This past Tuesday night, TABC and Ma’ayanot hosted their annual Jewish Life on Campus program. The evening featured over 20 college students from such varied universities as Cornell, SUNY at Binghamton, Cooper Union, New York University, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Chicago, Brandeis, Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, Rutgers, Queens, UMass at Amherst and, of course, Yeshiva University. The participants were privileged to hear not only from them in round-robin sessions from which parents and students could choose, but from Queens College OU-JLIC (Orthodox Union-Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus) educator Channah Cohen, who clearly and persuasively explained the “what, why and how” of JLIC’s mission. Cohen explained, both carefully and compassionately, why during these years of emerging adulthood it is so important for the students to know that there is always someone, in addition to Hillel and Chabad personnel, who is there to guide them “Jewishly” through any difficult terrain.
Most of the carefully selected universities who were invited have JLIC rabbi/educators on their campuses, who are sent from the OU and work in partnership with Hillel, to help college students navigate the college environment and balance their Jewish commitments with their desire to engage in the secular world.
The evening was also enriched by the presence of many TABC and Ma’ayanot alumni, representing a full range of prestigious colleges and talking animatedly about the shiurim, minyanim and other Jewish-related activities that they make it their business to seek out and participate in, no matter which college they attend. Anyone watching so many intelligent and exemplary Jewish youth speak so eloquently about the Jewish life they have chosen to either participate in or fundamentally create within the colleges of their choice would have been proud. It was a gratifying and humbling sight.
The program was jointly organized by the college guidance departments of TABC and Ma’ayanot, through the diligent work of Dr. Carol Master and Leebie Mallin, director of college guidance at Ma’ayanot. TABC Head of School Rabbi Yablok, and Ma’ayanot Principal Mrs. Kahan, introduced the evening that was attended by Dr. Garry Katz, director of college guidance of TABC, and college guidance counselor, Dr. Elliot Prager.
