Eligibility

The Fellowship takes place during the summer between 11th and 12th grade and Fellows must be at least 16 years old by the time the Fellowship begins. Applicants born before July 5, 1994 and currently be enrolled in the 11th grade are eligible.

Exception: If you are born after July 5, 1994 and are currently in the 11th grade you will need to wait until your senior year to apply.

Not eligible this year? Fill out this form and we will notify you when you are eligible.

Application Requirements
The application consists of three pages that includes basic information and three essays of 300 words or less. Please do not send additional, supplemental materials such as resumes, audio or video tapes, CD’s, newspaper clippings, pictures, additional letters of recommendation, etc. They will not be considered.

View a sample application here.

The following materials are required for your application to be reviewed:
1. Official High School transcript though Grade 10. (with a signature across the seal of the envelope)
2. Two letters of recommendation

The preferred method to submit an application is through our online system. If you would like to view a printable application, you may download a copy here.

Key Dates
High School transcripts and letters of recommendation must be postmarked by January 12, 2010

• Finalists will be notified March 1, 2010
• Interviews will take place in March
• Fellowship recipients will be notified the first week of April
• Orientation begins in New York City on July 5, 2010
• The group departs for Israel on July 6, 2010
• The return home from Israel is August 11, 2010
• Follow-up Seminar in New York City in November 2010
• Mifgash retreat in December 2010

Tips for applicants

Here is a sampling of some advice about the application process from some fellows. These are perspectives of individual Fellows and should not be regarded as definitive guidelines. Some of these tips might not be right for you, but we hope you will find it helpful. After reviewing this information, if you have questions, please do send us an email at info@byfi.org.

General:

… Time management is essential in completing an application--set goals and deadlines for yourself so that you are not working on it the night before.

… Don't worry about your level of observance. Bronfman is a pluralistic community and accepts people from all levels of Jewish observance.

… For the question regarding your denomination, don't think about your family - think more about your OWN religious practice and beliefs. You aren't bringing your family to Israel! You're bringing your own philosophy. Let the faculty reading your application know precisely what you believe and why.

… Make your book choices diverse: something Jewish, something classic/canonical, and something off the wall (if you do read all those things!). If you get an interview, make sure you're prepared to talk about those books!

… I would recommend really researching the program and asking yourself why you want to do BYFI. Once you answer that fundamental question, you will have the necessary motivation to work on the application.

… Find someone trustworthy and use them as a resource (run ideas by them, help edit, etc...)

Essays:

... Try to be self-aware about how you relate to people. This is particularly important in the interview but watch out for your tone in the personal essay as well. Despite the prestigious nature of the program, Bronfman is looking for down-to-earth kids, not just future leaders of the Jewish community. If you are yourself and don't try too hard to seem impressive that should be enough.

…Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Write honest essays that describe how you really think and view the world, not how you think you should see it.

… Write about something that you truly care about, and not something that just seems impressive on paper.

… Don't be afraid to use your essay to relate a sense of who you really are. I wrote about loving to sing, all the time, and my parents worried that the essay made me sound too "weird." In retrospect, I'm very glad I left it as it was!!!

… Write about something for which you have a passion. Your passion will show through in your writing and it will make things easier come interview time.

… Write honestly and don't be afraid to be a little creative. Don't shy away from expressing a view that is different or controversial.

… Let a little personality into your essays. There are countless other people applying who might have better grades and test scores than you, so this is your chance to sound interesting and intrigue the application readers with your adventures, opinions, and concerns.

… Be yourself--it will be a lot easier to write an essay if it is something you are passionate about. Anything on your application can come up in conversation during the interview, so being yourself will make responding to your essays easy if you consistently write like and speak like yourself.

Recommendations:

…What made a big difference for me was meeting with my recommenders for thirty minutes each. This helped them write better letters and helped me prepare for the interview.

… Make sure you choose teachers and mentors who know you well and that you feel you have a personal connection with, not just people whose classes you have done well in. For example a science teacher writing about your level of knowledge in the field of organic chemistry will not clue the people making the admissions decisions in to your character and personality (unless the teacher primarily talks about you as a person, of course), which is what the recommendation is really for.

