http://www.jliconline.org/index.php en maela@ou.org Copyright 2010 2010-02-05T18:29:58+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/baltimore_jewish_times_a_college_park_shabbat/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/baltimore_jewish_times_a_college_park_shabbat/#When:17:29:58Z February 5, 2010 Naomi Kohl Special to the Jewish Times A major feature of the Orthodox Union’s Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus program—which is found on 15 major campuses in the United States and Canada, including the University of Maryland in College Park—is Friday night Shabbos dinner, in which the young rabbi and his wife who run the program (the Torah Educators, as they are known), invite students to share their table and Shabbat joy with them. This happens week after week, throughout the academic year. At Maryland, Rabbi Eli and Naomi Kohl open their doors to their students. In the following report, Naomi explains how it is done – and what the benefits are, to the students and to the Kohl family. To make a great Shabbos meal you need three cups of energy, a spoonful of spirit, and a teaspoon of love. Monday morning in the Hillel dining hall is when we begin our weekly preparations. Between a chavrusa (a one-on-one student session) and a casual shmooze with a student, I keep a watchful eye as I mentally prepare an invitation list. If I don’t strike quickly an upperclassmen may extend an invitation and it may be months before that particular student may grace our Shabbat table. The University of Maryland is home to more than 400 Orthodox students and we try to have them all over for a meal, at some point during their college experience. February 5, 2010 Naomi Kohl Special to the Jewish Times A major feature of the Orthodox Union’s Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus program—which is found on 15 major campuses in the United States and Canada, including the University of Maryland in College Park—is Friday night Shabbos dinner, in which the young rabbi and his wife who run the program (the Torah Educators, as they are known), invite students to share their table and Shabbat joy with them. This happens week after week, throughout the academic year. At Maryland, Rabbi Eli and Naomi Kohl open their doors to their students. In the following report, Naomi explains how it is done – and what the benefits are, to the students and to the Kohl family. To make a great Shabbos meal you need three cups of energy, a spoonful of spirit, and a teaspoon of love. Monday morning in the Hillel dining hall is when we begin our weekly preparations. Between a chavrusa (a one-on-one student session) and a casual shmooze with a student, I keep a watchful eye as I mentally prepare an invitation list. If I don’t strike quickly an upperclassmen may extend an invitation and it may be months before that particular student may grace our Shabbat table. The University of Maryland is home to more than 400 Orthodox students and we try to have them all over for a meal, at some point during their college experience. Friday is when the games begin. I hustle twenty minutes to Silver Spring, drop my two-year-old son, Yisrael, off at school and then proceed to the kosher establishments in town, to procure my ingredients. After purchasing these goodies I hurry back to College Park to begin cooking. My husband watches our six-month-old baby girl, Shira, while I slice, dice and mash the ingredients, occasionally with the assistance of a helpful student. Many Fridays it seems like I won’t beat the clock, but I always end up finishing just before the buzzer sounds. I breathe a sigh a of relief when I light the Shabbos candles, as my husband goes off to shul for four hours for davening, learning and the famed Hillel social hour. The Magic Number: Eli returns home with 12-15 students, the magic number. This ensures that our group is small enough to fit around our table and that we can all participate in one conversation. There are always one or two more students than originally expected, due to my husband’s over-inviting disorder, which Hakodosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, Blessed Be He) matched nicely, with my over-cooking disorder. The avirah (atmosphere) is a very homey experience—that is what the students smell, taste and feel when they come over. They are greeted from outside by our son, who is patiently waiting by the window for his “friends” to come over. Many students are looking for a home away from home and we feel privileged to help provide that during their college years. During these years students are making many crucial life decisions. They are asking themselves, “Who will I marry and how will that shape my future; what will my home look like; what will my Shabbat and religious experiences be when I am an adult?” Perhaps this is why we view the Shabbat experience with students as the most important interaction we will have with them. By modeling a Jewish home that has a mezuzah, Shabbos candles and Jewish books, filling our Shabbos table with song, soup, and spirituality, we hope to inspire students to continue to strive towards a lifestyle infused with Torah values and meanings. We feel responsible to model a Jewish family for students, as we may be a reference point for future relationships they may have. To foster a sense of family we invite groups of students who are friendly with each other. If they are comfortable with each other, they will feel more at ease in our home. As friends they may already know each other well, yet we feel it is important to have our trademark parsha-themed ice breakers. They serve as a way of infusing the table with Torah, in a non- threatening way, and give the students an opportunity to say what’s on their minds. Students are always afraid that when they go to their “rabbi’s house” they will be grilled on the parsha and their lives. Our approach is a way to break down those barriers and to connect the Torah to their lives. For example: on Parshat Miketz with Yosef’s dreams, we would ask, what’s a crazy dream you once had, or what are your dreams and aspirations; on Lech Lecha, their trials and tribulations. While fish, soup and salad satiate some, there is not a hungry soul at the table when the meat, chicken and deli roll are done. The conversations vary as do the crowds—some want to talk about pop culture, social networks, high school stories or Israel adventures; others like to hear the rabbi’s philosophical views on a slew of geopolitical issues and old war stories from his childhood in Brooklyn; while others like to read our children their favorite stories on the couch. Many students offer their help to serve the food; what I most enjoy is the opportunity it provides to have one-on-one conversations with students I rarely have the time for during the week. It’s Oneg Time! As the meal seems to be winding down, we hear a knock at the door and are greeted with a burst of energy. Once a month, 60 or more additional students battle the elements to get a taste of our Friday night cholent and desserts as well as an unbeatable dose of spirituality which carries into the week. Students come from all across the country to be a part of the incredible community that exists at Maryland. Many are from Baltimore and Silver Spring but just as many come from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Chicago, California, Atlanta and more. Our onegs often begin as hip hop music is blaring from the fraternity house next door. As many as 100 Jewish souls may combat those tunes with niggunim of our own, and the fragrant scent of Oneg Shabbos suppresses the aromatic fragrances that are often found on a college campus. For many students, we are able to provide this oasis that they crave and reawaken a slumbering spirit that may have become stagnant from the mounds of school work. Our onegs are sprinkled with inspiring stories and thoughts as many of our students are eager to