JLIC at Columbia University and Barnard College announces that Rabbi Daniel and Jasmine Peled-Schwartz will be joining as the new co-directors, effective in the fall of 2025.
The couple will succeed Rabbi Elie and Tamar Buechler, building upon the strong foundation established during their tenure to further support and nurture the vibrant Jewish community on campus.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Daniel and Jasmine Peled-Schwartz to the JLIC family at Columbia University and Barnard College,” said Rabbi Josh Ross, executive director of JLIC. “Their unique backgrounds, passion for Jewish education, and genuine connection with students make them the ideal team to lead this important community. As we continue to expand JLIC’s presence on campus, having dedicated leaders like the Peled-Schwartzes at Columbia/Barnard reinforces our commitment to providing a meaningful Jewish presence at a time when it’s more crucial than ever.”
The Peled-Schwartzes are graduates of the JLIC Fellowship for Campus Professionals, a comprehensive year-long training program for couples interested in working with North American univeristy students. Their participation in the 2023-24 cohort provided them with valuable experience and preparation for their new roles.
The couple said, “We are so excited to serve as your next JLIC directors at Columbia/Barnard. When we visited campus last month, we were immediately impressed by JLIC’s thoughtfulness, passion, and commitment to Jewish life and learning. We are honored to be joining this amazing community.”
Jasmine Peled-Schwartz grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Princeton University with a degree in computer science and philosophy. Her professional background includes working at the U.S. Department of Defense and as a government contractor for a tech company. She studied at Yeshivat Drisha and enjoys hiking, reading, rock-climbing and playing with dogs in her spare time.
Rabbi Daniel Peled-Schwartz, a native of Newton, Mass., also attended Princeton University, where he studied philosophy and Arabic. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) and studied at the Gruss Kollel in Jerusalem. His previous learning experiences include time at Yeshivot Maale Adumim and Har Etzion. Rabbi Daniel’s interests include hiking, skiing and a self-described enthusiasm for “nerding out about public transportation.”
The couple will officially begin their tenure in the fall and look forward to meeting students and community members in the coming months.