchool #LawSchool #Mentorship

JLIC Podcast: When the Big Game Falls on Shabbat Every other year, Yale students face a choice: miss the Harvard-Yale football game (the social event of the year) or compromise on Shabbat observance. In this episode, JLIC Yale co-director Rabbi Alex Ozar and Don Cantor tackle a question that goes way beyond football: What's your responsibility as an educator when you know students aren't going to follow the "ideal" answer? Alex walks through the halachic sources on oneg Shabbat and shares his actual approach with students. It's not about issuing a ruling and walking away. It's about helping people think critically about what they're doing, why they're doing it, and whether they can honestly call it oneg Shabbat or if they're giving in to social pressure. This conversation matters whether you work on college campuses or not. It's about meeting people where they are while still holding up something worth striving for. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eHdjxAde

This summer, JLIC CareerForward fellows aren't sitting in classrooms learning about the Jewish nonprofit world. They're inside it. Junior year is when career paths start to feel real. CareerForward, a program of the Orthodox Union Leadership Pipeline Initiative, was built for exactly that moment. We match college juniors with Jewish nonprofits they care about, put them to work, and surround them with peers who are figuring out the same things. We want these students to graduate knowing that a meaningful career and a Jewish life aren't two separate things. Here's where Cohort 1 is spending their summer.

"For the sake of the nation, I wanted to bring something to offer." From South Africa to Israel, mechanical engineering to NASA research, and soon to the IDF – Hodi's journey shows how passion and purpose can align to create impact. After making aliyah from Johannesburg during the pandemic, Hodi found her home at Technion, where she transitioned from studying in English to Hebrew with a clear goal: to serve Israel with valuable skills. "When it gets hard, I remind myself why I came. I'm here as a Jew, to give back and build this country." Her story demonstrates how Technion empowers international students to build meaningful lives in Israel while developing expertise that strengthens the nation. Read Hodi's full journey of aliyah, engineering excellence, and service at the link below. https://lnkd.in/dA7dbwRV #WomenInEngineering #STEM #InternationalStudents