share their thoughts with each other, and to encourage their peers to continue striving towards goals they may have set for themselves as they were leaving for their year in Israel. We try to pause these moments to remind ourselves why exactly we moved to the middle of a college campus, but as we embrace the last of our students close to 1:00 am and receive our final thank you, we are sure there is no place we would rather be than at the University of Maryland! Naomi Kohl, and her husband, Rabbi Eli Kohl, run the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus program at the University of Maryland-College Park. All Campuses, University of Maryland, JLIC in the Press 2010-02-05T17:29:58+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/cornell_sun_orthodox_jewish_community_builds_ehruv_on_campus/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/cornell_sun_orthodox_jewish_community_builds_ehruv_on_campus/#When:16:21:48Z January 29, 2010 - 2:27am By Elizabeth Krevsky Observant Jews in the Cornell community can finally enjoy extended freedom during the Sabbath, thanks to the official establishment of the Rabbi Morris Goldfarb Memorial Ehruv. An ehruv — a physical structure enclosing a larger area into a single domain — enables Jews to carry items such as food, books, medicines and coats without violating the Sabbath. According to Aaron Sarna ’11, president of the Center for Jewish Living, it is forbidden in the Jewish tradition to physically carry anything between a public and private domain during the Sabbath, which begins every Friday at sundown and ends after sundown every Sunday.For the original article in the Cornell Daily Sun, Click here. January 29, 2010 - 2:27am By Elizabeth Krevsky Observant Jews in the Cornell community can finally enjoy extended freedom during the Sabbath, thanks to the official establishment of the Rabbi Morris Goldfarb Memorial Ehruv. An ehruv — a physical structure enclosing a larger area into a single domain — enables Jews to carry items such as food, books, medicines and coats without violating the Sabbath. According to Aaron Sarna ’11, president of the Center for Jewish Living, it is forbidden in the Jewish tradition to physically carry anything between a public and private domain during the Sabbath, which begins every Friday at sundown and ends after sundown every Sunday. The religious ruling that necessitates the use of the ehruv is a rabbinical interpretation of a Biblical verse, according to Rabbi Jason Leib, Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus director, O.U. and rabbinic supervisor of the ehruv. Dean Robinson, grad and leader of the Cornell Ehruv Committee, estimated that more than 70 Jewish community members benefit from the ehruv. Sarna explained the positive impact the ehruv has had on the Jewish community. “[The ehruv] means that I can carry my books if I want to go study in the library,” he said. “I can go have a football game on the Arts Quad or bring water with me if I want to go on a walk in The Plantations. [The ehruv] makes things more mobile and simplifies things.” Before the construction of the ehruv, Robinson said, “I could’ve worn a coat, but I couldn’t have taken it off.” Leib, father of three young children, said, “My life has benefited tremendously. [The ehruv] means that we can push a stroller.” “It makes [the Sabbath] more festive,” he added. The new ehruv is essentially a long boundary consisting of pre-existing utility poles connected by wires, Sarna explained. The Cornell ehruv website states that the ehruv encloses the entire Cornell campus, the majority of Collegetown and significant portions of downtown Ithaca and Cayuga Heights. To construct the ehruv, Leib said that the Ithaca community contracted a utility company to put the requisite ehruv moldings on existing utility poles. The Cornell Ehruv Committee sought civil permission for the ehruv which was ultimately granted by the sheriff of Tompkins County. Local rabbinical supervision for the ehruv is provided by Rabbi Leib as well as by the Rav HaMachshir Rabbi Barry Freundel. Sarna said that Freundel inspected the construction and granted his approval in December. Last week Leib performed the ceremony establishing the Rabbi Morris Goldfarb Memorial Ehruv as an ehruv and, “not a bunch of wires and poles,” Sarna said. Last weekend was the first Sabbath that the ehruv was usable. “Going forward,” Sarna explained, “[the ehruv] still has to be checked every week to make sure that the structure is intact.” Robinson said that the Cornell Ehruv Committee is currently in the process of organizing a rotation of students to drive around the entire 8.5-mile route every week to make sure that nothing has been knocked down. This process requires several hours every week. However, these efforts are well worth it for many in the Ithaca Jewish community. “The whole point [of the ehruv] is that it makes observance of the Sabbath more pleasant and easier,” Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to making use of it.” According to the Cornell Ehruv website, the ehruv project was made possible through donations from Robert and Sarah Steinberg ’78, the Welsbach Electric Corp. and others. All Campuses, Cornell University, JLIC in the Press 2010-02-01T16:21:48+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/the_canadian_jewish_news_orthodox_students_have_support_on_campus_panel_say/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/the_canadian_jewish_news_orthodox_students_have_support_on_campus_panel_say/#When:15:52:44Z By SHERI SHEFA, Staff Reporter Thursday, 10 December 2009 TORONTO — Jewish student group leaders, rabbis and Orthodox Jewish students held a panel discussion last week to let concerned community members know that there are many opportunities available for Orthodox Jewish students on secular campuses. Toronto’s JLIC director Rabbi Aaron Greenberg, left, and Hillel of Greater Toronto executive director Zac Kaye were two of six panelists talking last week about Orthodox Jewish students attending secular universities. The Orthodox Union’s Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC), a North American program that helps Orthodox students balance their Jewish upbringing with living in a secular world, in conjunction with Hillel of Greater Toronto, invited parents and university-bound students to Bnei Akiva’s Yeshivat Or Chaim for a lecture titled “Observant Jewish Life on the Secular College Campus.”By SHERI SHEFA, Staff Reporter Thursday, 10 December 2009 TORONTO — Jewish student group leaders, rabbis and Orthodox Jewish students held a panel discussion last week to let concerned community members know that there are many opportunities available for Orthodox Jewish students on secular campuses. Toronto’s JLIC director Rabbi Aaron Greenberg, left, and Hillel of Greater Toronto executive director Zac Kaye were two of six panelists talking last week about Orthodox Jewish students attending secular universities. The Orthodox Union’s Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC), a North American program that helps Orthodox students balance their Jewish upbringing with living in a secular world, in conjunction with Hillel of Greater Toronto, invited parents and university-bound students to Bnei Akiva’s Yeshivat Or Chaim for a lecture titled “Observant Jewish Life on the Secular College Campus.” As a York University graduate, Toronto’s JLIC program director Rabbi Aaron Greenberg – who, with his wife Miriam, organizes weekly lectures, daily services, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities at York University and the University of Toronto – said he “has a pretty good handle on what life is like on campus.” He said he most often gets questions from parents about what life will be like there for kids who have grown up in the Jewish day school system. “What we try to do at the JLIC and Hillel is provide them with a safe environment – safe in terms of a