Israel Scholarships

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Learn which program is right for you.

Learn about all available funding resources.

Apply for a Scholarship Now!

Download a Need Based Scholarship Application

Deadline for all applications: April 7*, 2017 See 2016-17 Group Interview Dates

 

Get FREE Money for a Trip to Israel!

Passport to Israel
A savings program that provides matching funds - children and teens, enrollment eligible for grades 1st through 9th! Learn more here! 

Current Passport Fundholders - You can make a deposit into your existing Passport to Israel account anytime through DonorSphere here to access your account. If you have questions, please contact us at 412.992.5208 or dswartz@jfedpgh.org.

Teens and young adults

• Jewish Federation Scholarships
  Federation offers both need-based and non-need-based scholarships to send teens to Israel.

Click here to apply online for a non-need based scholarship.

Click here to download an application for a need-based scholarship.

• Central Scholarship and Loan Referral Service

  For students in accredited higher education, including in Israeli institutions.
  412-422-7200 | alowenberger@jfcspgh.org
  
  
  

• MASA Israel Journey Grants and Scholarships

  For gap-year, study abroad, post-college, and volunteer programs for adults ages 18–30.
  866-864-3279
  
  
  

• Zionist Organization of America

  Up to 3 scholarships yearly, for high school students entering junior or senior year.
  412-665-4630 | pittsburgh@zoa.org
  
  

Families

• Hebrew Free Loan Association

  Interest-free loans, including for Israel travel.
  412-422-8878 | info@hflapgh.org 

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Find the Right Program!

Local Programs with Israel trips

• Diller Teen Fellows International Teen Leadership program
  Local Contact: Chris Herman, Director

• Emma Kaufman Camp CIT program
  Local Contact: Rachael Speck, Assistant Director
  
  
  

Youth Movement Programs

Conservative

• USY

• Ramah Programs in Israel
  (info@ramah.co.il)

Orthodox

• Bnei Akiva
• NCSY
  Local Contact: Rabbi Ari Goldberg

Reform

• NFTY
  Local Contact: Evan Silverstein, NFTY Pittsburgh Advisor

Pluralistic Youth Movements

• BBYO
• Young Judaea
  1-866-599-2534, Summer@youngjudaea.org
• International MASA
  Israel is a funding partnership between the Jewish Federations of North America, the government of Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel and its partners, and Keren HaYesod. Go to masaisrael.org to get information about more than 200 programs and grants.

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2016-17 Israel Scholarship Group Interview Dates

All scholarship applicants are required to attend a group program with other applicants at the Federation. The goal of the session is for the applicants and their parents to learn about the work of the Jewish Federation, share their expectations for the trip and ask any questions.

GROUP INTERVIEW DATES
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
Thursday, April 13, 2017

All non-need scholarship applicants are required to attend the group interview. Parents are also strongly encouraged to attend. Applicants must choose one of these dates on the online application here. All sessions will begin at 7:30 pm.

If you are applying for need-based aid in addition to the non-need scholarship, at least one parent or guardian must attend an interview with a member of the scholarship committee. This process will help determine the amount of funding applicable. Need-based interviews will take place just prior to and/or after the group interview on the same dates. Please speak with the scholarship program administrator to schedule your time.

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LECH L'CHA — GET GOING!

Contact

For more information about how we can help you or your child travel to Israel,  please contact Debbie Swartz at dswartz@jfedpgh.org or 412.992.5208.
 

The Israel Scholarship Program is funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Annual Campaign, with additional funding for need-based scholarships funded by The Stanley z"l and Flo Mae Moravitz Israel Scholarship Endowment Fund of The Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. The Passport to Israel Program is funded by the Sholom Comay Family Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.