… When you ask a teacher, write a paragraph for them about why you want to go on the program, what attracts you to it, and why you are qualified. This should help him/her in the writing of the recommendation and also crystallize some of your own ideas and some that you could possibly use in the interview.

… Contact your recommenders early. If you ask them to write a letter at the last minute, it might not be so glowing.

… Recommenders should not be chosen based on big names, but based on the people who can say about you that you really stood out - that you were "one of the best students/interns/employees/volunteers" they had ever had, and can explain way

…Pick people who know you both in and out of the classroom, and who can describe many facets of your life. If you pick someone who knows you in school, pick another person who knows you in youth group, camp or community service to help give a more nuanced view of your identity.

… It was good to have recommendations from a variety of sources.

Interviews:

…Try to be self-aware about how you relate to people. This is particularly important in the interview but watch out for your tone in the personal essay as well. Despite the prestigious nature of the program, Bronfman is looking for down-to-earth kids who aren’t just future leaders of the Jewish community. If you are yourself and don't try too hard to seem impressive that should be enough.

… Relax and have fun with it. The interviewers are trying to put the ball in your court and let you talk about topics that interest you, so don't force an overly intellectual discussion about something that you don't really care about.

… Maintain your composure if the interviewers disagree with you. They want to see that you don't get overly riled up in the face of different opinions. Be confident but not obnoxious in your counterarguments.

… For your interview, prepare to defend your views and engage in a real conversation. The staff want to see how well you can articulate yourself and present and defend an opinion.

… Be friendly. The interviewers want to see how well you can get along with others.

… Be friendly and courteous at the interview. They're looking for people with social skills so that the group gets along over the summer and wants to be connected.

…Viewing the interview as less of a formal Q&A period and more of a conversation really helped me relax.

…The interviewers are not going to try to scare you or intimidate you. They just want to get a sense of who you are in a short amount of time. Be prepared to talk about your application and interests, but don't be too rehearsed and robotic. Just be yourself and show the interviewer who you are.

… Do a practice interview, if only to discover what doesn't work (as opposed to bettering what does).

… Be yourself

2010 security policy

As our 2010 summer program dates get closer, we would like to inform you of our current thinking about this summer's trip to Israel.

Over the past few years, because of the security situation in Israel, we have made a number of adjustments to our traditional itinerary and security protocols. As the summer of 2010 approaches, we are revisiting and refining our security procedures. As of now, our plan is for the program to be based in the Goldstein Youth Village in the San Simon neighborhood of Jerusalem, the northern Galilee town of Tzfat, and the Negev (at Sdeh Boker, in and around Eilat, and in the Negev desert). The Goldstein Youth Village is a gated, guarded campus facility, in a relatively out of the way neighborhood of southern Jerusalem. The group has stayed there many times in the past, and we have found the security procedures and the facilities to be excellent.

Group day-trips into downtown Jerusalem and Tel Aviv will be made only if and when the security situation allows it. Last summer, we were able to see most of the sites that we have traditionally visited in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and we feel hopeful that, with the proper precautions being taken, we will be able to do so again this year. Our movements in the north and the Negev will also be subject to the developing security situation.

Our Security Guidelines

Our security guidelines have been developed over twenty years of experience, in consultation with our Israeli security staff personnel and the appropriate authorities. The guidelines under which we operate attempt to take the volatile aspects of living in Israel into account. In planning our programming elements, be they educational, religious, or recreational, security and safety are a foremost concern. However, no matter how carefully one plans, the situation in Israel is fluid and unpredictable. While in Israel, we receive the best available information, and our security decisions are made daily, based on the day-to-day situation, in consultation with the relevant governmental organizations.

Our Security Director, Assaf Snir, maintains a liaison with the Israeli Police Department, the Israeli Army, the United States Embassy in Israel and international security advisory services throughout the summer.

When in Israel, we will, on an ongoing basis, carefully review our itinerary in light of security considerations. Our itinerary will be cleared by the central Israeli Government office which coordinates the activities of the Army, the Police and the Intelligence Services; they issue specific guidelines as to where it is safe to travel and the best routes to use. Local security personnel are notified of our travel plans and will immediately notify the group in the event of incident or security risk.