religious perspective, a Jewish perspective, and safe in terms of having a safe place to be with friends.” For example, he said that earlier that day, there were three minyanim at the York campus – one for Shacharit, one for Minchah and one for Ma’ariv. But Rabbi Scot Berman, headmaster of Toronto’s Bnei Akiva Schools, said that both parents and students need to evaluate some of the “dangers” that await Jewish students on secular campuses. “I don’t want to present this as the outside world being the boogeyman. There are many wonderful things that campus life has to offer our students.” But, Rabbi Berman added, if he could convince all his students to continue their Jewish education by going to Jewish post-secondary institutions, he would. “Realistically speaking, that is not going to be the choice for many of our students, and they will be going to campuses… [where] there are real dangers that our kids are exposed to for the first time intellectually as things come out at them.” He said many parents and students are concerned about how “general knowledge will come into conflict for the first time and challenge for the first time some of their core beliefs. “When someone, for 13 or 14 years, is in a cocoon, a warm and comforting cocoon, that we support and recommend and promote all through their day school years, they finally break out into a much broader community and there are those dangers,” Rabbi Berman said. “There is the need to continue to be very, very vigilant in taking advantage of all the services that exist today that never existed before.” He said that if students stop studying and socializing with “like-minded people, we can begin to lessen our commitment [to Judaism] before we even realize it.” Rabbi Josh Ross, JLIC’s associate director, said that he doesn’t believe that students pull away from their Jewish upbringing or do poorly in school because of a secular education or environment, but because universities lack the kind of structure that students grew accustomed to in the Jewish school system. But Zac Kaye, Hillel of Greater Toronto’s executive director, said that the changes on campus over the past few years help to provide Orthodox students with the sense of structure and community they grew up with. Kaye said that there are about 18,000 Jewish students in Toronto-area universities, and about 95 per cent of those students are commuters and live at home. “Our goal, from the very beginning, when we set up Hillel, was that we would try to reach out to different denominational groups on campus. One thing that Hillel realized… was that Hillel alone couldn’t do the job that it said it could do in the previous 30 or 40 years of its existence – that it be all things to all people – and [realized] that we would have to seek partnerships.” Kaye said that with the emphasis on engaging Jews who were at risk for assimilating, Orthodox students on campus “were being left behind… we didn’t really have to worry about them.” Hillel did what it could to create programming aimed at Orthodox students, but, “what we were hearing from the students is that they were looking more for the educational component,” Kaye added. He said that the partnership between Hillel and JLIC makes that kind of programming possible, and it’s “something really very special and it is something the Orthodox community should really value.” Micha Gasner, a first-year York student who studied at Eitz Chaim Day School, Ulpanat Orot Girls School and then for a year in Israel after she graduated from high school, said that she was nervous about what a secular institution would have in store for her. “I was a little shocked in the beginning to have 500 people in a chemistry lesson, instead of 10 really good friends in my Chumash class or in my chemistry class, where my teacher knows me and I know him and I can ask him questions and for extra help,” Gasner said. She said that she had to make an effort to incorporate Jewish learning experiences into her day between classes. “Part of my schedule on Monday is that… I have a shiur for parshah and that is part of my schedule. I go from my chemistry class and I go to the shiur and there are always like, 10 or 12 girls there. Today I was able to go to a Minchah, and it’s nice that there is a minyan and I can go to a Minchah when I want to,” Gasner said. David Elmaleh, an Or Chaim graduate and currently an Osgoode Hall law school student at York, said Jewish life on campus has evolved over the last five years. He said that when he first arrived on campus, there were a lot of religious Jews, but they weren’t “organized and mobilized.” “We now have an infrastructure in place that encourages us to attend certain events.” He said that while he appreciated the efforts made by Hillel to create programming to attract the frum community on campus, its partnership with JLIC gives them many more options and opportunities to stay involved. “Before, a lot of the classes had to be more general and broad because there was such a wide array of students, whereas now we have beginner classes, we have advanced classes… so really, you can find a shiur, a class, that works for you and fits in with your needs,” Elmaleh said. He added that he is grateful for the opportunity to forge a relationship with a rabbi and have access to someone who can respond to his halachic and religious questions and concerns, but he’s also grateful for more opportunities for shidduchim. “I know it may not be on the parents’ minds, but from the student perspective, there are a lot of opportunities to meet people at the different events… Because of the JLIC and the central role they play in bringing students of similar backgrounds together, it really enhances the social aspect of university life, which is also very important.” Elmaleh spoke briefly about the issue of anti-Semitism on campus and said that although there may be incidents of anti-Semitism on secular campuses, “there is a tremendous support system in place. “We have people to talk to, who tell us what to do and who to confront. I know at Hillel there is a system in place if you want to file a complaint with the university, they help us go through it.” Kaye, responding to concerns about anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiments both from students and faculty, said that he believes Jewish day schools should do more to prepare students for the challenges they will face on campus. All Campuses, York/U of T (Toronto), JLIC in the Press, News 2009-12-10T15:52:44+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/asking_the_right_question_about_secular_college/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/asking_the_right_question_about_secular_college/#When:16:14:09Z Jewish Learning Initiative turns 10 By Michael Orbach Issue of December 4, 2009/ 17 Kislev 5770 To go or not to go is no longer the question. “75 percent of the graduating population of the Modern Orthodox day-schools are not going to YU or Touro,” asserted Rabbi Ilan Haber, director of the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus. “The issue is not should or shouldn’t they go to secular university — they are going. The issue for us is how to help them make educated decisions to choose a college environment amenable to their growth and how to best serve their needs once they’re in the college environment.” The Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus was founded in 2000. Rabbi Menachem Schrader, then a rebbe at Yeshivat Torat Yosef-Hamivtar in Efrat, realized that yeshivas in Israel were helping students in Israel but students in secular universities back in America had only a limited support system. “It became clear that we were taking students from campuses all over the world, teaching them Torah and then sending them back after a year or two and there was a deep sense I had that we were sending them back to nothing,” said Rabbi Schrader, who is now the director for Nishmat. “Why shouldn’t