Become a Fellow

Apply Now for The Bronfman Fellowship! To apply, you must be in 11th grade in the fall of 2024, be from the U.S. or Canada, and identify as Jewish. If you’re too young to apply this year, sign up here.

Want to nominate a teen? Do that here. If you are an adult who works with teens and want to be added to our general email list, please fill out this form.

About the Fellowship

The Bronfman Fellowship is an opportunity unlike any other: a space where young people who want to see the world through a lens broader than their own can explore issues with depth, candor, and joy, while forming friendships to last a lifetime. 

Every year, twenty-six intellectually adventurous North American teenagers are selected as Bronfman Fellows. The Fellowship begins with an immersive, all-expenses-paid summer in Israel and the U.S. Fellows wrestle with major issues in contemporary Jewish life, meet some of today’s most influential figures, and expand their perspectives as they build community with those representing different backgrounds, worldviews, and approaches to Jewish life and practice. Inspired by a diverse faculty of Rabbis, educators, and artists, the pluralistic group of Fellows have the opportunity to explore a wide range of Jewish texts — from classic religious documents to contemporary Israeli and American voices — as well as art workshops, using them to spark conversations, engage with stimulating existential questions, and achieve a deeper understanding of themselves and one another. 

The Fellowship year continues with monthly virtual experiences and a Winter and Spring seminar in the United States, usually in the Northeast. Fellows continue their association with the Fellowship through our extraordinarily active, 1400+ alumni community. 

Eligibility and Important Dates

To apply for the 2025 Fellowship cohort, you must be in 11th grade in the fall of 2024, be from the U.S. or Canada, and identify as Jewish. 

The Fellowship begins the summer after 11th grade and is all-expenses-paid.

Dates for the 2025 Fellowship Year:

• Summer Seminar: June 30 – August 1, 2025
• Winter Seminar: Jan. 22-27, 2026
• Spring Seminar: March 2026

Application at a Glance

• Application Opens: mid-August. Apply now!
• Virtual Info Sessions: Prospective applicants, parents, and educators are invited to join our virtual info session. Teens are also welcome to join our Q&A session, a more informal Zoom where they can talk directly to recent Fellows.
  • Information Session: October 10th, Thursday, 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT. Watch recording here. 
  • Q&A Session: November 12th, Tuesday, 8 pm ET/ 5pm PT. Register here.
• Application Deadline: December 2, 2024
• Deadline for receipt of recommendations and transcript: December 6, 2024
• Keep in mind that your application must include:
  • Two (2) recommendations from individuals who know you well. At least one of these recommendations must be from a teacher. The other can be any non-relative who knows you well (including another school professional, Rabbi, employer, etc.).
  • High school transcript (through at least grade 10). 
• More questions? Check out our FAQ’s 
• See a preview of this year’s application (to help prepare your application, but this cannot be submitted. Application must be completed online).