Scholarships and Fellowships
UJA-Federation of New York helps fund a wide variety of scholarships and fellowships to support children, young adults, and adults engaging in Jewish communal life and furthering their own education. Each year, we allocate more than $5 million for scholarships.
Jewish and Israel Experiences
Through the Camp Marketing and Recruitment initiative, UJA-Federation and the Foundation for Jewish Camp have updated the Jewish residential camping incentive program for New York with an emphasis on innovation, relationship building, and focused outreach. Starting in summer 2011, first-time campers from underrepresented areas and populations are eligible for a targeted $1,000 camping incentive to attend one of three camps within UJA-Federation’s network of agencies: Berkshire Hills-Emanuel Camps, the Samuel Field Y’s Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village, and Surprise Lake Camp. Accepting applications and awarding scholarships are the responsibility of each camp. To learn more, please visit:
Israel Experience scholarships are available to high school students and young adults who are under the age of 30 and have a permanent address in New York City or Nassau, Suffolk, or Westchester counties. To be eligible, applicants must register with Israel programs pre-approved by UJA-Federation. Young adults are eligible for financial assistance scholarships, and high school students are eligible for both financial assistance and merit scholarships from the Israel program through Robert A. Belfer Family Fellowships, Singer Scholarship Awards, and Chaverim Awards. Learn more about approved Israel programs, application processes, and criteria for merit scholarships.
The Rose Biller Day School Scholarship Fund is designed to help schools support students with financial need. Jewish day schools and yeshivot in the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties are eligible to apply. Up to 200 Rose Biller awards of $5,000 or more are given annually toward the cost of tuition at a Jewish day school. Schools can nominate any students who demonstrate financial need, and schools are asked to give priority to transfer students and students entering high school.
The Shapiro Family Fellowship is an opportunity for 14 exceptional young professionals ages 22 to 28 to participate in a fully paid 10-day Israel experience each summer. Candidates for the fellowship are required to either live, work, or attend school in the New York metropolitan area and must have previously traveled to Israel. The fellowship is designed to match fellows with Israeli mentors and peers in their chosen career area, and is a unique way to experience Israel through authentic, interpersonal connections with Israelis. Upon return from the trip, fellows become a part of a growing network of Shapiro Family Fellows and participate in yearlong programming, which provides meaningful professional development and deepened knowledge of Israel, the global Jewish community, and UJA-Federation of New York.
Taglit-Birthright Israel funds first-time peer-group educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults ages 18 to 26 who have not previously traveled to Israel on a peer educational trip or study program, nor lived in Israel past the age of 12. The gift covers round-trip airfare (from designated cities), hotel, transportation, most meals, and other associated land costs for the trip. UJA-Federation funds a number of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips for New Yorkers.
Higher Education
Graduate student scholarships and fellowships are available through UJA-Federation’s Wiener Educational Center for students pursuing careers in New York’s Jewish not-for-profit sector. Applicants pursuing graduate degrees in clinical psychology, Jewish education, nonprofit business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, rabbinic ordination, or social work are eligible. Special scholarships are also available for students pursuing careers in Jewish federation work.
Hebrew Free Loan Society scholarships are available for undergraduate, graduate, and professional education. Three scholarships are offered, and candidates must meet specific criteria for each scholarship. These scholarships are funded by UJA-Federation and administered by the Hebrew Free Loan Society.