we try to create a reference of Torah Studies for them to go back to?” In response, Rabbi Schrader came up an idea that he hoped would allow students to continue their Jewish studies. A partnership between the Orthodox Union and the Hillel campus organization placed Orthodox couples on college campuses to supplement Hillel programming. To read the original article of The Jewish Star, click here Jewish Learning Initiative turns 10 By Michael Orbach Issue of December 4, 2009/ 17 Kislev 5770 To go or not to go is no longer the question. “75 percent of the graduating population of the Modern Orthodox day-schools are not going to YU or Touro,” asserted Rabbi Ilan Haber, director of the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus. “The issue is not should or shouldn’t they go to secular university — they are going. The issue for us is how to help them make educated decisions to choose a college environment amenable to their growth and how to best serve their needs once they’re in the college environment.” The Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus was founded in 2000. Rabbi Menachem Schrader, then a rebbe at Yeshivat Torat Yosef-Hamivtar in Efrat, realized that yeshivas in Israel were helping students in Israel but students in secular universities back in America had only a limited support system. “It became clear that we were taking students from campuses all over the world, teaching them Torah and then sending them back after a year or two and there was a deep sense I had that we were sending them back to nothing,” said Rabbi Schrader, who is now the director for Nishmat. “Why shouldn’t we try to create a reference of Torah Studies for them to go back to?” In response, Rabbi Schrader came up an idea that he hoped would allow students to continue their Jewish studies. A partnership between the Orthodox Union and the Hillel campus organization placed Orthodox couples on college campuses to supplement Hillel programming. “Many Orthodox students were going to campuses and there was no real infrastructure of Orthodox life for them and if there was it wasn’t as strong,” Rabbi Schrader explained. “Torah Judaism was not being represented in the most modern of places by Modern Orthodox.” The first couples were sent to Yale and Brandeis. There are presently fifteen Jewish Learning Initiative couples on fifteen campuses including New York University, Rutgers, Princeton and Brooklyn College.Husband and wife fill multi-faceted roles on campus, from rabbi to friend to family. The program stresses five goals, according to Rabbi Haber. In order to be “able to develop relationships where they’re seen as a resource,” the couples need to be a part of the community inside the college. Jewish learning and meeting the educational needs of the students are emphasized. Most couples in the program have earned advanced degrees in both Jewish and secular subjects. The program also focuses on developing community infrastructure inside the university such as building an eruv, offering classes on married life to brides and grooms, as well as empowering students to become leaders in their own right. Finally, the couple’s are to be role models on campus. “Students are in a four year window in age and they don’t really interact with families and children,” said Rabbi Haber, “so our educators remind them of the notion of Jewish families. They provide an example in that regard; they model for students how to get along with people who are very different than you, but being confident in who you are and what you believe.” The program works in tandem with Hillel, which is non-denominational, sharing facilities and office space. “It’s one of the crown jewels of the Hillel, how well the program works,” explained Wayne Firestone, president of Hillel. “Often in the Jewish world people feel they need to make their own Shabbat if they grew up with a different niggun or tradition. What the JLIC has proven is that there is not only an opportunity to bring Jews of different backgrounds together, there are really some great benefits for that happening.” “What drew me to this work is the desire to teach students at a time in their lives where they are determining their life’s goals and finding themselves, in a really formative period of their lives,” Yehuda said. While the couple initially believed they would only be there for two or three years, seven years later they live in Greenwich Village with their four children. “We intended to be here for 1-2 years, but it’s such an amazing opportunity and such meaningul work — the longer we stay the more passionalte we become about what we do and the harder it is to leave,” said Michelle, who is originally from Woodmere and is currently pursuing her PHD in clinical developmental psychology in Fordham University.They both said that more than the actual teaching, they provide something much more imporant to the students.“They’re looking for something that reminds them of home… People’s experiences of being in a rabbi’s home is something they find very beneficial, when they’re thinking, even subconsciously, about what kind of home they eventually want to establish. “ David Rittberg, acting executive director of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU, credited the couple with “changing the landscape at NYU” “In many ways the community exists because of the JLIC couple. We’ve seen an incredible increase in orthodox students at NYU and it can be directly related to the success of Yehuda and Michelle Sarna.” Questions or comments? Contact Michael Orbach at morbach@thejewishstar.com All Campuses, New York University, JLIC in the Press, News 2009-12-04T16:14:09+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/harvard_jlic_rabbi_publishes_first_ever_book_combining_judaism_and_twitter/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/harvard_jlic_rabbi_publishes_first_ever_book_combining_judaism_and_twitter/#When:13:56:25Z Press Release of Twitter Torah Twitter Torah brings the profundity of the Torah to you in 140 character messages based around the weekly Torah portions. The book shares insights from seven unique and thoughtful people. The contributors to this book all come from different places in the Jewish community: traditional and non-traditional, men and women, Jewish professionals and lay members. Press Release of Twitter Torah Twitter Torah brings the profundity of the Torah to you in 140 character messages based around the weekly Torah portions. The book shares insights from seven unique and thoughtful people. The contributors to this book all come from different places in the Jewish community: traditional and non-traditional, men and women, Jewish professionals and lay members. Cambridge, MA, October 15, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Rabbi Ben Greenberg has brought Judaism and Twitter together in book form by collaborating with six other writers on the publication of "Twitter Torah." Rabbi Greenberg as a campus rabbi of Harvard University and Director of The Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Harvard, has extensive experience working with people in "Generation-Y" and recognized that Twitter represented a new way of communication for the next generation. He knew that the thought of the Hebrew Bible needed to find a way to condense itself to 140 characters or less and he took on the challenge of doing so. By dividing his book around the weekly portions of the Hebrew Bible read in synagogues he has made it easily accessible for any reader, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Each thought is condensed to a bullet point of 140 characters or less thereby making each thought qualify to be the shortest sermon in the history of western religion. The book, Twitter Torah, is available for purchase on Lulu.com. To see the original article, please go to http://www.pr.com/press-release/185744 Rutgers University, JLIC in the Press, News 