Rabbi Idan and Prielle Rakovsky gathered their JLIC community at Ben-Gurion University last week for a Thanksgiving dinner. Twenty-five students joined them for turkey, pie, American trivia, and a sweet-pie contest that got pretty competitive.
Thanksgiving might be an American holiday, but the message of gratitude translates everywhere. When students from Israel, the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Russia, South Africa, and even one from India sit around the same table, you see how universal that message really is.
What Gratitude Sounds Like
The highlight of the evening came when everyone went around the room sharing what they were grateful for. What the students said captured something important about what’s happening in Be’er Sheva.
The community members talked about the warnings they received before moving. People told them Be’er Sheva would be difficult, that “there’s nothing there.” When they arrived, they discovered an active, welcoming community waiting for them. They expressed gratitude that JLIC chose to open in Be’er Sheva, even though it’s not the typical location for an American Jewish community.
One student put it simply: “It’s amazing to be able to walk two minutes from my apartment and arrive at a community with all the people I love for davening and Shabbat meals.”
Others thanked JLIC for creating a synagogue where they can finally daven somewhere that feels right, where they can actually stay for Shabbat because a real community exists there.
Growing Roots in the Negev
JLIC BGU is only in its second year, but the community has already grown by 30 percent since last year. The Rakovskys serve both undergraduate and graduate students studying at BGU, drawing from a remarkably diverse population spanning multiple continents.
The community recently opened a JLIC shul with event space. Students and young professionals cleaned and fixed up the entire space themselves, transforming it into a home for their growing community.
The opening Shabbat exceeded everyone’s expectations. Over 100 students and young professionals came for Friday night davening. The singing and dancing grew so spirited that neighbors from nearby streets came down to see what was happening in the middle of their usually quiet neighborhood. The space couldn’t contain everyone. People sat outside just to be part of the minyan.
Shabbat morning brought 70 students and young professionals for davening, kiddush, and a shiur. Eighty people joined what became their largest Shabbat meal yet. Young married couples who had been searching for a vibrant community in the Negev walked in for the first time and found what they were looking for.
Building Something Lasting
The Thanksgiving dinner highlighted the impact this community is having. The students who hosted the Thanksgiving feast weren’t just sharing a traditional dinner. They were creating and building connections that will last far beyond any single holiday or Shabbat.
When new members of the community talk about their gratitude for a soft landing in Be’er Sheva, for finding a place where they can daven and celebrate Shabbat with people they care about, it reflects the kind of community taking root in the Negev.
This is what JLIC BGU is building in Be’er Sheva. A place where students from around the world can walk two minutes from their apartments and find home.
Reach out to any of our Directors to learn more about and to support JLIC and our programming.
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