In universities across America, Jewish student leaders create vibrant communities in unexpected places. At the University of Texas at Austin, biology major Sadie Ostrowicki has been making waves as a Yavneh on Campus Fellow, demonstrating how dedicated student leaders can transform campus Jewish life regardless of their Jewish background.
Finding Yavneh Through JLIC Summer Ascend
In 2024, Sadie connected with the JLIC Summer Ascend program—an immersive experience in Jerusalem that offers different learning tracks for students with varying levels of Jewish background. The program creates intimate spaces for students to explore their Judaism, connect with peers from various campuses, and develop lasting friendships through Torah learning, trips, and internships.
This transformative experience with JLIC led Sadie to join Yavneh on Campus as a Fellow at UT Austin, where she could translate her growing Jewish identity into meaningful leadership for her campus community.
Melave Malka: Sadie’s Yavneh Fellowship Project
As her signature Yavneh fellowship project, Sadie organized weekly Melave Malka gatherings at UT Austin. These traditional post-Shabbat celebrations bring dozens of students together at the Orthodox house on campus. The events created a warm, welcoming space for Jewish students to extend the spirituality of Shabbat into the new week through food, song, and community.
Sadie committed to running these gatherings every week through the end of the semester, establishing a consistent touchpoint for Jewish students on campus. These celebrations proved to be more than just social events—they became anchoring experiences for students seeking connection. The weekly gatherings fostered deeper relationships and strengthened the campus Jewish community in ways that extended far beyond Saturday nights.
Impact Beyond Numbers
While approximately 30 students might seem modest in the context of UT Austin’s large student body, the impact of creating consistent, authentic Jewish experiences on a campus not traditionally known for its Jewish life cannot be overstated. Yavneh on Campus fellows like Sadie demonstrate how student-led initiatives can transform university experiences for Jewish students nationwide.
The Orthodox house’s kosher kitchen became a gathering point that made Jewish observance accessible and community-oriented. For students like Sadie, creating such spaces represented a powerful opportunity to ensure no student felt disconnected from their heritage and community.
A Model for Campuses Nationwide
Sadie’s work exemplifies how Yavneh on Campus develops Jewish leaders who impact thousands of students across America’s universities. By empowering students from diverse Jewish backgrounds, the organization creates sustainable Jewish communities in unexpected places.
Through fellows like Sadie Ostrowicki, Yavneh on Campus continues to demonstrate that meaningful Jewish experiences can thrive on any campus when passionate student leaders receive the training and support they need to create them.
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