March 23, 2025
Dear Students,
We’re writing to share a significant update about our partnership with the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative (OU-JLIC program).
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The OU-JLIC recently shared with us that due to funding cuts, they will be discontinuing the JLIC program at UMass Amherst when the academic year concludes this June.  This partnership program has had a profound impact on generations of students, and we know that this unexpected news will be of great concern to many of our students, families, alumni and stakeholders, as it is to the leadership of UMass Hillel. 

For nearly two decades UMass Hillel has partnered with the OU-JLIC to employ a full-time Orthodox rabbi and part-time female educator to serve our diverse Hillel community and to support Orthodox Jewish life on our campus. Our current couple, Rabbi Raffi Leicht and Ariella Leicht, are beloved mentors to so many of you and are integral members of our staff team, as were our previous JLIC educators. 

Over the past two decades, Hillel’s partnership with OU-JLIC has helped further Hillel’s commitment to Jewish pluralism in new ways.  We are incredibly proud that our Jewish community is a warm and welcoming home for observant students with the infrastructure for observant Jewish life including a daily minyan, an eruv, support for kosher food access and more. 

Even as this partnership comes to an end, UMass Hillel remains committed to sustaining the infrastructure for observant Jewish life at UMass and to maintaining vibrant Jewish life and learning for all our students. In light of this unforeseen change, Hillel staff and board leadership are working to develop alternative ways to meet the needs of our community next year and beyond, with the invaluable input of students and supporters. 
We are in conversation with Rabbi Raffi and Ariella as we explore new models, including the possibility of creating a new Hillel Senior Jewish Educator role. We are also seeking funding that will make it possible for us to implement this new model, or other alternative options. 
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We know students will have many questions and feelings and we want your input and help to ensure our community continues to thrive, and we’re hosting multiple opportunities to connect:

• Open Office Hours with Rabbi Raffi Monday 2-4
• Open Office Hours with Rabbi Fine Monday 4-5:30
• Rabbi Fine and Managing Director available in Hillel lounge Wednesday 4-5:30
• You can also share input on this form or reach out to Hillel staff.

 
If you have family or friends who would like to support Hillel to meet funding needs, please contact Melanie Gerard, our Director of Advancement and Special Projects.

Rabbi Fine, Executive Director
Meredith Lewis, Managing Director
George Hertz, Board Chair 
Alan Peterfreund, Co-VP