Be’er Sheva isn’t just where we live. For many of us, it’s a calling. Inspired by Ben-Gurion’s dream to “lehafriach et haNegev”—to make the desert bloom—our community is built on the belief that the periphery matters. That meaningful Jewish life can thrive here. That by showing up, learning together, supporting each other, and building something vibrant, we’re helping write the next chapter of Am Yisrael.
And it’s practical, too. With significantly lower rent than central Israel, Be’er Sheva gives students and young families room to breathe—and room to grow. It’s also full of opportunity: from careers in medicine at Soroka Hospital to army service at one of many nearby bases, security work, and the city’s fast-growing hi-tech and biotech sectors, more and more young adults are choosing to start their lives here.
JLIC Be’er Sheva brings together students, olim, couples, and young professionals into a warm, down-to-earth chevra. It’s the kind of place where people genuinely get to know each other—where friendships form across life stages and backgrounds, and everyone is welcomed in. You don’t need to arrive with a built-in group; this is a community where you can truly belong.
We run programs on campus at Ben-Gurion University, at the JLIC home, and in other nearby locations—making it easy for people to plug in wherever they are. Everyone is welcome. A small and growing group of Anglo students and young adults are finding their home here and integrating fully into the vibrant, larger Israeli community that JLIC helps attract.
Warm Community & Spiritual Life:
Inviting weekly Shabbat meals at the JLIC home
Spirited communal Friday night tefillah
Relevant Torah & Intellectual Growth:
Impactful shiurim on timely topics, including in-depth study of medicine and Jewish law for medical students
Weekly Beit Midrash program encouraging deep learning
TED-style talks where students present their academic passions blended with Torah insights
Connection to the South & Local Community:
Trips exploring Otef Aza and surrounding southern regions
Engagement with broader ecosystem of religious life in Be’er Sheva
Celebrations & Community Support:
Joyful Purim, Chanukah, and Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations with spirited atmosphere and delicious food
BBQs and social gatherings to boost morale and support students during finals season
Whether you’re in college, working your first job, making aliyah, or just looking for community that actually feels like community—you’ll find it here.
Rav Idan Rakovsky is the Rabbi and Co-Director of the JLIC program at Ben-Gurion University in Be’er Sheva. He previously served as the Assistant Rabbi of Shaarei Tefillah in Toronto and taught Judaic Studies and Computer Science at Bnei Akiva Schools. Rav Idan is a dedicated maggid-shiurim with over 200 online recorded shiurim on Halachah, Tanach, Talmud and Machshavah and was the host and editor of the Toronto Torah Podcast. He learned at Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa, Beit Midrash Zichron Dov, and the Mizrachi Musmachim Program. Together with his wife Prielle, they are building a vibrant community for religious students and young professionals in the Negev.
