JLIC at Binghamton University, led by directors Rabbi Jared and Sarit Anstandig, has kicked off an innovative new event series called “Major Meals.” Each meal in the series focuses on a different academic major, providing students with an opportunity to connect, learn, and engage around the topics they’re passionate about.
“The ‘Major Meals’ series was born out of our desire to create more meaningful connections and learning opportunities for students,” explained Rabbi Jared and Sarit Anstandig. “By centering each event around a specific academic discipline, we’re able to tailor the experience to the interests and needs of those students, making it more relevant and compelling for them.”
The first event in the series was targeted towards engineering students. Participants were given “secret words” related to engineering when they arrived, and were challenged to organically work those words into their conversations throughout the meal. This creative icebreaker led to rich discussions and encouraged students to engage with one another in new ways.
The learning component of the evening focused on the topic of “Smart Homes, Smart Halacha: Voice Commands on Shabbat.” Rabbi Anstandig led a thought-provoking discussion on the interplay between emerging technologies and Jewish law, sparking deeper exploration of how modern innovations can be harmonized with traditional practices.
“The major meals gave me the opportunity to connect on a more individual level with students that share similar interests,” shared one student participant. “The Torah topic with sources on smart home technology use on Shabbat was a great way to connect our interests to an fascinating Torah topic. The Torah topic, in addition to engineering themed icebreakers and word assassin, really connected me to other students in Engineering within the JLIC community at Binghamton.”
“One of the key goals of JLIC is to help students find ways to integrate their academic and religious lives,” said Rabbi Josh Ross, Executive Director of JLIC. “The ‘Major Meals’ series does this beautifully, empowering students to bring their whole selves to the table and build community around shared passions.”
There is also a strong social element to the “Major Meals” series. After each event, students have commented on how wonderful it has been to get to know their peers in different years and social circles that they may not have otherwise had the chance to connect with. The intimate, major-specific settings have enabled the formation of new micro-communities within the larger JLIC community.
“When students feel that their interests and identities are valued, they’re more likely to get involved and stay involved,” added Sarit Anstandig. “The ‘Major Meals’ series is all about creating those opportunities for connection and growth.”
Future installments of the “Major Meals” series will spotlight other academic disciplines, including the humanities, biology, nursing, business, and psychology. By tailoring each event to a specific major, JLIC Binghamton hopes to foster a sense of belonging and deepen students’ engagement with both their studies and their Jewish identity.
Reach out to any of our Directors to learn more about and to support JLIC programming.
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