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APPLY NOW – DEADLINE IS APRIL 1, 2014

 

The Shalom Hartman Institute and Hebrew College announced the establishment of Hevruta, a unique gap-year program in Israel for 20 North American and 20 Israeli high school graduates designed to build a new generation of leadership built on a new narrative of Israel-World Jewry relations.

 

A fully integrated and balanced gap-year program, Hevruta will provide student leaders from a range of Jewish backgrounds and perspectives with an unparalleled pluralistic learning opportunity in an exciting and dynamic environment. The program will address both Israel and North America as compelling centers of contemporary Jewish life, leadership, and discovery.

 

Over the course of their 10-month experience, Hevruta participants will engage in rigorous intellectual pursuit and text study, while taking advantage of Jerusalem’s rich academic, cultural, and spiritual resources. A three-week North American component will enable participants to explore Jewish identity in a global context, with the goal of deepening the exchange across the diverse cohort of participants.

 

“The future of Jewish peoplehood is dependent on the two major world Jewish communities finding new ways of learning to walk together, and developing new models for understanding,” said Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute. “Building on signature curricula such as those developed by our iEngage Project, Hevruta will encourage new modes of cooperation and understanding between Israel and world Jewry set in a warm, nurturing, pluralistic and intellectually and spiritually engaging atmosphere.”

 

Rabbi Daniel L. Lehmann, President of Hebrew College, added, "Hevruta deepens our commitment to engaging and educating young adults, while expanding on our existing study programs based in Israel. We are excited to learn and lead with our Hevruta participants, raising the bar on American-Israeli discourse."

 

Illustrating the progressive and ambitious agendas of the Shalom Hartman Institute and Hebrew College, Hevruta will nurture future North American and Israeli leaders through a combination of:

The core of Hevruta will be rigorous learning guided by the unparalleled Shalom Hartman Institute and Hebrew College faculty. The core curriculum will focus on study of North American and Israeli Jewish life today as it is lived and experienced in all of its complexities and challenges. Participants will explore texts and ideas that illuminate both Israel and North America as centers of contemporary Jewish life. Productive community service activities, as well as cultural activities, trips, and encounters with leading Israeli artists, activists and leaders will complement the academic studies.

 

The program is designed to provide participants with the highest levels of comfort, health, and security. Living accommodations will be in quality apartments, and trained staff will supervise and advise participants during all hours.

 

“By living and learning together, our American and Israeli students will build the foundation for lifelong friendship and partnership,” said Or Rose, Director of Hebrew College’s Center for Global Judaism. "These relationships will foster meaningful collaboration and promote vibrant Jewish life in the future."

 

Applications for the program, starting Fall 2014, are currently being accepted and are due by April 1, 2014. Applicants are evaluated on a rolling admissions basis. Full details of the program and contact information is available at https://www.hartman.org.il/hevruta.