Opened in fall 2026, the center gives young Anglo olim undergraduates a dedicated space to study, connect, and belong, with full-time directors on-site every day
JLIC announced today the launch of the JLIC Student Center, a new dedicated space built for young Anglo olim undergraduate students living and studying in Jerusalem. The center opened its doors in fall 2026, building on JLIC’s existing programming across Israel supporting students on campus and in surrounding communities.
Jerusalem has long been home to thousands of Anglo students, but until now, the city lacked a dedicated, welcoming place built specifically for them. The JLIC Student Center fills that gap. It is not a dorm, not a café, and not a program. It’s a home base students can make their own. Students already split their days between university classes and their apartments. What they haven’t had is a space in between, somewhere to study, decompress, and connect with peers who understand exactly what they’re going through.
The center will be staffed full-time, with directors present every day as invested role models and trusted figures students can turn to, people who are simply there. The space and its directors will also host regular programming, Torah learning, and events for this Anglo student community throughout the year.
“For years, we’ve watched incredible young Anglo olim students land in Jerusalem with nowhere that felt like theirs, no address, no community, no place just to be surrounded by people like them,” said Rabbi Josh Ross, Executive Director of JLIC. “The JLIC Student Center changes that. This is a real expansion of JLIC’s reach in Jerusalem, and it means we’re no longer meeting students only on campus, we’re meeting them in the actual rhythm of their lives here. It’s a home base built around what this community genuinely needs: a place to study, to breathe, and to be known. This is exactly where we should be, and exactly who we should be serving.”
The JLIC Student Center is opening thanks to the vision, generosity, and partnership of the Shapiro family. Inspired by their own children’s experiences in Jerusalem, the Shapiros recognized a broader need for a dedicated home there for Anglo university students – a place where their children and others like them could gather, build relationships, grow Jewishly, and find a community of their own. Their partnership with JLIC helped bring that vision to life.
The center’s first full-time directors are Yael and Rabbi Joe Wertman. Yael, originally from Los Angeles, CA, and Joe, from West Hempstead, NY, each made Aliyah on their own before meeting, marrying in August 2025, and building their life together in Jerusalem.
“We’re passionate about Israel and about building connected Jewish community life,” said Yael and Joe. “We’re so excited to blend our passions and talents in building the new JLIC Jerusalem Student Center.”
Reach out to any of our Directors to learn more about JLIC and our programming.