Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF)

At Elon Hillel, we want you to ask BIG QUESTIONS about being Jewish, not give you BIG ANSWERS.

If you are looking for a space to explore what being Jewish could mean to you, with a community of interesting and fun people, Hillel has an opportunity for you!

Elon Hillel’s Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) is a 8-week experiential, conversational seminar for students looking to deepen their understanding of Judaism on their own terms.

“At the beginning, I was nervous to sign up,” shared Lauren Singles ’23. “I am so thankful that I signed up and have been a part of this incredible program. I’ve learned so much from studying the texts and having deep conversations with the entire crew, and I’ve met some of the most wonderful people while doing it! JLF has meant stepping out of my comfort zone and diving deeper into my Jewish identity.”

JLF is a pluralistic, non-denominational fellowship. This means that at Elon Hillel, we don’t believe that there is just “one right way to be Jewish” – the goal of JLF isn’t to make you “more religious” or “less religious.” It’s a chance to explore your Judaism, on your own terms, with our Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz, in a fun and non-judgmental space full of food, friends, and freedom to ask questions.

Even better, successful participants in the program receive a monetary stipend (no more than one excused absence permitted).

According to student Sasha Bergelson: “While new, JLF has instantly become an absolute staple of the Hillel program at Elon University. Balancing perfectly informal education with free-form discussion on personal experience and what it means to be Jewish, JLF has facilitated new friendships, expanded personal views and perspectives and was truly successful. To all those who may venture on this journey in the future- you’re in for an absolute treat.”

JLF classes for Winter/Spring 2024 at Elon Hillel

  • JLF (All graduating years)
Taught by Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz

The Jewish Learning Fellowship is an experiential, conversational seminar run on campuses for 8 weeks consecutively. Through the delivery of a curriculum that speaks to students’ abiding questions, JLF provides not only Jewish inspiration but also a social basis for Jewish communal involvement. Born on campus and informed by the principles of social by design, JLF is the core educational offering from the Meyerhoff Center and is the largest national Jewish student learning program, with more than 13,000 alumni on over 250 campuses, graduating over 4,000 students a year.

Graduates of the Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF):

(1) Have a strong Jewish social network and feel a part of a greater community.

(2) Have a Jewish mentor to help them address life’s big questions.

(3) Enjoy Jewish study.

 

  • Kol Yisrael (All graduating years)
Taught by Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz

The name, Kol Yisrael, embodies the aim and methodology of this curriculum. In Hebrew, the word Kol (כל) means “all”. While we can’t provide “all” perspectives and narratives on the questions raised here, it is our aspiration to make our tent wider, to invite more voices to the table, and to cultivate resilient empathy for diverse perspectives. Each session presents competing, value-based narratives that help students understand not only the question at hand, but also why those who disagree have compelling reasons to do so.

In Hebrew, Kol (קול) also means “voice”. The content in these pages elevates Israeli voices, ensuring that when we teach about Israel, we do so through the stories, words, and experiences of Israelis themselves. It is a reminder that learning about Israel as a Diaspora Jew sometimes feels like “family history” and other times feels like an anthropological study of a foreign people/culture.

This series will explore how ethnic minorities balance “becoming Israeli” while maintaining an identity rooted in their particular historical narrative. Exploring five of Israel’s ethnic groups, we will dive into questions of identity and inclusion. Over the course of six weeks, we will ignite conversations about how the values of unity and uniformity animate in Israel and in our own Hillel space.

 

  • JLF: #Adulting (Open to Juniors and Seniors)
Taught by Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz

Today’s students are hammered with high expectations for their academic studies. Basic life skills are not taught in classrooms, so graduates are on their own to figure out how to live successfully in the everyday world. Without any guidance, where do you start?

In this 5-week series ,we will take a closer look at what it means to be an adult and ways to embrace adulthood. With the help of Jewish and other texts we will explore themes like emerging adulthood ,independence, resilience, and finances to name a few. This course is open to all Juniors and Senior. Participation in other JLF programs is not a prerequisite.

 

  • JLF: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Well-being (Open to alumni of other JLFs)
Taught by Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz

This 8-week course will focus on three aspects.  Bein adam l’atzmo (between a person and themselves), Bein adam l’chaveiro (between a person and others), and Bein adam l’makom (between a person and God/the Divine). In addition to following a progression around relational to self, to others, and to God/the Divine, each session pairs rich Jewish text and ideas with concrete exploration and application of contemporary well-being practices. This curriculum is designed to support you not only in thinking about well-being, but also to tangibly interact and experiment with their topics of learning.

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