There is excitement and anticipation in the air in Ulster County, NY. The 32nd season of the Jonas and Sadie Rennert Ivy League Torah Study Program has started its summer fellowship program. The women’s program is located in a special campus in the city of Kingston, NY and about 30 miles away, the men’s program is at the Shaloh Center, in Napanoch, NY.
The Rennert Ivy League Torah Study Program under the auspices of the NCFJE is the only program that provides full room and board for eligible students as well as a fellowship stipend, which is awarded to every student who completes the program and fulfills the requirements.
Three decades ago Rabbi Jacob J Hecht obm, together with Mr. Ira Rennert realized the tremendous need for a summer program to provide Jewish studies to unaffiliated youth. The ILTSP was initiated, and hundreds of young men and women with no former background in Jewish studies have participated in the program over these many years. Most of the participants gain a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience and awareness of their Jewish heritage and Jewish studies during this six-week program, and go back to their universities with a renewed interest and commitment to Jewish life and Jewish Identity.
The program includes an especially designed curriculum of Jewish studies in addition to sports activities, trips to places of interest and visits to various Jewish communities, which enriches and enhances their learning experience.
Rabbi Shmulie Liberman, Chabad Shaliach to Hofstra University, and director of the men’s program and Rebbetzin Baila Hecht, director of the women’s program announced that the enrollment this year was near capacity, the staff, lectures and teachers are very enthusiastic about the challenges and opportunities which will be followed through for this summer program. In the Naponach facility, the dorm building for the students has been completely renovated for this summer and at the Kingston Campus the young women will enjoy has new furniture which has been prepared for the students.
The participants this year includes students from across the United States as well from overseas and they represent the finest caliber of Jewish students attending universities around the world.
Over the years many of the graduates of this program have gone on to full-time Jewish studies and the program counts amongst its alumni several current Shlushim as well as many great Torah scholars.
The facility serves as host to many Jewish scholars and teachers of the highest caliber from across the United States and Canada, and it guarantees a very stimulating, enlightening and uplifting educational program.
For information or special requests open to the public please call Rabbi Shea Hecht at (718)735-0200.
WS a madricha there! I owe an awesome experience to the Hecht family!!!
Keep up the good work Rebetzin Baila Hecht, we know how much this programme means to you and you put your heart and soul into it each and every year. Mechayil el Choyil
I met my first real Jewish friends when I attended.We are still close years later. Thank you
Hatzlocha on another season of opportunity to study, learn & meet awesome teachers.
It was the last summer JJ Hecht OBM spent time with at the Ivy Leage boys program ansbI remember him so well at our closing dinner. 24 young men came that summer and half became frum. I have a wonderful wife and mishpacha of 6 children because of that program. To those of you who were there wirh me do you remember “The Great Escape”we made into Yiddishkit.
I am a former student! The program changed my life! My journey began there!!!!!
Girls make the most of what is offered!