2009-10-19T13:56:25+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/rutgers_jlic_holds_health_jewish_law_series/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/rutgers_jlic_holds_health_jewish_law_series/#When:19:10:47Z When competing with college exams, a multitude of classes and papers, and extracurricular activities including sports and internships, campus organizations need something pretty special to lure college students to a campus program. The Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) of the Orthodox Union had just that when it sponsored a six-part -Health and Halacha (Jewish law) series at Rutgers University Hillel that drew over 100 students to its various classes and lectures. To read the original article, click here. March 5, 2009 To read the original article, click here. When competing with college exams, a multitude of classes and papers, and extracurricular activities including sports and internships, campus organizations need something pretty special to lure college students to a campus program. The Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) of the Orthodox Union had just that when it sponsored a six-part Health and Halacha (Jewish law) series at Rutgers University Hillel that drew over 100 students to its various classes and lectures. JLIC, a joint initiative of the OU, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, and the Torah Mitzion organization, places a young rabbi and his wife as Torah educators on campus to support and tend to the spiritual needs of the students. It can be found in New Jersey at Rutgers and Princeton. It is also operating at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Cornell, Boston University, Brandeis, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, New York University, Brooklyn College, the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, the University of Illinois and UCLA in the United States. In Canada, it can be found in Toronto at York University/the University of Toronto. Shoshana Porath, one half of the JLIC couple on Rutgers Universitys campus, supervised the event. JLIC really wanted something that would make a splash, and we know that matters involving both health and halacha are a very topical subject in todays times of modern medicine, she declared. A student here heard about a genetic screening program at NYU and wanted to bring it to Rutgers. From there, a whole series on health matters developed. The six events of the series were: A lecture on genetic screening by JLIC representative (and Shoshanas other half) Rabbi Yisroel Porath, who spoke about the halachic implications; and a genetics counselor from NYU, who spoke about 12 common Jewish genetic diseases; A free genetic screening registration sponsored by the NYU Langone Medical Center, coordinated by Malka Sasson, Study Coordinator of the Human genetic Program at the NYU School of Medicine; A lecture, Relationships: United or Untied? It Depends On Where You Put The I: Secrets to Healthy Interactions, by Rabbi Dr. John Krug, dean of The Frisch School in Paramus; Womens Health and Halacha, a discussion on womens health matters and their implications for Jewish law, led by two distinguished women who are experts in their fields: Dr. Talia Rosenzweig, an Orthodox Jewish OB-GYN who discussed the medical aspects of different issues in womens health; and Mrs. Atara Eis, a yoetzet halacha (female adviser on Jewish law) who discussed the Jewish law aspects of womens health issues and presented the Torah perspective on sexuality; A Thursday night mishmar (learning) presentation by a representative of the Halachic Organ Donor Society (HODS), by Esther Nussbaum, Executive Coordinator of HODS, and A session led by Fran Ackerman, a New Jersey clinical social worker, on various issues in mental health, such as the signs of depression, recognizing the signs in a friend, and how to approach helping a friend in trouble. Mrs. Porath said the crowd of over 100 students was one of the largest and most diverse turnouts for a JLIC-run program. We're glad that we were able to provide such relevant information at a crucial stage, and are blessed with a great Hillel, whose support and publicity of the program led to the large and diverse student participation. The series fit right in with Hillels reputation for providing opportunities for students to expand their knowledge and encounter Judaism in meaningful ways that are relevant to them. The program was made possible through a JLIC programming grant specifically requested by the Poraths. Along with Mrs. Porath, two Rutgers juniors, Sarah Baer of Teaneck and Jenny Greenblum of Fairlawn, coordinated the whole series of events. This included not only brainstorming for ideas, but also advertising and marketing for the programs, setting up at each event, cleaning up, and serving food. Having such capable student leadership was key to having the sessions run so smoothly, Mrs. Porath said. Ms. Baer stated, "There was a real need on campus for events covering topics like those in the health and halacha series which hit really close to home, topics that affect college students but which are often overlooked in favor of rote halacha. There are so many questions which cross the line between personal health issues and Jewish law issues, and it was great to finally have events which addressed these very current topics. Joshua Reback of Westampton, NJ, a senior who attended some of the presentations, stated, The programs were unquestionably vital. Any Orthodox program, whether a shiur (class) or a seminar, that can remind people about how tangible halacha actually is, is important these days. The speakers and seminar presenters all made note of the eager and intelligent audience. Rabbi Krug, who spoke about various issues involved in building healthy relationships, stated, The unbridled enthusiasm and immense interest with which the students responded to the evenings seminar, many of whom have been in touch with me following the presentation, highlight the need for ongoing outreach programs on the college campuses. This need will magnify in the current economic environment with the ever-growing population attending state schools and universities outside the traditional major metropolitan areas. Kudos to the OU for such a wonderful initiative! Esther Nussbaum of HODS echoed his favorable impression of the students and their enthusiasm for the program. I found the students extremely attentive and interested, and they asked quite a number of very astute questions, she commented. After my presentation, the students stayed for another full hour to continue the discussion. Ms. Nussbaum spoke about the halachic and medical aspects of organ donation; why organ donation is controversial in the rabbinic world; the shortage of organs for donation in the United States and Israel; and the legal aspects of selling organs. She also spoke about registering for organ donation cards; many students expressed interest in signing up to register as card-carrying members of the Halachic Organ Donation Society. Of the womens health discussion, many students found a forum to allow them to ask personal questions that they might have otherwise kept to themselves. Student Dana Erdfarb, of Teaneck, who attended the session, declared, Dr. Rosenzweig and Mrs. Eis were both clearly knowledgeable and had the women in the audience feeling comfortable. We all got answers to questions weve all really wanted to ask, and it was really nice to have a forum to discuss female issues that are generally regarded as taboo. Dr. Rosenzweig, the OB-GYN, commented, It's very important for young women to get a better understanding of both the physical and spiritual nature of their bodies. I believe this forum allowed these women the opportunity, in a non-judgmental setting, to learn about themselves, and how religion and medicine relate to the Jewish woman. The success of the series is a lasting