JLIC Student Center

Meet The Directors

Yael and Joe Wertman

Yael is originally from Los Angeles, CA and made Aliyah with her family after learning for a year in MMY. After seminary, she did Sherut Leumi at Nefesh B'Nefesh in the Post Aliyah Department and continued to work at Nefesh B'Nefesh as well as at MMY as a Madricha for the three years following Sherut Leumi while completing her undergrad at Bar Ilan University. During this time, she met Joe and they got married in August 2025. Yael loves nature, teaching a hype Zumba class, and getting lost in a good book. She’s passionate about Aliyah and Israel and is always looking to spread that love with others. Joe grew up in West Hempstead, NY, and received his B.A. in Psychology from Queens College, while in parallel learning at Yeshiva Gedola of the Five Towns. After graduating, he spent a... Read More
Joe Wertman Yael Wertman
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From Our Blog

Ancient Ruins, One Last Bowling Night, and a Whole Lot of Goodbyes
Nearly 200 JLIC Summer Program students flew to Israel this summer not sure what to expect. Some had never done a gap year. Others had never worked a real job. All of them are heading home with resumes, new friendships, and a lot more Torah than they arrived with. The Work Was Real, Right to
JLIC to Launch New Program at the University of Florida, Opening Fall 2026
More than 80 Modern Orthodox students already call UF home. This Fall 2026, JLIC arrives to support them. JLIC, an initiative of the Orthodox Union, is now on campus at the University of Florida. Starting this Fall 2026 semester, JLIC will support the more than 80 Modern Orthodox students who call UF home, a number
What We Carry: A Community Evening on Mental Health
Each summer, Jewish communities mark the Nine Days. It is a quiet time of reflection before Tisha B’Av. This year, JLIC Givat Shmuel/BIU and Mizrachi used that reflective spirit to host something different. On July 21, 2026, they held “What We Carry,” a community evening about mental health stigma. Rabbi Nadav and Yaffy Newman opened