If necessary, we will change our itinerary to reflect any heightened risk or security concerns. Our current plans as to where we will base the group for much of the summer and what areas we will visit may change as a result of evolving developments. For security reasons, we will not distribute a detailed copy of this coming summer's itinerary to parents or Fellows in advance. Parents will be getting e-mailed updates on the group's activities and movements, including pictures, on a regular basis all through the summer.

Geographic Restrictions for the 2010 Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel Program

-----No travel in or near the Gaza Strip or the Lebanon border.

-----No travel in the West Bank or Arab East Jerusalem. Travel within East Jerusalem is limited to accessing the most popular Jewish religious sites therein (e.g. The Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter).

-----Fellows will at NO TIME be allowed to travel on their own in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or anywhere else, without parental permission and permission from our security personnel. While in the Goldstein Youth Village, we will be in an enclosed, protected environment, in which Fellows will be allowed to move freely, but which they will NOT be allowed to leave on their own. In Tzfat, if security conditions permit it, Fellows will be allowed to go in groups of at least three to certain designated areas in town, once they have received permission to do so. In the Negev we will always be traveling as a group.

Identification/Contact Cards

All Fellows will be issued a personal identification card that includes faculty/staff contact information. This card must be carried by the Fellow at all times.

A Closing Word
We are determined to create an experience for our 2010 Fellows which is challenging, exciting and inspiring. The faculty and staff are convinced that we can run a full, active, dynamic program, within the parameters that we have outlined above. With your cooperation, this year's trip will be a great one.

View the itinerary from last summer
The itinerary from last summer is available as a PDF file.

BRONFMAN FELLOWS spend the summer before their high school senior year traveling through Israel, exploring their Jewish Identity, and engaging with thinkers, authors, artists, and educators in an all expense paid five week Israel experience.

BYFI's summer program in Israel is the beginning of a long-term association for the Fellows, which continues through our extraordinarily active Alumni network. This includes:

• Local and national gatherings, seminars and institutes.
• Online community.
• Community service projects.
• Funding for alumni initiatives.
• Opportunities for professional growth.

THE BRONFMAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIPS IN ISRAEL educates and inspires exceptional young Jews from diverse backgrounds to become active participants in Jewish culture throughout their lives, and to contribute their talents and vision to the Jewish community and to the world at large.

Every year, twenty-six outstanding North American teenagers are selected for The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel. The Fellows come from all over the United States and Canada, from the widest possible range of Jewish backgrounds, and are selected based on merit, and not financial need. In their five weeks together, the Fellows encounter the land and people of Israel, study Judaism and major issues in contemporary Jewish life, and learn about themselves and each other. The summer is the beginning of a long-term association for the Fellows, which continues through our extraordinarily active alumni network.

High School Juniors from the United States and Canada who will be sixteen by June 2010 are eligible for the Fellowship. Fellowships cover 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 fall Follow-Up Seminar in New York City 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.

BYFI ALUMNI AND COLLEGE MATRICULATION (1987-2008)

BYFI is a highly competitive program and our Alumni have always done exceptionally well with the college admissions process. In fact a published guide* lists our program first in discussing the top scholarship programs particularly noted for producing winners who year after year are among the strongest candidates for admissions to highly selective institutions.

Over the last 22 years our Fellows consistently attend excellent schools.

• Harvard (92 of our Fellows)
• Yale (92 of our Fellows)
• Brown (42 of our Fellows)
• Columbia (31 of our Fellows)
• University of Pennsylvania (31 of our Fellows)
• Princeton (26 of our Fellows)
• Cornell (5 of our Fellows)
• Dartmouth (3 of our Fellows)

Click here to view the current college matriculation list.

* "What it Really Takes to Get Into the Ivy League and other Highly Selective Colleges", written by Chuck Hughes and published in 2003 by McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books.

