York University in Toronto, the third largest university in Canada, has over 50,000 students. York houses an acclaimed Centre for Jewish Studies and the internationally recognized Jewish Education Program that offers students an unparalleled opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Education
in both secular and Judaic studies, while concurrently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students who graduate this program go on to receive job offers in both the public schools and Jewish day schools of their choice. York students can also receive a substantial stipend from various universities in Israel to spend a year abroad, and most programs at York will give a full year of credit for studying in Israel.
York has a Jewish students’ population of 2,500-5,000, and 250-500 of these students attended Modern or Centrist Orthodox day schools. Orthodox students commute to York daily and are graduates from public schools, Jewish community schools, yeshiva day schools, Ner Yisroel and Bais Yaakov. The university is accommodating to students who miss class due to their religious observance.
Seeking to maximize students engagement with Jewish life, OU-JLIC organizes Torah learning and social events both on and off campus. The JLIC Torah Educators teach several weekly shiurim; organize a monthly guest speaker in a community member’s home; and offer a 7 minute halachah chaburah after 9:45 weeknight maariv at the BAYT, the largest Modern Orthodox synagogue in the area. JLIC in conjunction with the Yeshiva University-Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov coordinate separate beit midrash programs for women and men; students, who learn either at Ulpanat Orot or at Yeshivat Or Chaim, receive a stipend for their involvement in the program. Additionally, many male students take part in the many shiurim and batei midrash available in the large Toronto Orthodox Jewish community. Innovative social programs, which take place on campus, include the annual basketball tournament, cake wars, and skating. JLIC Rabbi Aaron Greenberg can be found at York during work hours, three days a week, giving classes, meeting students and providing for the diverse needs of the Jewish community.
JLIC commuter students join together to celebrate Shabbat and chagim in their local community. At BAYT, in the Perlis Hall, 70-120 young adults gather every Shabbat and chag for Shacharit. After the minyan, students socialize during the kiddush sponsored by the BAYT Brotherhood. The JLIC couple regularly welcomes students into their home; they host a monthly Friday night oneg for students and invite students for meals on Shabbat and chagim.
Meet The Educators