phenomenon; comments Mrs. Porath, The presentations and discussions have since fueled a lot of follow-up conversation for my husband and I with the students. It has definitely helped pique interest in and appreciation of the Jewish perspective on relevant issues for many among the campus. Rutgers University, JLIC in the Press, News 2009-03-12T19:10:47+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/ou_jlic_conference_informs_educators_about_countering_risks_on_secular_camp/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/ou_jlic_conference_informs_educators_about_countering_risks_on_secular_camp/#When:20:36:44Z The following is advice from an extremely knowledgeable source to parents of yeshiva high school seniors who are planning to attend secular colleges and universities rather than continuing their education at Jewish institutions such as Yeshiva University or Touro College: The students will be going from the "bubble" of kindergarten through twelfth grade to the different atmosphere of the secular campus. In this ambiance, the advice continues, "parents have no guarantee their children will remain observant." These were the words of Rabbi Menachem Schrader, the Israel-based Founding Director of the Orthodox Union's Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) program, which was created by the OU nine years ago to provide the atmosphere of Jewish study, community and leadership to keep students on the Orthodox path even in the hothouse atmosphere of the secular campus. Rabbi Schrader delivered his message to the First Annual Conference for Principals and Guidance Advisors held at OU headquarters for an audience of 50, who came not only from the New York Metropolitan Area but from Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Boca Raton, Baltimore, Boston and Philadelphia as well.A Yeshiva Conundrum: To Go to Secular College or Not to Go: OU JLIC CONFERENCE INFORMS EDUCATORS ABOUT COUNTERING RISKS ON SECULAR CAMPUSES The following is advice from an extremely knowledgeable source to parents of yeshiva high school seniors who are planning to attend secular colleges and universities rather than continuing their education at Jewish institutions such as Yeshiva University or Touro College: The students will be going from the "bubble" of kindergarten through twelfth grade to the different atmosphere of the secular campus. In this ambiance, the advice continues, "parents have no guarantee their children will remain observant." These were the words of Rabbi Menachem Schrader, the Israel-based Founding Director of the Orthodox Union's Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) program, which was created by the OU nine years ago to provide the atmosphere of Jewish study, community and leadership to keep students on the Orthodox path even in the hothouse atmosphere of the secular campus. Rabbi Schrader delivered his message to the First Annual Conference for Principals and Guidance Advisors held at OU headquarters for an audience of 50, who came not only from the New York Metropolitan Area but from Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Boca Raton, Baltimore, Boston and Philadelphia as well. Rabbi Ilan Haber, National Director of JLIC, seconded Rabbi Schrader's message. "What inspired JLIC," he said, "was that parents' investment in Jewish education, perhaps $200,000 (per student) over the years, stops at college. This is why Rabbi Schrader deemed the program necessary," in other words, for the students to continue living Orthodox lives, even while surrounded by the lures of the secular campus. Yeshiva principals and college guidance counselors may play a major role in determining whether a student winds up on a Jewish or secular campus. The better informed principals and guidance counselors are, the better informed Orthodox teens and their parents will be about determining the college that is right for them, declared Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY, the OU youth program, and Director of OU Program Development. This conference provided high school principals and guidance counselors with the tools and understanding of what resources secular campuses really have to offer Orthodox teens, as well as the challenges Orthodox university students face there. Ira Miller, Dean of the Ramaz School in New York and Chairman of the JLIC Advisory Board, who played a major role in putting together the conference, emphasized the notion of challenges. We hold our breaths when we let them go to the secular campus, he said. They are not finished growing yet, emotionally or spiritually. Where there are programs, we hope they find caring adults, young men and women giving of themselves to inspire confidence. That is exactly what they will find on JLIC campuses, 15 of them, 14 in the United States with the first program having started this academic year in Canada. The campuses are Yale and Brandeis (where the program began nine years ago, expanding campus by campus since then); Boston University, the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Cornell, New York University, Brooklyn College, Rutgers, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Illinois and UCLA; in Canada, there is a joint program at York University and the University of Toronto. More campuses are expected to be added in the years to come, given the necessary resources. JLIC programs revolve around a young rabbi and his wife, known as Torah Educators -- many of whom themselves are graduates of secular universities. They provide learning programs, religious services, kosher food, home-cooked Shabbat meals, and opportunities for socialization, while serving as mentors to their students. They create an Orthodox community on campus that is vital for keeping students on the derech (path) of Orthodox practice and belief. The JLIC Community It is the sense of community that provides the impetus for JLIC's success, both Rabbi Schrader and Haber declared. Proper Orthodox Jewish fulfillment exists only in a communal experience. When we send students to a campus, we want to send them to one with a communal Orthodox Jewish experience. To not do so is to betray the trust of the parents and the community, Rabbi Schrader said. Rabbi Haber agreed. Like Rabbi Schrader, he is based in Israel and spends much time flying back and forth to North America to observe the programs on the campuses. He and his wife Leah, in fact, were the initial Torah educators at Yale in JLIC's first year. He looks for communities that are open and accessible to Orthodox and non-Orthodox students, to make communities more spiritual for both, and to provide a plethora of opportunities for students to continue in their development. Although targeted specifically at the Orthodox, JLIC is open to any Jewish student. Rabbi Haber, with obvious pride, told the story of a student from a Reform Jewish background at the University of Illinois who exclaimed to him how Shabbat had been transformed, once JLIC arrived on campus in Champaign-Urbana. Rabbi Haber also lauded the OU-Hillel relationship, calling it a Kiddush Hashem, Sanctification of God's name, based on how the two organizations work closely together, with the JLIC programs taking place at Hillel facilities. The OU event featured a panel discussion, JLIC and Religious Life on the College Campus, in which three Torah educators Rabbi Yehuda Sarna of NYU, Rabbi Jason Rapport of Yale University, and Naomi Kohl of the University of Maryland -- explained how JLIC functions on their respective campuses. A keynote panel on "Religious Considerations in College Choices," moderated by Rabbi Saul Zucker, Director of the OU Department of Day School and Educational Services, featured Rabbi Joseph Polak, Executive Director of Hillel at Boston University; Rabbi Ari Israel, Executive Director of Hillel at the University of Maryland; Rabbi Yehuda Seif, former Torah Educator at the University of Pennsylvania; as well as Rabbi