2009 Fellows in the news

Madison student returns ‘empowered’ from prestigious Israel program

SDJA student a Bronfman Youth Fellow

BYFI fellows come from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds, check out profiles of three 2009 Fellows: Brooke Freeman who lives in Toronto and grew up Reform, Jeffrey Kessler who lives in Los Angeles and attends a Modern Orthodox Jewish high school; and Naomi Sharp who lives in Chicago and is part of an interfaith family.

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Brooke Freeman, BYFI ’09, resides in Toronto, Canada, and is proud to live in a city that is so religiously and culturally diverse. She attends the Bishop Strachan School, one of the oldest and most prestigious day and boarding schools for girls in Canada. Though the school has Anglican roots, the student body is extremely multicultural and Brooke enjoys the everyday exposure to individuals from all over the world.

Brooke is very committed to community service work and in the summer of 2008 traveled to Tanzania, where she volunteered with impoverished communities. “This trip was so meaningful to me, but it also made me reflect on the fact that there is so much I can do within my own country as well.” This realization inspired her to travel to the Yukon, where she met people from First Nation communities. Brooke is currently organizing a school trip that will focus on environmental community service, in particular on resurrecting old trails that were destroyed during the Yukon Gold Rush in the late 19th century.

In addition to her service efforts, Brooke is a longtime ballet dancer, competitive skier, and particularly enjoys participating in school swim meets where she can connect with students from all grade levels.

Why did you decide to apply for the BYFI?

My parents are an interfaith couple, so though I consider myself culturally Jewish, we participate in a basic level of observance that is very common within North America. Judaism had always been described to me as a religion that gave such importance to the intellectual process of debate and study, yet I had never really been exposed to that side. I felt that the type of program that BYFI offered would satisfy that curiosity as well as deepen my connection to it.

How was the application process for you and what would you suggest to someone who is considering applying?

The process was difficult but I emerged from it with a real sense of confidence. In writing the application essays, I chose to focus on issues that were of great importance to me, regardless of their specific connection to Judaism. At first I was self-conscious of my relative lack of Jewish knowledge and experience, but it later became clear to me that BYFI purposefully selects individuals of varying levels of engagement in order to provide a wide range of opinions during group discussion. I didn’t have the opportunity to speak to past Fellows or meet anybody connected to BYFI, so not knowing what they were looking for helped me remain totally honest throughout the application process, without second-guessing myself.

I would say to a prospective Fellow to approach the process with an open mind and, most importantly, be themselves. Do not go into your interview with a pre-conceived notion of what the BYFI identity is, because there is no such thing.

Did you feel that the group was diverse and that you were exposed to opinions that differed from your own?

We were a very diverse blend of Jews from all degrees of connection, so our main emphasis was on understanding and respecting each other, but also being willing to challenge each other’s views openly. I remember one instance in which my mother’s conversion to Judaism came up in discussion. Some people felt that this put the legitimacy of my religion under scrutiny while others felt that my identification with Judaism was the determining factor. It was so challenging for me not to take offense at a topic that affected me so personally, but it turned out to be one of the more stimulating and interesting debates of the trip. What was so wonderful about the group dynamic was that, because the setting was so intimate, we were able to forge close friendships that went beyond individual disagreements. The conflict ended the moment we stepped out of the classroom, or was later revisited out of a genuine desire to resolve it and reach a greater level of understanding, without necessarily changing each other’s views.

What did you like the most about your experiences in Israel last summer and what did you take from it?

I would have to say that my favorite aspects of the trip have happened since my return home. BYFI deepened my connection to certain Jewish rituals like Shabbat. I now find it to be such a valuable part of my routine in which I can focus my energy on prayer and self-reflection. Apart from that, I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of such an intelligent, religiously engaged and socially conscious group of individuals and I look forward to building my friendships with them beyond BYFI. I have a distinct feeling that my connection to the Bronfman alumnae community will grow stronger and that I will continue to see the effects of this life-altering experience in years to come.

