Heschel Fellowship

USY, together with USCJ is proud to announce that this fall we are launching the 4th cohort of the Heschel Fellowship, an immersive online Jewish learning fellowship for teens that will provide an intensive opportunity to grow in their Jewish knowledge. 

In the first part of the course, we will be using traditional and less-traditional Jewish text to think about the ways Judaism serves as a vehicle to influence and express identities, emotions, values, and our perspectives.  In the second half, we will employ some of the same concepts and ideas we examined in the first half, but now in the context of our relationship with the broader world.  The course will push students to think introspectively, teach how to learn using the traditional Jewish method “Chevruta” (partner) learning, and help students to discover more about how our two-thousand-year-old Jewish tradition can speak to our experiences today. 

JTS Rabbinic intern Bennett Decker has designed the course specifically for USY teens and will facilitate much of the fellowship together with guest speakers. 

Upon successful completion of the learning fellowship in February 2025, participants will be able to receive $350 USD in subsidies to attend another immersive Jewish experience (e.g. camp, Israel trip, etc.) or $750 USD to attend any program(s) run by USY.

The cost to register for the fellowship is $45.

Any Jewish teenager in grades 9-12 not currently enrolled in a Jewish day school may apply. For purposes of this fellowship, the selection committee is going to prioritize teenagers who live in small or mid-sized Jewish communities, however any Jewish teenager is welcome to apply.

If you know a teenager who you think would benefit from this learning experience and wants to further grow their Jewish knowledge, encourage them to apply today. The application is due October 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET.

If you have any questions, you can email heschelfellowship@usy.org.

How to Apply
Click here!