About the Beis Midrash (Jewish Learning Center)
The Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLI) is a program of the Orthodox Union to send Rabbinic Couples to secular universities throughout the country and abroad. For more information about the JLI program click here. Through the aid of this program, the students of our community are privileged to select and hire their own rabbi. The JLI program at Cornell is funded jointly by Cornell Hillel, CJL, and CJLF.
There are a myriad of different Jewish learning styles and opportunities available for Cornell students. The Roots learning program coordinates student Chavrutot, whereas others learn in a Chavruta or in group Shiurim (classes) with Rabbi Frank, Vered Frank, or our Mashgiach, Nosson Kielski.
Regular Shiurim are given on Shabbat and throughout the week. Additionally, we regularly have visiting Rabbinic Scholars-in-residence throughout the academic year. Past guests have included the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yona Metzger Shlit”a, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, Rabbi Marc Angel, and Rabbi Zvi Leshem.
Past topics of learning have included Weekly Parsha Shiurim, Shechita (Kosher Slaughter) Certification, Upper level Gemara Shiurim, Basic Hebrew Classes, Jewish Philosophy, Women’s role in Judaism, and various other interesting and important subjects of Jewish Learning.
The Center for Jewish Living’s Beit Midrash, affectionately known as Kollel Zichron Ezra, but officially called the Jewish Learning Center, is located in 104 West! above the Kosher dining hall. This is a place dedicated for students and community members to participate in Torah studies.
Since its inception, the CJL has been a place of Jewish Learning. However, the physical Beit Midrash was created by recent alum Andrew Marks with the aid of a past JLI Rabbi, Rabbi Joshua Ross, and contributions of the Rothman Foundation and others. If you are interested in donating to the Beit Midrash, please contact Yaacov Yunger, or Stuart Katz (link emails pls).
Can’t find a Sefer in our Beit Midrash? A great location in Ithaca to find Seforim is the seventh floor of Olin Library (at times we have had over 100 books from Olin 7 in our Beit).