Torat JLIC

Picture Yom Kippur in a Tel Aviv square. Thousands of people in white. No microphones, no screens, and most of the crowd has no idea what page they’re on. That last part turns out to be the point.

Dan Cantor sits down with Rav Joe Wolfson, director of JLIC Tel Aviv, to talk about leading a public Kol Nidre for up to 5,000 people. One open question: should it feel like a polished production or a neighborhood shul? Rav Joe borrows an idea from ancient cave paintings, made to be seen by flickering firelight, not floodlights. 

...

A childhood friend told Rav Ari Bar-Shain he had stopped davening and learning, and that he was at peace with it. Rav Ari took the story to his students at Princeton with a hard question: am I responsible for my friend's relationship with Hashem? On this episode of Torat JLIC, host Don Canter sits down with Rav Ari, JLIC co-director at Princeton, to work through it.

Rav Ari lays out three models of collective teshuvah. The Rambam, where Hashem weighs the individual, then the medina, then the world. Rav Kook and Rav Soloveitchik on teshuvah for the...

Rabbi Zechariah and Elyanna Rosenthal grew up in what amounts to a JLIC family business. His father runs JLIC's national development. Her brother and sister-in-law run JLIC at another university. Now the two of them are building their own campus, which is why the argument they get into mid-episode about whether Torah study actually changes you isn't academic. It's the question their whole career rests on.

The conversation opens with the imposter syndrome of a first year on campus: introducing yourself to hundreds of strangers, wondering if you belong there. That leads to a sharper idea, one...

This bonus episode is a crossover from the Shtark Tank podcast. It tracks Rabbi Rafi Dembovsky journey from a Torah-only yeshiva bachur to the author of a sefer on Torah im Derech Eretz. He grew up in a home where everyone worked, but absorbed a Torah-only hashkafa from his rebbeim at Hasmonean and Yeshivas Toras Moshe. Seven years into Kollel, a pull toward his in-laws' seforim, Rav Hirsch's Nineteen Letters, and a hard search for the right cheder for his son sent him back to the sugya in Berachot on Rabbi Yishmael, and into halachic questions about taking money...

Rav Hirsch has a hard read on why Esav became Esav: not because he was born wrong, but because Yitzchak and Rivka got passive about his education, sending him to the same yeshiva as Yaakov and hoping for the best. Rabbi Josh Ross thinks that failure is still happening, quietly, in living rooms everywhere.

Rabbi Ross was one of JLIC's original campus couples, back when Rav Schrader's idea for the organization wasn't yet called JLIC. Now, as executive director, his diagnosis is blunt: "for far too many years we've outsourced Judaism." We hand our children's Judaism to...

Plato says the truth is outside the cave. Chazal disagree. That inversion is the starting point for this episode, and it turns out to explain a lot about what JLIC is actually for.

The story is Shimon bar Yochai. Twelve years in the cave, nothing but Torah. He emerges and starts burning things down because he can't look at ordinary people going about their ordinary lives. God sends him back. When he finally re-enters the world, he sees a man running on Erev Shabbos with two myrtle branches, one for zachor, one for shamor, and something shifts...

Rav Shlomo and Kira Ashkenazi arrived at Washington University in St. Louis on October 9th, 2023. They walked into a house they'd never seen before: no furniture, no light fixtures, nothing. They texted a WhatsApp group of students they barely knew: "We're getting in at 3. Want to do Mincha and a kumzitz at our house at 5?" Forty students showed up. Shlomo cried in front of people he didn't know. A community was born.

In three years, that community has more than doubled, from around 50 day school students to over 100, with 50 gap year students arriving next fall. G...

JLIC is built around serious Torah learning. On a college campus, that's a choice with real consequences. In this episode, we wrestle with an honest question: does being rigorous mean being inaccessible? Are we reaching the students who need us most, or have we quietly built an insiders' club?

The conversation digs into a core tension: depth vs. reach. The Rambam has a framework for this. You use honey to get a kid to love Torah. Then you pull back the honey once the love is real. We talk about how that plays out in JLIC's work...

Content note: This episode contains graphic descriptions of recovering and identifying human remains in a wartime setting. The conversation is handled with sensitivity and spiritual depth, but may not be suitable for all audiences, particularly younger listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

What does it feel like to bring the last hostage home?

Rabbi Tzvi Wohlgelernter served in the IDF's Yasar unit, tasked with recovering the bodies of hostages and fallen soldiers to ensure they receive a dignified Jewish burial. In this episode, he walks us through the extraordinary mission to recover Ron Gvili, t...

Guest: Uri Lorkis, JLIC Director at University of Michigan & Startup Coach

What does coaching Israeli startup founders have in common with guiding college students through their spiritual journey? Uri Lorkis discovered the answer isn't just similar, it's transformative.