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Jeffrey Kessler, BYFI ’09, is the youngest of 4 siblings and attends YULA, an Orthodox Jewish High School in Los Angeles. In addition to his academic surroundings, Jeffrey’s family is also Modern Orthodox. Although he is still unsure of what path of study to follow, but he hopes it will somehow involve Mathematics and Political Science and Theory. In addition, he plans to spend his gap year in Israel, studying at a yeshiva or participating in the Bronfman Bayit, a yearlong experience in which a small group of students live in Jerusalem and engage in a combination of Jewish study and intensive volunteer work in some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. Among his many interests, his favorites are playing piano, the occasional tennis match and reading “anything I can get my hands on,” which has led to frequent teasing by friends and family for having a bedroom that looks like a bookstore. “I’m beginning to see their point,” he admits with a laugh.

Why did you decide to apply for The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel?

My family is Modern Orthodox, as is everything else around me. Until Bronfman, I had never really stepped out of a Modern Orthodox environment. Discussion and debate have certainly been interests of mine for a very long time, but when it came to religion in my life, there was no room for debate. I felt like I was missing part of the puzzle by being exposed to only one method of practice. I saw BYFI as an opportunity to discuss Judaism with peers who cared just as much about the future of the Jewish people as I did and who were also interested in exploring and challenging their own religious views. Additionally, I was hoping to spend a summer with other social and politically-minded individuals, with whom I could also have a good time.

What kind of support did you receive during the application process?

My family and siblings were tremendously supportive during the application process, always prepared to have me bounce ideas off of them. A representative of AIPAC, an office in which I have interned for the past two years, was tremendously helpful to me by both writing one of my recommendation letters and assisting me in my preparation for the interview. I also spoke to an alumna before applying and she was tremendously helpful in guiding me through the application process. However, the biggest encouragement for me to complete the application process was the knowledge that the end-goal could possibly be the most profound experience of my life. And it was.

Did you feel that the group was diverse and you were exposed to different perspectives from your own?

I had never been part of such a diverse group of individuals. Not only was the group diverse geographically and religiously but also in terms of ideology. I originally thought that I would be the extremist of the group and in some ways I was correct, as my religious practices and ideology tended to be more to the "right." However, I was incorrect in thinking it would make any difference. Opinions most certainly didn't line up along "denomination lines” and I found myself sometimes agreeing with those furthest away from me in practice and disagreeing with those whose levels of observance were similar to my own. Every Fellow stands out in one way or another, which makes for an incredible summer experience. Up until the very last day, I was continuously astounded by the other Fellows and their talents.

What words of encouragement would you give to someone who is currently applying?

I would encourage anyone who is serious about their Judaism and open to discussing it to apply for BYFI, because the Fellowship can truly change the entire way in which a person views the world, religiously and otherwise. I came back form the summer with a much deeper connection to Judaism. The program affected my faith more intensely than 15 years of Jewish day school.

To put it simply, anyone who has any interest in this program whatsoever should apply. There is literally no better thing to do with your time at such a critical point in your life.

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Naomi Sharp, BYFI ’09, is entering her final year at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago. The daughter of a Russian Jewish mother and a Southern Baptist father originally from Texas, Naomi describes her upbringing as “culturally Jewish.” When she is not completing assignments for her school’s homework-intensive curriculum, Naomi sings in concert choir, of which she has been a member for the past 4 years, serves as co-president of the Amnesty international Club, and edits The Paw Print, Payton’s high school newspaper. Naomi is looking forward to her school trip to Ghana this spring, where she will learn about globalization, and hopes to spend her gap year in NYC working at low-income schools as part of AmeriCorps’ City Year program.

Why did you decide to apply for BYFI?

I applied for BYFI because I was eager to explore my own views on Judaism and have open intellectual discussions with other people my age. My situation is unique in that my mother is a Russian Jew and my father is a Southern Baptist from Texas. They decided to raise me culturally Jewish and I feel a deeper connection to my Jewish roots, but that duality has always been an interesting balancing act for me, even if I live in an agnostic environment where religion is not really a central part of my everyday life. Many of my friends and peers are vaguely religious, but for the most part they are non-practicing. I never celebrated religious holidays, studied Hebrew or even had a bat-mitzvah, so I hadn’t been exposed to many core elements of my heritage. There was only so long I could joke about being a “bad Jew,” so I felt that it was time for me to take a more active role in learning about Judaism.

