National Blog

Torah at Penn: A Sanctuary of Scholarly Jewish Learning and Community
Penn JLIC: Torah Learning Transformed in a Challenging Campus Landscape In an era of campus tensions, Penn JLIC stands as a beacon of intellectual and spiritual growth, providing a sophisticated Jewish learning environment that matches the academic rigor Penn students are known for. Penn’s Jewish student body represents an intellectually ambitious community that craves deep, […]
Yavneh Hosts an Unforgettable Weekend of Shabbatonim and Community-Building
From November 8-10, Yavneh, a program of JLIC, held three dynamic Shabbat events across the United States, each designed to inspire, connect, and empower Jewish college students. With a unique lineup that included the a Long Beach Shabbaton, the inaugural Michigan Football Shabbaton, and the Southeast Torah Bowl, Yavneh showcased its commitment to Jewish growth, […]
Combating Campus Antisemitism: A Dialogue with Israel’s Special Envoy
On Monday, November 11th, the M.D. Katz JLIC at Tel Aviv University, directed by Rabbi Eitan and Elana Phillips, hosted an impactful event titled “Israel Discussion Forum: Confronting Antisemitism on Campus.” This event responded to a troubling surge in antisemitic incidents globally, particularly after the October 7th attack by Hamas. Students gathered for the forum, […]
JLIC Binghamton Kicks Off “Major Meals” Event Series
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 […]
Finding Light in Darkness: A Remarkable Simchat Torah at Bar Ilan
In a year marked by profound grief and unwavering resilience, the JLIC Mizrachi community at Bar Ilan University and Givat Shmuel faced the challenge of celebrating Simchat Torah while carrying the weight of recent history. JLIC directors Yaffy and Rav Nadav Newman understood the complexity of this moment – how to honor both the joy […]
Simchat Torah in the Valley 2024: Finding Joy Amidst Sorrow
The San Fernando Valley burst into life with an unprecedented celebration of Simchat Torah this year, even as the Jewish community grappled with profound sorrow. As Jews gathered to mark the completion and renewal of the Torah reading cycle, they faced the challenge of balancing celebration with grief following the October 7th Hamas attack on […]
A Season of Sacred Celebration: JLIC UCLA Transforms Campus Life During High Holidays
The halls of UCLA bustled with spiritual energy as Rabbi Aryeh and Sharona Kaplan orchestrated a remarkable series of High Holiday and Sukkot celebrations this fall. The JLIC directors transformed the campus into a vibrant center of Jewish life, weaving together prayer, learning, and community. Students streamed into daily minyanim throughout Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, […]