Torat JLIC

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 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...

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...

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

• Tal's unexpected path from college student to campus director to COO
• The transition from being "needed constantly" on campus to behind-the-desk leadership
• How a Shab...

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.

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 inter...

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...

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."

• Faith in God isn't believing that everyt...

• Cleaning & Searching (Bedikat Chametz): How thorough do you need to be ...

• Bridging Two Worlds: Rabbi Schwartz reveals how he balances his rabbinical role with mental health expertise...

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 t...

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 ...

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

• Main Discussion Topics:
  • Building intentional Jewish community in Jerusalem for English-speaking young adults
  • Response to October 7th - Community shifted from internal focus to extensive outward aid efforts, including:
    • Processing ~70,000 shekels in donations
    • Packing 2,000+ meals
    • Running a 2-month camp for 100 displ...

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.

• The pervasive tendency to approach Jewish practices (T...

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.

• Critiquing the tendency to view all activities as instrumental means to economic ends
• Challenging the relentless pursuit of social and material capital
• Exploring alternative ...

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 ...

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 ...