Scholarships for Israel
Jewish Students Help Build a Strong Israel
The strength of the Jewish people is apparent in the numbers of scholarships available and organizations committed to building a strong Israel. Students interested in pursuing studies in Israel will benefit from having a Jewish heritage. Scholarships are available from the federal government, colleges and private organizations. Israel remains on the U.S. government’s list of Travel Warnings.
Government Scholarships
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships are federally funded scholastic awards that are designed to encourage studies abroad in non-traditional countries, such as Israel and other areas of the Middle East. While the area remains on the U.S. government’s Travel Warning list, students may reap big scholarship dollars for their risk. Eligible applicants are chosen based on a host of criteria including academic record and financial need. In fact qualified students must be receiving Pell Grants to be considered. Preference is given to those students of minority background with the end result being a more diversified leadership in global economics and business. Up to two years of scholarships may be available to recipients. Awards are up to $5,000.
College Scholarships
Michigan State University’s Jewish Studies Program offers scholarships to qualified students interested in pursuing a semester of study abroad at the main universities in Israel. The program is focused on Jewish Studies and the scholarships are awarded based on academic merit and financial need for the funding.
The Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers quite a number of scholarships for students engaged in Jewish Studies. The following offer scholarships to those students planning on studying in Israel:
- Robert Berman Family Undergraduate or Graduate Research Award makes up to $1,000 available to qualified students who must travel to conduct research. Funds may be used to cover travel expenses to Israel if that is where research must be conducted.
- Weinstein-Minkoff Scholarship for Study Abroad awards up to $1,000 to an outstanding student in Jewish Studies who is planning study in Israel.
- Ida and Isaac Lipton Scholarship for Study Abroad provides $1,000 awards to students heading off to study in Israel. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a deep involvement in Jewish life and community and provide a letter of recommendation from a faculty member.
Private Organizations
The Rohr Scholarships are sponsored through the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Israel. Eligible applicants must be prepared to embark on a deeply spiritual education in Jewish Studies and religion. Students must demonstrate high academic standards and personal character. Applicants must also have experience in Jewish religious or cultural activities and be tracking a career that is focused on the Jewish community. Awards are extremely competitive and funds $5,000 for the program tuition and associated expenses.
The American Jewish League provides merit-based scholarships to students who are enrolled to study in a participating Israeli university. Funds vary based on annual contributions. Scholarships are competitive. Students must show interest in deep Jewish studies and be able to support career and educational goals relative to their studies.
MASA, an organization devoted to Israel and Jewish life, enjoys strong support from the Israeli government and many generous organizations in the U.S. One of the significant missions of MASA is to provide scholarships that make it possible for students to spend a semester or year studying in Israel. Qualified applicants must be of Jewish heritage to be considered:
- MASA Need-Based Scholarships offer awards in varying amounts that may be used toward tuition at an Israeli university.
- MASA University Scholarships are based on merit and offer awards of $2,000 for studies in Israel.
If you are interested in Jewish religious scholarships, we list a number of opportunities here.
