Source: The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel (BYFI) announced last week that applications are now being accepted for the 29th year of this program. The Bronfman Fellowships selects 26 outstanding North American students for a rigorous academic year of seminars including a free, five-week trip to Israel between the summer of fellows’ junior and senior years of high school. The program educates and inspires exceptional young Jews from diverse backgrounds to grow into leaders grounded in their Jewish identity and committed to social change.
The program includes an all-expense paid five-week trip to Israel and two seminars in New York City where Fellows explore Jewish identity, Jewish ideas, and connect to other young Jews from both Israel and America. No Jewish educational background is required for eligibility. They select Fellows who are religiously observant and those only marginally affiliated with Judaism.
The fellows participate in study and dialogue with diverse faculty, composed of rabbis and educators associated with different movements and perspectives within Judaism. Faculty members have an intimate knowledge of Judaism in North America and Israel and have extensive experience working with emerging adults.
During the program’s seminars, fellows meet with leading intellectuals, religious and political leaders and educators. Fellows also spend two weeks with a group of Israeli peers who have been chosen through a parallel selection process as part of the Israeli Youth Fellowship: Amitei Bronfman. Upon returning home from the summer in Israel, Bronfman fellows are asked to devise and lead local Jewish or social action project
Eligibility and Deadlines
High School Juniors, who self-identify as Jewish, from the United States and Canada and will be sixteen by July of 2015 are eligible for the Fellowship. Fellowships cover round-trip transportation between New York and Israel, educational programming, and room, board and travel while in Israel. Room and board at orientation and the Spring Seminar in New York City are also included. Limited additional subsidies (based on need) are available to defray costs of travel to interviews, to New York for the summer program, and for follow-up alumni activities.
All application materials are due January 6, 2015
Visit the BFYI website for further information and registration.