Uri shares his unconventional path from IDF paratrooper to JLIC director, and reveals why the biggest challenge facing both his students and his startup clients is exactly the same: how to be effective instead of affected. He introduces his powerful "lifeboat to real boat" framework for spiritual growth and explains why closing the sefer is...

What do you do when the biggest social event of the year at Yale (the Harvard-Yale football game) happens to fall on Shabbat? Every single year.

JLIC Yale co-director Rabbi Dr. Alex Ozar joins Rabbi Don Cantor to talk through a question that comes up constantly on college campuses: How do you actually guide students who genuinely care about Shabbat but also really want to be part of their college community?

Alex isn't interested in just saying "don't go" and leaving it at that. He walks through the sources, from the Shulchan Aruch on...

In this episode of the Torah JLIC Podcast, hosts Don and Alex sit down with Tal Attia, JLIC's Chief Operating Officer, to explore what goes into building JLIC's exceptional staff of campus directors across North America and Israel.

The Journey to JLIC Leadership

What Makes a Great JLIC Director

Rabbi Joe Wolfson shares his experience of Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv, the remarkable outdoor prayer services that brought together thousands of secular and religious Israelis, and reflects on how the nation is navigating a uniquely religious moment in its history.

Featured Guest Rabbi Joe Wolfson – Leader of JIC Tel Aviv community and Director of JLIC's Abraham's House, a beit midrash (learning center) serving as an incubator for societal impact.

Key Topics Discussed Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv: A City Transformed Why Tel Aviv is "the greatest city in the world to spend Yom Kippur" The 25-hou...

In this episode, Rabbi Alex Ozar (JLIC Yale) and Rabbi Don Cantor (Richmond Jewish Learning Experience, formerly JLIC Johns Hopkins) continue their exploration of Jewish consolation during times of national tragedy. Drawing from the seven Haftarot of consolation and provocative midrashim, they unpack what it means for a broken people to seek comfort and why human messengers aren't enough.

The Failure of Prophets as Comforters

Don and Alex explore the concept of consolation (nechamah) during difficult times, examining what true comfort means in Judaism and how communities can provide genuine solace during periods of collective pain.

Key Insight: The Hebrew "Nachamu" means "comfort [my people]" - it's a command to provide consolation, not merely receive it. Consolation is fundamentally human work, not just divine intervention.

A dialogue from Pesikta d'Rav Kahana shows God commanding prophets to comfort the people, but the people respond they've been abandoned. The prophets report back that...

In a world that feels increasingly divided into stark categories of "good" and "evil," how should we confront the rising tide of antisemitism on college campuses? While demanding institutional accountability is a crucial first step, Rabbi Alex Ozar argues it is not enough. In this thought-provoking episode, he challenges listeners to move beyond a purely defensive or reactive posture and adopt a more constructive, and profoundly Jewish, spiritual framework.   Drawing on a teaching from Maimonides (the Rambam), Rabbi Ozar proposes a counterintuitive idea: that for all practical purposes, there are no truly "evil" people, only "mediocre" ones—complex human beings who...

In this episode, Rav Shlomo Brukirer shares his transformative journey from a young yeshiva student helping peers struggling with substance abuse to becoming a communal rabbi dedicated to serving college students. Drawing from a life-changing Talmudic teaching about praying for those who suffer, Rav Brukirer explores how ordinary work can become holy through intention and service to others.

The conversation weaves together personal stories, Talmudic wisdom, and practical insights about building inclusive Jewish communities where every person feels seen and valued.

🔹 Holiness in Everyday Work

In this special episode, Rabbi Don Cantor takes the microphone as guest to explore deep questions about faith, trust in God, and how these concepts apply to real-world challenges. Through textual analysis and personal reflections, Rav Don and host Rabbi Alex Ozar delve into what it truly means to have faith in God beyond simplistic notions that "everything will work out."

This week, hosts Rabbi Don Cantor and Rabbi, Dr. Alex Ozar are joined by Rabbi Menachem Schrader, founder of JLIC and its longtime Posek (Halakhic decisor), for a deep dive into navigating Passover observance in a college setting. With decades of experience answering student questions, Rabbi Schrader offers invaluable guidance. Topics covered include: Cleaning & Searching (Bedikat Chametz): How thorough do you need to be in a dorm, especially shared ones? What's your responsibility regarding a roommate's mess or belongings (Jewish or not)? Dealing with Chametz: Clarifying ownership rules for food belonging to you, your roommate, or co-owned items. Practical methods fo...

In this powerful episode, Rav Don and Rav Alex welcome Rabbi Avi Schwartz, who brings his unique dual expertise as both a JLIC rabbi and licensed social worker. Rav Avi dives into his vital work supporting Jewish college students navigating religious commitments alongside mental health challenges.

