Become a Fellow

If you are a teen interested in our 2021 Fellowship, please add your name to our interest form.  We will notify you when the application opens in early September. (To be eligible for the 2021 Fellowship, you must be entering 11th grade in the Fall of 2020 and be at least 16 by the summer of 2021.) If you are an adult who works with teens, please fill out this form.

About the Fellowship

Every year, twenty-six outstanding North American teenagers are selected as Bronfman Fellows. The Fellowship begins with a five-week, all-expenses-paid summer in Israel (assuming the safety of travel*), where Fellows engage in thought-provoking study and conversation and make lifelong friends. Fellows encounter the land and people of Israel, study major issues in contemporary Jewish life, and meet with some of today's most influential figures. With the guidance of a diverse faculty of Rabbis and educators, the pluralistic group of Fellows have the opportunity to explore a wide range of Jewish texts, from classic religious documents to contemporary Israeli and American voices, using them to spark conversations, engage with stimulating existential questions, and achieve a deeper understanding of themselves and one another. 

The Fellowship year continues with monthly virtual experiences and a Winter and Spring seminar in the United States, usually in the Northeast. Fellows continue their association with the Fellowship through our extraordinarily active, 1300+ alumni community. 

*If international travel is not possible due to COVID-19, the Fellowship will explore domestic options or continue to run in a virtual format. Read more about our response to COVID-19.

Eligibility and Important Dates

High school students in the 11th grade, who self-identify as Jewish, who are from the United States or Canada, and who will be 16 years old or older by the summer of 2021, are eligible for the 2021 Fellowship. (11th-grade students who are too young can apply in the 12th grade.) 

The application for our 2021 Fellowship will be open in early September.  Please add your name to our interest form to be notified when the application is open.

The Fellowship begins the summer after 11th grade. It covers 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 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.

The following dates are for the 2020 Fellowship year:

  • Summer Dates: June 28 - August 5, 2020
  • Winter Seminar Dates: December 10 - December 15, 2020
  • Spring Seminar Dates: April 16 - April 20, 2021
  • More questions? Check out our FAQ's 

Application at a Glance

  • Application Deadline: Early December.
  • Deadline for Supplementary Materials (letters of recommendation and transcript): Early December. 
  • See a preview of last year's application (to help prepare your application, but this cannot be submitted.)
  • Please make sure you give yourself enough time to obtain the following materials:
    • Two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who know you well.  At least one of these letters must be from a teacher, school principal, or guidance counselor.  The other can be any non-relative who knows you well (including another school professional, Rabbi, employer, etc.).
    • High school transcript (through grade 10). 
  • More questions? Check out our FAQ's 
Download our press kit to learn more about the Fellowship and share with your community.
Watch our recorded virtual information session for prospective applicants, parents, and educators, which took place on Thursday, October 24th, 2019.  Hear from Executive Director Becky Voorwinde, Education and Programming Director Jake Marmer, Administrative Director Ava Charne, and two recent Fellows about the application process and the once-in-a-lifetime Fellowship experience.