Teen Program Providers

Israel programs for high school students in 10th through 12th grades require a four-week minimum and must be approved by UJA-Federation. Teen applicants are eligible for merit scholarships and need-based financial assistance opportunities.

What types of scholarships are available?

Need-based financial assistance scholarships are available, based on individual level of need as determined by your Israel program provider.

Several merit awards opportunities are also available, including the Robert A. Belfer Family Fellowships for high school students from New York City and Long Island, and Singer Family Awards and Chaverim Awards for high school students from Westchester. Merit awards require:

Nomination by a New York area synagogue or a UJA-Federation beneficiary agency. Contact your synagogue or agency to find out if it is an approved nominating institution.
The development and completion of a yearlong community service project, developed jointly by the student and the synagogue or agency. This project is to be completed by the student over the course of the school year on return from Israel.
All merit awards have a set scholarship amount of $1,250.

How do I apply?

To apply for a need-based scholarship for an approved teen travel program, contact your Israel program provider. The provider must request the scholarship on the applicant’s behalf. The provider will lead you through the process, which includes collecting basic contact and background information and determining your level of need. Applicants cannot apply directly to the Israel Experience Center. The provider will submit your information to UJA-Federation at the appropriate deadline.

To apply for merit awards, contact the rabbi, education director, or executive director of your New York area synagogue or local beneficiary agency to find out if the institution is an active nominating agency with UJA-Federation. You must be nominated by the synagogue or agency, and you must work with the rabbi, education director, or executive director to develop a Jewish community service project. Synagogues and agencies may nominate up to two new applicants from their institution per year. Applicants can only receive one merit award and cannot be nominated for consideration over multiple years.

The synagogue or agency will lead you through the application process, which includes collecting basic background information and details about your Israel program. The synagogue or agency will ask you to complete the following questions (150 word limit for each):

Why should you receive this merit award?
What is your Jewish community service project, including basic goals and specific activities?

Applicants will be considered on the basis of their leadership potential and the strength of their project. Your community service project requires two to three hours of work per week during the school year and should take place on return from Israel while the school year is in session. Examples of past community service projects include:

Speaking to your congregation about your Israel experience, working at Israel fairs, and creating Israel posters and exhibits for synagogues or agencies.
Organizing care packages for Israeli soldiers, and helping to raise money for Israeli charities.
Teaching at your congregation’s Hebrew school, serving as a classroom educator with a focus on Israel and Jewish education and tutoring students in Hebrew.
Taking part in Israel advocacy opportunities.

The synagogue or agency will submit your information for summer 2012 programs by Wednesday, March 7, 2012, to UJA-Federation.

Synagogues and agencies — please contact Dan Fast for the spreadsheet required for scholarship submission and other details.