From the East Coast to the West Coast, OU-JLIC Campuses offer an impressive assortment of Torah learning options for students.
PENN: SNL CHAVRUTA PROGRAM
SNL, a staple every week at Penn, is one of the most important programs within the Hillel building and community. The fact that 100 students take a break from their Sunday evenings—with no shortage of assignments to complete and exams to study for—to sit together for a kosher meal followed by an hour of chavrutah learning is absolutely incredible. Rabbi Yaakov and Racheli Taubes, OU-JLIC educators at Penn, are fixtures of this weekly learning program organized by the OCP (Orthodox Community at Penn.) The bonds that the community builds, through SNL, every Sunday night reaches beyond the beit midrash into students’ daily lives.
UMASS: UMASS BOOK CLUB FOR READERS AND WRITERS
Rabbi Raffi Leicht leads a large cohort of students into the study of modern Jewish revolutionaries and their written works, including: Reb Simhah Bunim of Przysucha, Rav Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook, Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Rav Shimon Gershon Rosenberg, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Yossi Klein HaLevi. Each participating student receives a free copy of each title and is encouraged to participate in writing exercises that bring each thinker’s ideas to life.
BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY: MIDRESHET YOM RISHON AT BINGHAMTON
Midreshet Yom Rishon is an exciting new OU-JLIC learning program on campus. In response to the demand, Midreshet Yom Rishon affords young women from various backgrounds the opportunity for advanced learning in Talmud. Women meet for brunch and then learn in chevrutot before reconvening for shiur. In its first semester, over 20 women have participated, with close to 15 coming on a weekly basis.
COLUMBIA/BARNARD: THE CHABURA PROJECT
The Chabura Project, the brainchild of Rabbi Noam and Shiffy Friedman (OU-JLIC educators at Columbia/Barnard), offers students the opportunity to join one (or several!) learning communities which come together weekly to study a particular Jewish topic or work. Some are entirely student-led while are others are taught by some combination of OU-JLIC educators, students, and guest teachers. Spring 2018 offerings included Holiday Halacha, Netivot Shalom, Tanachabura, Women in Halacha and The Thought of Rav Shagar.
NYU : NYU Kollel
The NYU Kollel is an interactive learning program which assists and enables students in NYU and downtown communities to continue their growth in Torah learning. The Kollel provides an atmosphere of positive learning, exemplified by its chavrutot, shiurim, and peer to peer teaching opportunities. Rabbi Joe Wolfson (OU-JLIC educator at NYU) and Rabbi Mayer Friedman teach shiurim in the kollel.
UCLA : JEWQ
JewQ, is an open Q&A forum for all things Jewish attracted. Students are able to ask questions relating to history, philosophy, ritual and practice of Judaism to both Torah Educators, Rabbi Aryeh and Sharona Kaplan, who then offer answers and introduce conversations surrounding the topics. The room is silent as students ask questions and listen to the Torah Educators answers.
By: Hani Lowenstein, Associate Director of Community Projects