Jacob had his life mapped out perfectly. The Columbia senior from Princeton Junction had been accepted to grad school, with a Department of Defense job waiting for him in August 2024. He had reached his goals and should have been content — but something was missing. He craved entrepreneurship over bureaucracy. And, as it turned out, a relationship with his Creator.
When his campus rabbi asked if Torah Links could find him an internship, we connected Jacob with a six-week position at a fast-growing Lakewood e-commerce company. By summer's end, Jacob told us: "If this place makes me a legitimate offer, I'll drop grad school and the DoD job."
They did. He did.
A year later, Jacob has multiple weekly Torah study partners and a daily learning session woven into his workday. He is considering enrolling in a yeshiva (Torah academy) designed for adults newly exploring observance, and he has become steadily more engaged with the details of a Torah life.
That's workplace Jewish outreach in action: not teaching, just practicing.
The fifth child
Traditional Jewish outreach still works beautifully for many students — particularly those already connected to their Jewish identity. Shabbos meals, philosophy classes, Israel trips: all of it remains powerful for seekers.
But what about the "fifth child" at the Passover Seder — the one who doesn't even show up? Not the one who challenges or the one who asks simple questions, but the young Jews so distant from Jewish life that they wouldn't even know there's a Seder happening. For these less affiliated young Jews — and there are more of them every year — traditional outreach doesn't fall flat so much as it never gets the chance. They won't walk through that particular door.
But here's the thing: the door they are willing to walk through is the one that will advance their careers. And it turns out that's where they're finding Jewish life again.
The Fellowship
Torah Links, founded by Rabbi Ezriel Munk and Rabbi Aaron Gruman in 1995, launched our flagship Fellowship in 2012 under Rabbi Yehuda Farber and Rabbi Moshe Katz. This first-of-its-kind Jewish-outreach internship program was built on a simple concept: bring students into Orthodox-led workplaces, expose them to Jewish values lived in action, and watch what happens.
Since then, 500 participants have had meaningful Jewish experiences through the Fellowship — and approximately 150 have become deeply connected to Torah life and community. The exposure to Jewish family life over each weekend Shabbos retreat has been a critical part of that growth.
J³ at Bell Works
Inspired by JX students who'd had an incredible experience at H3, Torah Links launched our J³ networking conference at Bell Works — bringing together 100 business leaders and 100 less affiliated college students and young professionals exploring their Jewish identity. The low-commitment format proved perfect for initial engagement.
During a philanthropy panel, a major real estate developer mentioned offhandedly that "our purpose is to give." Three days later I got a text from a participant: "Rabbi, I set up a monthly donation to my local synagogue. That guy on the panel… when he said that about giving, I realized he actually meant it."
From J³, twenty participants signed up for summer programs, several study partnerships began right there at the event, and business leaders hosted spontaneous Shabbos retreats. Two participants landed full-time jobs in Orthodox-led workplaces. This year, we have over 200 students scheduled to join J³.
The model is accelerating
Over the summer of 2025, Torah Links placed 60+ interns in Orthodox-led workplaces across medical research, engineering, real estate, computer science, and more. Six participants transitioned to full-time roles in the past year. Two Summer 2024 interns now learn Torah regularly and put on tefillin (the leather prayer boxes worn by observant Jewish men) each weekday morning.
Recently I received six résumés from less affiliated students seeking full-time opportunities, while three Orthodox-led companies reached out asking for talent — from CMO positions to full-stack developers. The whole ecosystem is starting to click into place.
One CEO told me: "I used to hire these interns as a kindness. Now? I'm fighting other companies to get them. When they connect to Jewish life through our workplace, they become our most loyal employees."
The argument
The young Jews walking into these offices aren't looking for God. They're looking for internships, jobs, mentorship. But when they meet people who can close million-dollar deals and also close their eyes with focused intention while saying Grace After Meals, something just clicks.
"Nobody tried to bring me close," one of our participants told me recently. "I just saw people living lives that made sense."
The best argument for Torah isn't an argument at all. It's a life well lived, witnessed from the next cubicle over.
We're at a pivotal moment. The infrastructure is in place. The model is proven. The demand exists on both sides. Now we just need you to open your doors.