Schrader. Rabbi Seif noted that students coming from the double programs of the yeshiva, in which they are in school day and night with their Judaic and secular studies, are presented with hours of free time on the college campus. "Busy kids get into less trouble than kids with time on their hands," he said. The antidote: "Torah studies with intellectual rigor, and that's what JLIC does." Rabbi Polak told how the college experience can quickly turn religious students into non-religious students, giving such examples as poor kosher food; uninspired Torah teaching; ordinary Shabbat and Yom Tov observances; absence of Jewish peers who can set a good example; arriving at college at 17, too early to make the transition successfully; a culture of football or fraternities/sororities on campus; and even difficulty of access to dorms and rooms on Shabbat because locks are electronic. He advised the college advisors and principals: "Part of the agenda of the college counselor is that the entire yeshiva investment can go down the drain by the first semester," if some or all of these conditions are present. Rabbi Israel of Maryland advised that "there are probably only 30-50 universities that fit the bill" in providing the proper Jewish atmosphere, with JLIC at 15 of them. In closing remarks, Allen Fagin, the Chair of the Orthodox Union JLIC Commission, which oversees the program on a day-to-day basis, called on the educators present to help "fine-tune the program from a pedagogical point of view and to create programs on campus that will be important in students' lives"; to recommend where JLIC should expand, perhaps to community colleges where the program is not yet found; and given the scarcity of resources for expansion, to recommend what can be done on non-JLIC campuses to create a proper Jewish atmosphere. "The whole conversation that takes place with parents and students about whether to send them to a secular school rather than to a Jewish campus is enormously difficult, raising all kinds of issues, including how to structure the dialogue to help make the correct choice," Mr. Fagin said. "We're drawing on the experience of the educators in this room and on campus to help parents and students make the correct choice." Comments by the educators indicated that the conference's message was well received. "It was a wonderful and productive day!" declared Rochelle Tuchman, Assistant Principal for College and Academic Guidance at Shulamith HS for Girls in Brooklyn, NY. "Thanks for organizing it, this was a most valuable conference!" commented Michael Courtney, Associate Director of College Counseling at SAR Academy High School in Riverdale, NY. "The three of us from Boston who traveled down from Boston are very gratified to have participated," added Rabbi Dovid Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva, Maimonides School. "Thank you for all that you are doing to help our graduates once they get out to the campuses. Your involvement has the capability of changing lives," summed up Dr. Rita Shloush, Head of School at Yeshivat Rambam in Baltimore. The conference was coordinated by Simone Geller, JLIC Operations and Communications Associate, together with Rabbi Haber of the OU and Ira Miller of Ramaz. JLIC in the Press, News 2009-02-12T20:36:44+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/jlic_comes_at_right_time_for_york_u_students_the_jewish_tribune_2_10_09/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/jlic_comes_at_right_time_for_york_u_students_the_jewish_tribune_2_10_09/#When:16:12:55Z Students - The Jewish Tribune Contributed by Atara Beck Tuesday, 10 February 2009 TORONTO – Rabbi Aaron Greenberg and his wife Miriam have been running the local Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) – an Orthodox Union (OU) undertaking in conjunction with Hillel of Greater Toronto – since last August and already the Thornhill-raised educators have succeeded in establishing a warm connection with at least 150 university-age students. Students - The Jewish Tribune Contributed by Atara Beck Tuesday, 10 February 2009 For pdf version of the article, click here Original source here. TORONTO – Rabbi Aaron Greenberg and his wife Miriam have been running the local Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) – an Orthodox Union (OU) undertaking in conjunction with Hillel of Greater Toronto – since last August and already the Thornhill-raised educators have succeeded in establishing a warm connection with at least 150 university-age students. “After NCSY (National Council of Synagogue Youth) participants graduate from high school, the OU doesn’t simply bid farewell to them as they enter secular colleges,” according to an OU statement. Through programs like JLIC, which is currently on 15 post-secondary campuses across North America, including Toronto, OU encourages students to continue attending Jewish-content programs on campus. Rabbi Greenberg has organized both structured and informal study groups at University of Toronto and York to accommodate all levels of learning. Not letting the three-month-long strike at York interfere with his agenda, he arranged alternate programming at Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT) synagogue in Thornhill on weekday mornings for prayer services, breakfast and study. Yael Feinberg, a first-year chemistry student at York, told the Jewish Tribune how important this initiative has been in giving the students a productive and meaningful focus for the duration of the strike. “I am a huge fan of the JLIC programs,” she said. “I know this sounds [like a] cliche, but it has strongly impacted my life, especially during the strike.” The program seems to be filling a void even at schools where there has been no disruption. Adam Zarek, a third-year engineering student at U of T, said the program is “fantastic” and provides structure for those wishing to remain involved in active religious study while on campus. “We’re very thankful,” he stated. “It’s an outlet we’ve been looking for at U of T. It resonates well with the students.” Indeed, the Greenbergs are more than teachers. Students are welcome to call “24/6,” the rabbi quipped. “Students like to speak to you with their hearts,” he said. “They’re often looking for guidance, direction, meaning in life, especially at that age. “Not that I have all the answers,” he modestly added. The couple has four children, ranging from newborn to eight years old. They offer home-based programs as well, including a weekly lunchtime program Miriam runs for female students. Recently they hosted Super Sushi Sunday, in honour of the Hebrew month of Shvat, and brought in a chef, Amy Stopnicki, who demonstrated how to make the popular dish. In November, Toronto’s JLIC hosted a shabbaton at BAYT with a scholar-in-residence from Israel, renowned educator Rabbi Moshe Taragin. Another highlight is a fundraiser for Chai Lifeline, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping seriously ill children, planned for March. Other off-campus events have included Saturday night activities with discussions, games and food. “What makes Toronto different is that most kids live at home, rather than in dormitories,” Rabbi Greenberg explained. “There has to be more happening within the community. “We have to create a social dimension too,” he added, acknowledging that his project also presents an opportunity for young adults to make new acquaintances in a dignified way. “It’s a safe, open, understanding, friendly environment.” To connect with JLIC Toronto, call (416) 843-0245 or email rabbiaarongreenberg@gmail.com. York/U of T (Toronto), JLIC in the Press, News 2009-02-11T16:12:55+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/jlic_presents_the_first_annual_conference_of_yeshiva_principals_and_college/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/jlic_presents_the_first_annual_conference_of_yeshiva_principals_and_college/#When:20:31:15Z First