About the JewishGen Future Scholars Fellowship

JewishGen is pleased to invite applications for its third annual JewishGen Future Scholars Fellowship program to take place from June 20, 2023 – June 29, 2023. Rising second-fourth year undergraduate students in accredited colleges or universities are invited to apply.

This immersive program, created in partnership with The Matzevah Foundation, and the Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland, focuses on the role of Jewish cemeteries today in preserving the memory and legacy of former Jewish communities.

The purpose of this program is to inspire and begin the training of the future generation of leaders in Jewish genealogical involvement. Focusing on Poland, we seek to explore basic tools of genealogical searching in Poland, once home to more than half of world Jewry, and share and protect the history that gave shape to that genealogy of the past and future.

Participants will help clean-up a cemetery, learn about symbols and epitaphs on tombstones, the general state of Jewish cemeteries in Poland after the Holocaust, efforts to preserve them from both a communal, political, and Halachic perspective,  and consider lessons that can be gleaned to inform our own life choices today. 

On this 10-day journey, participants will tour many Jewish heritage sites starting with Warsaw, including an inspirational Shabbat in Krakow, visit Auschwitz/Birkenau, and then travel to Lublin, Poland, where the group will participate in the clean-up and preservation of the historic Old Jewish cemetery in partnership with Polish volunteers.. 

The trip will be led by highly experienced staff and participants will have an opportunity to learn from rabbis, scholars, dignitaries, and community leaders, who will offer first-hand insights regarding the imperative (and challenges) of cleaning-up cemeteries in accordance with Jewish law. They will address how local Polish communities view Jewish cemeteries in their towns, the need to preserve Jewish memory, and more. 

During the trip, Fellows will have nightly reflection exercises to discuss and internalize everything they learned during that day. Upon returning home, each Fellow will be expected to record a video and write an essay describing his or her experience.

How Much Does It Cost & Frequently Asked Questions

This program is nearly fully subsidized, save for a $400 (to be paid upon acceptance and commitment to the program) non-refundable registration fee. All other expenses will be completely covered by JewishGen (including r/t travel from NY, transportation in Poland, meals, lodging, materials, etc). Dietary laws will be observed. 

For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions: https://jewishgen.org/fellowship/faq.html

Questions may be sent to FutureScholars@JewishGen.org.

How to Apply