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The Global Service-Learning Fellowship-- Going on right now!
Sponsored by The Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus – Orthodox Union

Mission
To invigorate and inspire Jewish college students to play a leadership role in active Jewish life, thereby revitalizing the religious experience of their campus communities.

Goals:
- To engage in high level textual Torah study that leads to a deeper appreciation of a Jewish lifestyle as well as improved learning skills.
- To observe firsthand the impact of learning on volunteer service in order to reflect back on the texts learned.
- To create a community of students committed to the ideals of chessed and Torah with the desire to continue their engagement in it.

Structure:

The program consists of 5 components:

1. Learning: Weekdays 9am – 1pm.
Based in the Old City of Jerusalem, Fellows will participate in shiurim and collaboratively research topics such as chessed, the development of Oral Law and is relevance to our lives, and biblical topics.  All learning is text-based and will take place in a beit midrash environment.

2. Chessed (Service): Weekdays 2pm – 6pm.
Fellows select from one of seven volunteer internship teams to join, in collaboration with the following organizations: Amit, One Family Fund, Yad Vashem, Best Buddies, The Kuppah, Ittim and Connections Israel

3. Evening programming:
Fellows participate in workshops on various topics given by service activists and Torah educators who are experts in their fields.

4. Team-building touring: Once a week.
Fellows embark on a hike or tour designed to engender a sense of teamwork while acquiring a new understanding of our Jewish connection to Eretz Yisrael.

5. Shabbat Programs:
Complete Shabbat experiences in Jerusalem.  One Shabbat free.  Options to be set up with home hospitality with Israeli families (English or Hebrew speaking) in various communities throughout the country.

Dates, Travel, and Accommodations

June 30th – July 29th. Group flight available at a reduced rate.

Cost: The Fellowship provides free residence in the Old City of Jerusalem, free group tours and Shabbat programs. The Fellowship does not cover the cost of food or flights, though scholarships are available.

Staff:

Michelle Sarna, M.S. Ed., is the Senior JLIC Educator at NYU. She is concurrently writing her dissertation at Fordham Graduate School of Education on emerging adulthood, religion, and emotional well-being. Michelle was featured in the New York Jewish Week as an exemplar of combining advanced education, motherhood, and the pastoral and educational responsibilities of her work.
Michelle oversees the volunteer/internship element of the Fellowship.

Rabbi Yehuda Sarna is the University Chaplain and JLIC Educator at New York University. Over the past few years, Rabbi Sarna guided the founding of Students Take Action Against Darfur Now at NYU, spear-headed a Muslim-Jewish service trip to New Orleans, and led an emergency delegation to Virginia Tech in the wake of the massacre.
Rabbi Sarna oversees the educational component of the Fellowship.

Rabbi Yisroel Porath is the director if JLIC at Rutgers university.  He served in the Nachal infantry unit of the Israeli Defense Forces and holds a B Ed in educational counseling.  Rabbi Porath has taught in various institutions in both the United States and Israel.
Rabbi Porath oversees the touring and Shabbat experience of the Fellowship.

Shoshana Porath is the Senior JLIC Educator at Rutgers University.  She holds degrees in Bible, Jewish History and Education.  Shoshana has taught in advanced learning programs for young women and adults in both the United States and Israel. 
Shoshana oversees the women’s educational component of the Fellowship.

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