The following is advice from an extremely knowledgeable source to parents of yeshiva high school seniors who are planning to attend secular colleges and universities rather than continuing their education at Jewish institutions such as Yeshiva University or Touro College: The students will be going from the "bubble" of kindergarten through twelfth grade to the different atmosphere of the secular campus. In this ambiance, the advice continues, "parents have no guarantee their children will remain observant."

These were the words of Rabbi Menachem Schrader, the Israel-based Founding Director of the Orthodox Union's Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) program, which was created by the OU nine years ago to provide the atmosphere of Jewish study, community and leadership to keep students on the Orthodox path even in the hothouse atmosphere of the secular campus.

Rabbi Schrader delivered his message to the First Annual Conference for Principals and Guidance Advisors held at OU headquarters for an audience of 50, who came not only from the New York Metropolitan Area but from Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Boca Raton, Baltimore, Boston and Philadelphia as well.

Students - The Jewish Tribune
Contributed by Atara Beck
Tuesday, 10 February 2009

TORONTO – Rabbi Aaron Greenberg and his wife Miriam have been running the local Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) – an Orthodox Union (OU) undertaking in conjunction with Hillel of Greater Toronto – since last August and already the Thornhill-raised educators have succeeded in establishing a warm connection with at least 150 university-age students.

First Annual Conference of Yeshiva Principals and College Advisors
Monday, February 2
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
OU Headquarters
11 Broadway


The Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) of the Orthodox Union has already achieved great success by making its mark on some of the most prestigious college campuses in North America. Now, to get the message out further to educators, JLIC presents the First Annual Conference of Yeshiva Principals and College Advisors, to be held Monday, February 2, from 9:00 am - 4:30 p.m., at OU Headquarters in New York.

Orthodox Jewish Life on Secular College Campuses
Sunday, January 4
10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Congregation Ahavath Torah
240 Broad Avenue, Englewood

The challenges and opportunities for yeshiva high school graduates on the college campus and the role that the Orthodox Union's Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) plays on 15 campuses to enhance Orthodox Jewish life will be explored at the forum, "Orthodox Jewish Life on the Secular College Campus," to be held on Sunday, January 4, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Congregation Ahavath Torah, 240 Broad Avenue, in Englewood.