Annual Conference of Yeshiva Principals and College Advisors Monday, February 2 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. OU Headquarters 11 Broadway The Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) of the Orthodox Union has already achieved great success by making its mark on some of the most prestigious college campuses in North America. Now, to get the message out further to educators, JLIC presents the First Annual Conference of Yeshiva Principals and College Advisors, to be held Monday, February 2, from 9:00 am - 4:30 p.m., at OU Headquarters in New York.First Annual Conference of Yeshiva Principals and College Advisors Monday, February 2 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. OU Headquarters 11 Broadway The Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) of the Orthodox Union has already achieved great success by making its mark on some of the most prestigious college campuses in North America. Now, to get the message out further to educators, JLIC presents the First Annual Conference of Yeshiva Principals and College Advisors, to be held Monday, February 2, from 9:00 am - 4:30 p.m., at OU Headquarters in New York. The JLIC program, now in its ninth year, features intensive study of Jewish texts, Sabbath and holiday observance, daily synagogue services, as well as mentoring and good companionship. It is dedicated to the enhancement of Orthodox communities on campus by promoting positive growth and identity among Jewish students, therefore serving as one of the incubators of the future of Orthodoxy. JLIC is a fixture on fifteen college campuses, including Brooklyn College; Boston University; Brandeis University; University of Massachusetts/Amherst; Yale University; New York University; Princeton University; Cornell University; Rutgers University; University of Pennsylvania; Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland; University of Illinois; UCLA; and York University/University of Toronto in Canada. This first annual conference will provide yeshiva principals and college advisors with information on each college campus where JLIC maintains a presence, as well as information on the various JLIC programs and classes that are offered at each school. JLIC and its staff can help school representatives advise their students and families about the different options available at these campuses, making their decision more informed. It will also help facilitate communication between principals and college advisors and JLIC couples who can provide firsthand information about the nature of Jewish life on campus. Rabbi Ilan Haber, National Director of JLIC who will participate in the conference, declared, "As college bound seniors and juniors search for their 'ideal' campus, whether directly from high school or after a year of study in Israel, JLIC can provide a resource of knowledge as well as a familiarity with the quality and substance of Jewish life on different campuses." Rabbi Haber continued, "We are very excited about our initiative and about this latest opportunity to share our mission with yeshiva principals and college advisors to help young adults find a place that will help them grow spiritually and religiously, as well as academically." JLIC operates in coordination with Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and the Torah Mitzion organization to support and tend to the spiritual needs of the students. Although targeted to the Orthodox, JLIC is open to all Jewish students, regardless of level of observance. It is based at Hillel, with the couple being part of both the Hillel and OU staffs. The full-day conference is $50 per person, $100 maximum per school, which includes breakfast and lunch. To RSVP, and for more information, contact gellers@ou.org or jlic@ou.org. * * * The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, represents the fastest growing segment in Jewish life. The OU is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA (Institute of Public Affairs), and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher certification label, the , is the world's most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 400,000 products manufactured in 80 countries around the globe. JLIC in the Press, News 2009-01-14T20:31:15+00:00 http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/ou_forum_on_orthodox_jewish_life_on_secular_college_campus_presented_by_jli/ http://www.jliconline.org/index.php/blog_entry/ou_forum_on_orthodox_jewish_life_on_secular_college_campus_presented_by_jli/#When:20:27:36Z Orthodox Jewish Life on Secular College Campuses Sunday, January 4 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Congregation Ahavath Torah 240 Broad Avenue, Englewood The challenges and opportunities for yeshiva high school graduates on the college campus and the role that the Orthodox Union's Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) plays on 15 campuses to enhance Orthodox Jewish life will be explored at the forum, "Orthodox Jewish Life on the Secular College Campus," to be held on Sunday, January 4, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Congregation Ahavath Torah, 240 Broad Avenue, in Englewood. Orthodox Jewish Life on Secular College Campuses Sunday, January 4 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Congregation Ahavath Torah 240 Broad Avenue, Englewood The challenges and opportunities for yeshiva high school graduates on the college campus and the role that the Orthodox Union's Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) plays on 15 campuses to enhance Orthodox Jewish life will be explored at the forum, "Orthodox Jewish Life on the Secular College Campus," to be held on Sunday, January 4, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Congregation Ahavath Torah, 240 Broad Avenue, in Englewood. The session is a joint program of the OU Department of Community Services, JLIC, and Congregation Ahavath Torah. It is intended for parents, high school juniors and seniors, and post Israel college-bound students. JLIC, a joint initiative of the OU, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, and the Torah Mitzion organization, places a young rabbi and his wife as Torah educators on campus to support and tend to the spiritual needs of the students. It can be found in New Jersey at Rutgers and Princeton. It is also operating at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Cornell, Boston University, Brandeis, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, New York University, Brooklyn College, the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, the University of Illinois and UCLA in the United States. In Canada, it can be found in Toronto at York University/the University of Toronto. "This session is an outstanding opportunity for parents and students who are considering secular college campuses to learn about the numerous religious support activities and programs that take place through JLIC," declared Frank Buchweitz, National Director of the Department of Community Services. "One can maintain an active and vibrant Orthodox Jewish lifestyle through their knowledge and involvement in this program." The Keynote Speaker will be Rabbi Yehuda Seif, former JLIC educator at the University of Pennsylvania, who will discuss, "Strategies for Success: Challenges and Opportunities for Orthodox Jews on Secular College Campuses." Opening remarks will be provided by Rabbi Ilan Haber, National Director of JLIC. A panel to be moderated by Simone Geller, Operations and Communications Associate of JLIC, will consist of Rabbi David Wolkenfeld, JLIC educator at Princeton University; Naomi Kohl, JLIC educator at the University of Maryland; Michelle Sarna, JLIC educator at New York University; and Adam Teitcher, a member of the Class of 2009 at the University of Pennsylvania. For further information, contact 212-613-8287 or gellers@ou.org. JLIC in the Press, News 2009-01-14T20:27:36+00:00