OU-JLIC

The OU-Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) Program

The OU-Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (OU-JLIC) program helps students thrive and observe key aspects of Jewish life in secular campus environments across the United States, Canada, and Israel. OU-JLIC Educators are positioned on college campuses in order to guide Jewish students from varied backgrounds in their personal growth and spiritual journeys, advancing Torah education and creating meaningful relationships on campus along the way. The Orthodox Community at Penn is privileged to have Rabbi Joshua Klein and Sara Klein as our OU-JLIC Educators and community role models.

Rabbi Joshua Klein, is originally from Concord, California. He received his Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. After graduation, he spent time traveling around Eastern Europe to follow his passion for learning about the Holocaust. Seeing these sites was a transformational experience. This trip ultimately led him to Israel, where he delved into the Jewish culture, learned Hebrew, and spent one year volunteering on a program called Otzma. Joshua loved Israel so much he needed to go back! He earned a Master's degree in Jewish Civilization from Hebrew University and then studied for two more years at Yeshivat HaMivtar in Efrat. Joshua then made his way to the East Coast to study at Yeshiva University, earning a Master's degree in Jewish Philosophy and his Semikha from RIETS. He spent three summers at Camp Yavneh in New Hampshire as an educator and "Rosh Sport." During his time at YU, he was an OU-JLIC Intern at the University of Maryland where he saw firsthand the amazing work and programming of OU-JLIC! Prior to his exciting move to Philly, Joshua worked at the Manhattan Jewish Experience as a Rabbi and Director of Community Engagement for young Jewish professionals in New York City.

Sara Klein grew up in Lower Merion, PA -- just a short drive from Penn's campus -- and loved going to basketball games at the Palestra with her family. Penn has been part of her family since she was born, having two grandparents and an older sister as alumni. Sara went to Penn as well where she was a Psychology major, two-time captain of the Women's Tennis team, and member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority. One of the highlights of her college years was playing tennis in the 2005 Maccabiah Games in Israel, which kindled her Jewish growth and love for Israel. After serving as a college tennis coach for six years (three years at Penn and three years at Columbia), Sara earned her Master's degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in Organizational Psychology, and studied to be a health coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she also worked as the head of the Human Resources Department. During this period, Sara went back to Israel many times, first as a Birthright participant, and then with the Jewish Enrichment Center (JEC), the Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE), and as a Madricha on two Birthright trips. Sara learned with many of the fantastic rabbis and rebbetzins at the JEC and MJE and completed MJE's year-long fellowship program in Jewish studies.