Judaism & You Fellowships
Judaism & You Fellowships are all about the intersection between your passions, interests, and identities. Fellowships gather to learn, talk, and build community on a weekly basis. Some fellowships are discussion-based while others bring in outside educators and guests to facilitate learning and dialogue. Judaism & You fellowships are open to all Columbia/Barnard undergraduate students.
Check out what we’re offering for Fall 2024, and scroll down to register/apply!
The First Year Leadership Fellowship brings together a diverse cohort of first year and transfer students to explore their Jewish leadership and prepare to become leaders within our community. As a First Year Leadership Fellow you will encounter a variety of leadership opportunities within the Jewish community, so that you’ll be prepared to step into those roles over the course of your college careers. As you build relationships with people from across the spectrum of Jewish life, you’ll also have the opportunity to implement your new ideas throughout the semester.
This fellowship is for you if… you are passionate about Jewish leadership, you want to create community at Hillel, you want to grow your leadership skills, and you want to get to know other first years and transfers
This fellowship meets on…Mondays 6:30-8:00pm, starting on September 23
Questions? Reach out to Maiaand Isaac
Whether you LOVE working at Jewish camp, are working at a religious school to make some extra money, or think you might want to pursue a career in Jewish education, the Judaism and Educating fellowship is for you! We’ll meet weekly to build community and explore ideas related to Jewish education with innovative and inspiring educators.
This fellowship is for you if…you think being a counselor/unit head at camp is the best job in the world, you’re interested in becoming an educator and want to think about the intersection of Judaism and education, you love being a part of a like-minded community to talk about big issues facing the future of the Jewish community
This fellowship meets on…Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 pm, starting on October 8
Questions? Reach out to Reena, Shana, and Maia
Being a Jewish woman can be meaningful, beautiful, rewarding…and COMPLICATED. How does our gender identity influence our religious and/or cultural identity? How does our religious and/or cultural identity influence our feminism (or lack thereof)? What lessons can we learn from our matriarchs and scholars about all of the ways to be a Jewish woman in 2024? Together we will explore these questions and build community in Judaism & Feminism(?), in partnership with Bonot Alternativa.
This fellowship is for you if…you identify as a woman and want to build community with other women across the Jewish community, enjoy learning from both ancient texts and contemporary scholars
This fellowship meets on…Thursdays, 6:30-8 pm, starting on October 10th
Questions? Reach out to Allie, Naomi, and Navah
The Jewish world has come a long way in LGBTQ+ acceptance. But what does it mean to be a halachically observant genderqueer Jew? How does Judaism approach the modern world’s diverse range of gender identities? How can we read traditional Jewish texts through a genderqueer lens? In Judaism & Gender, we’ll look at texts from all across the Jewish canon to tackle these questions and discuss the relationship between gender and Judaism from the ancient world to today.
This fellowship is for you if… you’re cis or trans and want to explore creative and traditional expressions of Judaism through a trans lens
This fellowship meets on… Tuesdays 6:30-8 pm, starting on October 8
Questions? Reach out to Em and Alyx
The iEngage (Judaism and Israel) seminar explores pressing issues in Judaism, Israel, and peoplehood, in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute. Students selected for this fellowship will frame our discussions through values-based conversations, rather than politics or advocacy talking points.
This fellowship is for you if…you’re a sophomore, junior, or senior, you want to have a new kind of Israel conversation, you like being in conversation about Israel with a diverse group of people with varying perspectives
This fellowship meets on…Tuesdays 6:45-8:30 pm, starting on October 8, throughout the academic year, including a week at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem during Winter Break (12/26-1/2).
Questions? Reach out to Navah
The Builders fellowship uses a unique approach to explore the values of Chesed (volunteering) in Judaism. We will spend the semester hearing from and learning about organizations and individuals who spend their life devoted to Chesed, as well as leaving campus to participate in volunteering opportunities in the area. Some sessions will include hearing from members of the West Side Chevra Kadisha (who ensure that Jews are buried according to tradition), and Hatzolah (volunteer emergency medical organization), in assisted living homes, and working in a food pantry. Each session will include dinner!
This fellowship is for you if… you want to create meaningful change through hands-on volunteering and learn from inspiring individuals!
This fellowship meets on… Mondays 7-8:30 pm (with occasional date changes for off campus volunteering opportunities), starting on September 16
Questions? Reach out to Emma, Mia, and Liana
Do you love Shabbat dinner and connecting with people? Join Shabbat Lab, a combination cohort and leadership experience! We’ll combine Jewish wisdom and inspiration with new sociological approaches to community building and gathering and put our learning into practice every week at Kraft Shabbat Dinner. Additionally, you will co-host at least two Kraft Shabbat Dinners this semester.
This fellowship is for you if…you are passionate about bringing people together, you like to be creative, experiment and think outside the box, you look forward to Friday night all week
This fellowship meets on… 9/20, 9/27, 11/8, 11/22, and 12/6, 11am-12:30 pm
Questions? Reach out to Rachel, Sofi, and Isaac