J Street, the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans, announced today the launch of its Seminary Student Fellowship for the 2021-22 academic year. The five selected Fellows will begin their program officially on October 18.
“Exploring Israel advocacy and what it means to be pro-Israel today is a critical part of their education and graduate school experience,” said Rabbi John Rosove, Co-Chair of the J Street Rabbinic & Cantorial Cabinet.
The Fellowship will focus on providing advocacy and leadership skills and learning based on J Street’s foundational principles: support for the security and future of the state of Israel; support for the two-state solution as the only way to peacefully resolve the conflict and end the occupation; and the value of vibrant and respectful debate about Israel.
Fellows will be matched with a rabbi or cantor from the J Street Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet who will serve as their mentor for the program. They will also be given the opportunity to advocate for J Street’s policies with their local members of Congress, participate in monthly learning sessions, and represent J Street at their local seminary. Each fellow will receive a $2500 stipend and will attend J Street’s National Conference in 2022 free of charge.
“Through our program, this year’s fellows will gain a deep understanding of the depth and breadth of conversations currently happening about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the variety of perspectives and the role that advocacy for Israel and for peace could play in their careers,” said Shaina Wasserman, J Street’s Vice President of Communal Relations. “We are thrilled to be a part of these students’ education and to deepen our relationships with these seminaries and the Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform movements.”
The five Fellows have diverse backgrounds and represent a number of different denominations and seminaries.
They are: