Haifa is a hidden gem in Israel’s north — a place where students, young professionals, and families come together to build meaningful Jewish life in one of the country’s most diverse, beautiful, and opportunity-filled cities.
Here you’ll find a warm, international community of students, olim, young professionals, and post-docs — people working in hi-tech, studying for advanced degrees, serving in the army, or even playing in the Haifa Symphony Orchestra — all sharing Shabbat tables, learning Torah together, and supporting one another through everyday life. On any given Shabbat, you might sit next to people from twenty different countries — each bringing their own story, language, and flavor to the table. Many come as students and choose to stay on for the next chapter of their adult lives.
Led by Rav Evan and Tova Levine, JLIC provides a welcoming home right off the Technion campus, with daily Torah learning, spirited Shabbat meals, big Shabbatonim, monthly young professional events, and social programs that help people feel connected. Young professionals often live in the nearby neighborhoods of Neve Shaanan or Ziv but flock to JLIC for the vibrant scene and sense of belonging.
Haifa offers affordable housing (a fraction of the cost in central Israel!), excellent schools, and a thriving job market with hi-tech hubs like Matam and major employers such as Microsoft, IBM, Apple and Amazon. Plus, you’re just minutes from beautiful beaches, kosher restaurants, historic neighborhoods, and a rich cultural scene. It’s a city that feels down-to-earth, diverse, and full of possibility.
Over 200 individuals see this community as central to their lives, whether they’re building a home in Israel or studying far away from where they grew up. About a quarter of those involved are young professionals who love the balance of work, study, and vibrant Jewish life.
Whether you’re just arriving in Israel or ready to put down roots after your studies, there’s room for you here — and a warm, international community ready to welcome you with open arms and a smile.
Rabbi Evan and Tova Levine currently serve as the Directors of JLIC at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, where they support and inspire students navigating both academic and Jewish life. They provide educational programming, religious guidance, and pastoral care, fostering a vibrant Jewish community within the demanding university environment.
Before returning to Israel for their current role, the Levines spent two and a half years in Hale Barns, South Manchester, UK, where they served as the Directors of Adult Education and Assistant Rabbi and Rebbetzin at the Hale Shule. In these roles, they strengthened Jewish learning and community engagement through high-level educational programs and outreach initiatives.
Prior to their time in the UK, the Levines lived in Israel for ten years, where they studied, worked, and raised their family.
Rabbi Evan Levine grew up in a small suburb of Los Angeles, California, where he was an avid football player and coach. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of La Verne and initially pursued a career in finance. However, he later transitioned to full-time Torah study, spending nearly a decade learning in various yeshivot and kollelim, culminating in smicha (rabbinic ordination) from the Mizrachi Musmachim program and Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg zt”l. While studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush), he managed the night seder program and taught regular Torah classes to English-speaking students.
Beyond his rabbinic work, Rabbi Evan enjoys hiking, reading, sailing, a strong coffee, and good chummus.
Tova Levine grew up in Providence, Rhode Island (the smallest state with the longest name). She attended the Maimonides School, founded by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies and Human Development from Binghamton University. After university, she deepened her Torah learning at Nishmat, a leading seminary for women in Jerusalem.
Building on her passion for supporting others, Tova earned her Master’s in Social Work from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and spent five years working in mental health.
In her free time, Tova loves exploring new places, hiking, learning, reading, swimming, collaging, and scrapbooking.
