If you’ve walked past the JLIC Binghamton Beit Midrash lately, you’ve probably noticed it’s been pretty packed. Between morning sedarim, night seder sessions, and packed shiurim, Rav Jared and Sarit Anstandig have built something real here: a campus where students actually want to spend their time learning Torah.
Building a Beit Midrash from Scratch
Here’s something you might not know: until this summer (2025), JLIC at Binghamton didn’t have a Beit Midrash. The Anstandigs changed that. They bought shelves and tables, then invested thousands of dollars in sefarim to stock the space. Now students have a real place to learn, with the texts they need right there on the shelves. The project isn’t finished. The Anstandigs keep adding to it, building out a dedicated Torah learning space that will serve Binghamton students for years to come.
Morning Seder with Rav Jared
Every Monday through Thursday after Shacharit, Rav Jared opens up Masechet Chagigah in the Beit Midrash. He provides sources for guided learning throughout the week, and it all comes together in a weekly shiur. There’s something about starting the day with Gemara that sets the right tone, even on those rough mornings when students have an 8am class they’re dreading.
Hot Takes: 60+ Students and Spicy Food
A few weeks back, JLIC packed over 60 students in for what might be their most popular shiur yet. Rav Jared tackled the question: what happens when there’s a typo in a Sefer Torah? The learning was sharp, the debate was real, and yes, they served spicy fried chicken, buffalo wings, and jalapeño chips to match the “hot takes” theme.
People showed up for the food. They stayed for the Torah.
Night Seder Launches
Here’s the big news: JLIC just launched Night Seder in the Beit Midrash, running Monday-Wednesday evenings from 8:30-9:30 PM. Students come to learn with Rav Jared, with Sarit, or with their own chevruta. Some nights it’s quiet and focused. Other nights there’s good energy and back-and-forth. Either way, it’s become a regular part of the week for a core group of students who are seriously committed to their learning.
Why This Matters
Campus can be an isolating place for Jewish students who care about Torah. But when there are consistent learning opportunities and Torah educators like Rav Jared and Sarit who genuinely invest in students, things change. The Beit Midrash becomes a second home. Chevrutot become close friends. And Torah stops being something students did in high school and becomes part of their actual lives.
That’s what’s happening at Binghamton.
Questions about or want to support our programming? Reach out to Rav Jared and Sarit Anstandig.
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