Episode Highlights: Bridging Two Worlds: Rabbi Schwartz reveals how he balances his rabbinical role with mental health expertise, establishing clear boundaries while recognizing valuable overlaps. When OCD Meets Religious Observance: Discover how mental health conditions directly impact halakhic practice, and learn the critical signs that distinguish religious questions from mental health concerns. ...

Given on February 24th 2025, in loving memory of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifschitz.

The shiur focuses on Parshat Teruma and the month of Adar as prompts to one of Judaism's deepest themes, the consistent push to help us overcome the darkness and approach the future with hope - no matter how hard that is

Source sheet available at this link

In this episode, Don Cantor and Alex Ozar dive into the challenging landscape surrounding Israel on college campuses, particularly elite East Coast institutions. They explore how students, often identifying as Jewish, find themselves navigating a complex and increasingly politicized environment. The conversation includes discussions on balancing community solidarity with diverse viewpoints, as well as the challenges of maintaining meaningful dialogue amidst rising tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The hosts explore the evolving relationship between Jewish identity, political perspectives, and communal belonging.

Key Discussion Points:

The Consumption of Israel in Campus Discourse: Israel is a c...

Guest Rav Moshe Moskowitz 

Overview:
This episode features Rav Moshe Moskowitz, JLC Director at Johns Hopkins, discussing his approach to Torah learning, his connection to the Pachad Yitzchak, and how he connects with students through Torah. He shares personal stories, offers insights on dealing with challenges, and shares powerful pieces of Torah relevant to the current times.

Key Discussion Points:

The Pachad Yitzchak: Rav Moshe’s journey of appreciating its depth and how it reveals meaning in seemingly simple concepts.

Connecting With Students: Learning their experiences, finding relevant Tora...

Guest: Rabbi Jeremy Tibbetts, JLIC Director in Jerusalem and Director of Student Leadership for Yavneh

Featured Torah Teaching:

In this thought-provoking episode, the hosts explore the challenges of practicing Judaism in a world driven by transactional mindsets and career-oriented motivations. They delve into how modern pressures—especially from social media and career expectations—can transform meaningful religious practices into resume-building or social capital-accruing activities.

A profound exploration of how contemporary society views success, challenging the prevailing economic logic and offering a distinctly Jewish approach to finding meaning beyond material accumulation.

In this powerful episode, we speak with Tzvi and Tali Wohlgelernter, who share their experiences during the October 7th and its aftermath. Tzvi served in the IDF reserves for six months while Tali maintained their JLIC community and family life. Their story provides insights into maintaining Jewish unity, family resilience, and community leadership during crisis.

- Tzvi and Tali previously served as JLIC directors at Rutgers University for three years
- Currently serve as JLIC Mizrahi directors in Israel
- Parents to four daughters
- Tzvi was called up for reserve duty...

Rabbi Eitan & Elana Philips, leaders of the M.D. Katz JLIC program at Tel Aviv University, share their experiences during the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, 2023. They offer insights into the war's impact on academic and community life at Tel Aviv University.

Key Topics:
1. The M.D. Katz JLIC program: A "home away from home" for international students
2. October 7, 2023: Rabbi Eitan's military service
3. Adapting to war: Maintaining student connections remotely
4. Personal growth: "Mesirat nefesh" (self-sacrifice) in wartime
5. Religious perspectives: Biblical parallels and Judaism's role in modern Israel
6. Community leadership: Elana's...

Episode Description:
In this episode, we speak with Rabbi Joe Wolfson about his experiences building and leading Jewish communities during challenging times - from COVID-19 in New York City to the recent Israel-Hamas war. Rabbi Joe Wolfson shares inspiring stories of grassroots volunteerism, reflections on finding meaning through Torah study, and insights on sustaining hope and action in difficult circumstances.

Key Topics Covered:
• Rabbi Joe Wolfson journey from the UK to leading JLIC communities in NYC and Jerusalem
• Coordinating volunteer efforts and support for evacuees and soldiers during the Israel-Hamas war
• Finding new resona...

Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Torah at JLIC podcast, we speak with Rabbi Elie Beuchler, director of JLIC at Columbia University and Barnard College, about his experiences leading the Jewish community on campus during a tumultuous year. Rabbi Elie Beuchler shares insights on Jewish preparation (hachana), community resilience, and personal growth in the face of challenges.

Key Topics:

Guests: Rabbi Yehuda and Hannah Auerbach, JLIC Co-Directors at University of Chicago

In this episode, Rabbi Yehuda and Hannah Auerbach share their experiences as JLIC co-directors at the University of Chicago, including their response to the events of October 7th and insights on building a Jewish community on campus.