What do you feel would have been advantageous to know before applying?

It would have been extremely helpful to read some biographies of past Fellows when I was applying because I felt confused, not knowing the type of person Bronfman was looking for. I think that being able to read about others who participated in BYFI would have helped me realize that truly anyone can apply. There is no formula for who is accepted, as long as you are open-minded, willing to share your ideas and respectful towards individuals who do not agree with you.

Did you feel that the group was diverse and you were exposed to different perspectives from your own?

Absolutely! We were all so different and I was very contrasting from the rest of the group, as I had the least experience with Judaism. This was a bit intimidating at first, but it turned out to be a wonderful thing. I frequently felt foolish about my lack of knowledge, but the other people were extremely open and willing to teach me. In turn, I felt that my removed perspective was appreciated and helped balance group discussions. At times, I felt alienated from the texts we studied because I considered them great works of literature rather than moral and religious authorities, as some of my peers viewed them. This occasionally led to heated arguments, but I found these moments intellectually challenging, and we were always able to find a common ground, step away from the disagreement and not take it personally. We weren’t there to change each other but to discuss our differences and learn from them. It was also such a humanizing experience because it helped me dispel my misconceptions of very observant people as not having a sense of humor or not being able to examine their own views.

What was your favorite aspect of the trip?

For me, the most thrilling part was being thrust into such a different situation than what I had ever experienced before. I had never gone away from home for more than a few days at a time and I was suddenly plopped in a foreign country with a group of strangers and expected to discuss topics that I had never really thought about, some of which made me uncomfortable. It was challenging, but so rewarding.

Dear Friend:

I am writing to inform you that applications for the twenty-fourth annual Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel (BYFI) are now being accepted for summer 2010.

The purpose of the Fellowships is to increase understanding and tolerance among the different Jewish denominations.  Fellows range from those who are religiously observant to those only marginally affiliated with Judaism.  Our goal is to teach the talented youth of today, who may be the leaders of tomorrow, how to understand the whole spectrum of the Jewish people through discussion, study, and an interaction with the land and people of Israel.  A hallmark of the Fellowship is the close relationship Fellows enjoy with each other, their counselors and the diverse faculty.  The faculty remains in contact with a majority of the Fellows throughout their years in university and beyond.

BYFI is a fully funded fellowship that is among the most prestigious programs available to outstanding Jewish students of all backgrounds who are in their junior year of high school. The academic and professional successes of its 597 alumni reflect the high quality of the program and highlight the kinds of benefits that can redound to its participants.

For example, over 50% of BYFI alumni have attended Ivy League schools.  Indeed, The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel has been listed by Chuck Hughes, former Senior Admissions Officer at Harvard, in his book, "What it Really Takes to Get Into the Ivy League and other Highly Selective Colleges," as one of the programs which "act as filters for admissions officers to validate candidates who have been similarly identified by other organizations for talent and promise." Professionally, BYFI alumni comprise former U.S. Supreme Court Clerks, celebrated authors, journalists and producers with leading news organizations such as The New York Times and NBC, and numerous teachers, scholars and clergy.

This fully funded Fellowship program will take place from July 5 through August 11, 2010.  After the summer in Israel, it will be continued with a fall seminar in New York City and other alumni activities scheduled throughout the year.  The Fellowships are awarded competitively to twenty-six individuals who will be entering the twelfth grade of school in the fall of 2010.  Fellowship awards are based on merit.

It should be made clear that no Jewish educational background is required for eligibility.  We are looking for applicants who have shown themselves to be outstanding individuals in leadership, character and academics.  Given that we seek a diverse community, we define excellence in a variety of ways:  intellectual curiosity and accomplishment, response to challenge, and leadership both among peers and within established organizations.

If you know Jewish students who may be interested in our program, please encourage them to go to our website, www.bronfman.org.   Our website features:  an online brochure, an informational video and complete application material.  Our printed brochure is available upon request.

Thank you for making this opportunity available.

Yours sincerely,

Rabbi Shimon Felix