JET is...

an independent, non-profit outreach organization that provides Jewish educational programs at DePaul, Loyola, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, University of Chicago, UIC - Chicago, University of Illinois - Urbana/ Champaign and other campuses in Chicago.

Our flagship program is a comprehensive 10-week course in basic Judaism, run twice a semester.

OUR MISSION

We aim to inspire, energize and educate Jewish college students so they can develop a stronger connection to their Jewish heritage, the Jewish people and the land of Israel; to instill pride in the vitality of the Jewish mission; and to create Jewish leaders.

OUR VISION

To provide Jewish college students in Chicago with the resources needed to make educated choices about their Jewish life and their contribution to the Jewish people.

Meet Rabbi Kahn

Rabbi Zev Kahn is better known in the Chicagoland area as the "Rugby Rabbi" from his days as a former Maccabi Games gold medalist. Originally from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Rabbi Kahn came to Chicago after spending six years in Jerusalem, Israel. There Rabbi Kahn was enrolled in an advanced Torah learning program at Yeshiva Ohr Somayach, where he obtained his rabbinic ordination and participated in various programs for students from around the world.

He and his wife, Hilary, a native of Los Angeles, live with their four children in West Rogers Park.

JET is launched

In 2004 Rabbi Zev Kahn visited the University of Michigan and saw the Maimonides Leaders Fellowship program (www.mfellowship.com). At that time Rabbi Kahn was an experienced outreach professional in Chicago, working with adults and young single professionals in the suburbs and downtown. Recognizing the dearth of quality Jewish education and outreach on college campuses in Chicago, Rabbi Kahn went on a training seminar in the summer of 2004 for rabbis interested in running the Maimonides program. Zev ran the first Maimonides program in Chicago in the fall of 2005 with 20 students from Northwestern, DePaul and Loyola universities. Following the success of that program, the Maimonides program was offered on two campuses the following semester. In September 2005, Rabbi Kahn decided to devote all his energies to college students and launched an independent organization, JET.

Meet the Garfinkels

No longer basking in the palm-tree-dotted skies of sunny LA, Rabbi Shalom and Mrs. Suri Garfinkel are thrilled to be joining the JET team in Chicago. After spending three years at UCLA working with one of the premier outreach organizations in the country, they have landed in Chicago and are still a bit confused as to why it rains during the summer! While they leave behind the sunshine of Los Angeles, their mission to embrace every Jewish college student with warmth, care, and concern remains very much the same.

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OUR THIRD YEAR OF SUCCESS

JET was launched in September 2005. After great success in our first two years, the 2007/2008 school year is looking to be a banner year. We recently expanded our teaching and administrative staff and our programs to more campuses.  Our plans are to expand significantly by the summer of 2008.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2007

• Over 75 students completed learning programs
• Over 50 students went on Israel learning trips
• Rabbi Shalom and Suri Garfinkel joined the JET team.
• Graduated 30 students from Maimonides programs at UIC, DePaul and Loyola
• Rabbis Kahn and Garfinkel led successful trip to London with 30 students from 8 different schools in Illinois
• Ran successful online learning programs with live classes at UIUC and Northern Illinois
• Rabbi Kahn co-led Aish Birthright trip to Israel in summer
• First JET benefit event, Jewish Unity Live, was overwhelming success
• JET hosted Midwest Shabbaton in West Rogers Park for 80 students from 6 Midwest cities
• Celebrated three JET student weddings
• JET moved into office space at WiFi building
• Ran 9 downtown JETnet Networking Lunch and Learns

FIRST THREE YEARS OF OPERATION

• Graduated over 100 college students from its acclaimed Maimonides Leaders Fellowship
  
• Attracted more than 300 students from 9 different schools in Chicago to its other programsOver 100 students have continued their Jewish education through programs such as Birthright, honestreporting.com, Sinai Retreats, the Metro trip to New York, and yeshivas and seminaries in Israel.
• Hired new Rabbi to increase our efforts

GOALS FOR 2007/2008 SCHOOL YEAR

• Graduate 50 students from Maimonides
• Attract 400 students to other programs
• Send 100 students on programs that continue their Jewish education

TESTIMONIAL

Three testimonials from Maimonides graduates illustrate program's impact.

Amanda Hensley, a DePaul student wrote: "These past ten weeks have been an amazing journey of discovering our Jewish roots. We have seen what a blessing it is to be part of such a vibrant, strong, and enduring heritage."

Amy Kaelter from Northwestern wrote: Every topic led to some of the most interesting conversations, and the questions which were brought up each week were so insightful and gave rise to many new perspectives for me. Each week, I walked away from class with new knowledge, new views, and new questions for me to explore on my own. We all come from different backgrounds, and each one of us added to the mix of experiences which, blended together into one group, created a wonderful collection of Maimonides Fellows.

Esther Cherrick from Loyola wrote: When I came to the first Maimonides class, I was unsure of what to expect. My greatest fear was that I would end the program having learned nothing because of my unwillingness to open my mind to new views on Judaism. Luckily, I was able to break free from my prior judgments, and consequently had one of the most rewarding experiences at Loyola thus far.

BE A PART OF THE TEAM

"Judaism is a lot like the game of Rugby which I played intensely in South Africa for many years. The Jews are all part of one team. We're participants. We can't only be spectators. Each one of us has a unique talent which we need to contribute to the team's success."

Be a part of a winning team. Join JET, the Jewish Education Team -- today! For more information on how to participate in JET's programs or support JET's efforts, email info@jeteam.com