Jewish Fund for Justice Rabbinic Student Fellowship

Upon ordination, today's rabbis, cantors, and educators face the challenges of and opportunities to engage their communities in the critical and profoundly Jewish work of meaningful social justice. Jewish leaders also often express their desire to understand the use of power and relationships in public life, and to learn effective strategies to build strong, healthy synagogues and organizations of stakeholders.

Toward these ends, Jewish Funds for Justice's Leadership for Public Life Fellowship provides training and experience in the art of Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO) and opportunities to strengthen interdenominational bonds between rabbinical students from different seminaries and movements.

The fellowship includes:

  • A cross-seminary, semester-long, organizing and leadership development training course for rabbinical, cantorial, and education students from HUC-JIR in New York, JTS, and YCT;
  • A project outside of class time in which to practice the newly gained approach and skills;
  • One field trip to observe public actions; and
  • Guest speakers, namely rabbis engaged in CBCO and guest trainers.

Class dates:

  • Sept. 6, from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
  • Sept. 7, from 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., and the following Monday evenings:
  • Sept. 14
  • Oct. 12 or Nov. 30
  • Oct. 19
  • Oct. 26
  • Nov. 2
  • Nov. 9
  • Nov. 16

Course syllabus available on request.

Contact:

Jeannie Appleman at jappleman@jewishjustice.org or (516) 375-9150.

Credit:

Students in The Rabbinical School may fulfill their agency rotation with this course. Please contact Rabbi Jonathan Lipnick at jolipnick@jtsa.edu.

Application Process

We are currently accepting applications now through September 1, on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply, email Jeannie Appleman at jappleman@jewishjustice.org as soon as possible to arrange a meeting either in person or by phone no later than August 15.

Jewish Funds for Justice is a public operating foundation, which marshals the full array of Jewish resources, human and financial capital, to be a powerful and unifying Jewish voice for justice. It does so in the belief that it has a responsibility and opportunity to manifest the traditional Jewish value to heal and repair the world. By mobilizing the American Jewish communities’ financial, human, and institutional capital, JFSJ combats the root causes of economic and social injustice in the United States. For more information, visit Jewish Funds for Justice.