For prospective Jewish college students, trying to discern which schools are best for Jewish life can be a daunting task. Gabe Klawans, a rising junior at Boston University and a Natick native, had an idea to help.
With help from tech-savvy friends, Gabe is building a crowdsourced website, JewishCollegeReview.
The project is part of Gabe’s participation in the LIAT (Leaders in Advocacy Training) Fellowship, a project of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center (OUA). LIAT was established in the wake of Oct. 7, 2023, when the need to help foster the next generation of Jewish political leaders became increasingly clear. Entering its third year, the LIAT Fellowship selects Jewish students from campuses across the country who are passionate about politics and advocacy and provides them with policy education, advocacy training, mentorship, and immersive experiences in Washington, D.C. The fellows then put their training into practice by working on a “capstone project” on their respective campuses.
Since its inception, the LIAT Fellowship has welcomed a cohort of Boston-area students, and their commitment to advocacy is already being felt across campus.
Gabe’s capstone project was born out of personal experience. While other campuses erupted in antisemitic protests following Oct. 7, Gabe’s experience at Boston University has been largely positive.
“I figured the best way to calculate what Jewish life is actually like is to let Jewish students describe their experiences,” Gabe said.
For Gabe and other LIAT Fellows, the capstone project is proof that they don’t have to wait to make an impact—what they do matters now.
Another Boston-area fellow, Jack Maron of Sharon, took a different approach. A rising junior at Brown University, Jack is an individual medley swimmer who quickly realized there was no outlet for Jewish athletes. So for his capstone project, he co-started a Jewish athlete affinity group where Jewish athletes can interact with other affinity groups around their shared interest in sports.
“I think a lot of antisemitism comes from the lack of knowledge around Jews,” he said. “If you can break that barrier with something everyone has in common—everyone can appreciate sports—it can go a long way.”
Another fellow, Eitan Gerber Schneiman, just completed his freshman year at Brandeis University, a school he chose in large part because of its strong Jewish community. His experience on this campus has been predominantly positive.
For his LIAT capstone project, Eitan partnered with Lee-El Messinger, a second-year LIAT Fellow and rising junior at Brandeis, whose participation is sponsored by Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP). Together, Lee-El and Eitan organized an interfaith dinner where students from different religious backgrounds could gather over pizza and conversation. The idea was born out of their strong belief that building relationships is one of the best ways to combat ignorance.
“One thing we cannot do is retreat,” Eitan said. “Places may seem hostile, but it’s important to make sure there is a visible Jewish presence and to keep building community instead of disappearing.”
A great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Lee-El carries a profound responsibility to ensure that history is not forgotten. Her participation in the LIAT Fellowship echoed her unwavering passion for policy and systemic change by combining her personal history with actionable advocacy.
“For me, Jewish advocacy has never been about isolating ourselves; it is about ensuring our community is understood, respected, and safe,” Lee-El said. “For my capstone project, I chose to focus on interfaith relationship-building because I believe that building deep, intentional coalitions is the most effective form of modern advocacy. If we want other communities to stand with us in moments of crisis, we have to do the work to show up for them, learn about their experiences, and actively build those bridges before a crisis even hits.”
For these students, the LIAT Fellowship teaches them that advocacy doesn’t have to look one way. It doesn’t mean you have to choose one career path or commit to one job. With passion, a little bit of creativity, and a good network of relationships, Gabe, Jack, Lee-El, and Eitan are already making a tangible difference for Jewish students on campus.
In May, the fellows spent a week in Washington, D.C., to cap off their fellowship year with in-person and in-depth advocacy training. They met with members of Congress, nonprofit directors, journalists, political consultants, and leading intellectuals. It was an opportunity for them to see how Washington works and the many ways they can use their skills to make a difference.
“The conversations we had with the speakers really opened my eyes a lot to how things work and how uninformed people are. We can do a better job of explaining what is going on,” Jack said.
For Eitan, LIAT’s D.C. week was “informative and very useful for my life.” He enjoyed hearing how people ended up on their respective career paths, and it served as a reminder that “this is very possible. You can just do things.”
This summer, the fellows are putting their experience and new skills to work. Jack is working for his state representative, Ted Phillips; Gabe is working in New York State Assembly member Al Taylor’s office; Eitan is canvassing for an environmental organization; and Lee-El is working as a social media intern for American Friends of Volunteers for Israel.
In a moment where conversations surrounding Jewish campus life are dominated by fear, the LIAT Fellows are offering a different story—one that is distinguished by resilience, initiative, and the belief that the most effective way to respond to today’s greatest challenges is to build something stronger. Gabe, Jack, Lee-El, and Eitan’s stories are a testament to the power of young Jewish leaders to enhance their communities.
“This work matters right now because nuance and empathy are in incredibly short supply on college campuses. It is very easy to retreat into our own echo chambers and view other groups through a lens of suspicion or defense,” Lee-El remarked. “But real, sustainable advocacy and real politics require communication.”
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