Long Beach Synagogue Offers Weekend Retreat For College Students

LONG BEACH, NY — Amid escalating incidents of antisemitism on college campuses across the country, the BACH Jewish Center is offering an opportunity for students to relax and reconnect during a weekend in Long Beach.

BACH is partnering with the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC), an organization that brings adults, aged 18-30, innovative educational and leadership development programming at campuses in the U.S.

"In the last four years alone, campuses shut down for COVID and now, antisemitism on campus is growing at a pace never seen before," said Rabbi Benny Berlin. "Unfortunately, while the world outside goes mad, we hope you will return to campus on Monday, refreshed from the comfort and warmth within our community and inspired by the understanding that you are not alone, that Am Yisrael is there together with you when you are walking to class and sitting through a lecture."

The first JLIC campus to participate in the collaborative program brought 21 students from Queens College last weekend. Other groups from Brooklyn and Manhattan have made arrangements to join the BACH later in the semester.