Baltimore Jewish Life ran a story about JLIC and the OU's NexGen division and the Jewish Leaders conference.
Check it out!
GO WEST YOUNG COUPLE: HOW A YOUNG RABBI AND HIS WIFE MIGRATED FROM NEW YORK TO LA, TOOK OVER A PROGRAM FOR ORTHODOX STUDENTS AT UCLA, AND BUILT A THRIVING CAMPUS COMMUNITY
By Rabbi Aryeh and Sharona Kaplan
In recognition that the overwhelming majority of Modern Orthodox college students are being educated at secular universities, the Orthodox Union, in partnership with Hillel and with assistance from the Torah Mitzion institute of Jewish study, administers the Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC), a program that helps Orthodox students navigate the college environment and balance their Jewish commitments with their desire to engage the secular world. Through the work of a young rabbi and his wife – known as Torah Educators -- JLIC provides avenues for spiritual development and exploration to Jewish students from varied backgrounds and presents a positive, sophisticated and welcoming face of Orthodox Judaism on campus.
JLIC, now in its tenth year, is found on 15 major campuses, of which one is located west of the Mississippi. That campus is UCLA. Since September 2004, the Torah Educators have been Rabbi Aryeh and Sharona Kaplan, natives of Teaneck, New Jersey.