Habonim Dror believes in a socialism based on the values of equality, social justice, collectivism, peace and democracy, and educates its chaverim towards contributing to a society and living a life based on these values in Israel. Habonim Dror asserts that the practice of socialism – combining elements of common ownership, democracy, free access to resources and an understanding of collective responsibility is essential for the equality of all people.
Consistent with our ideology, Habonim Dror believes that qualified program applicants should not be excluded from participation due to an inability to pay. We have a supportive alumni organization that raise funds to subsidize the high cost of programs and to provide scholarships.
Working with many community organizations both in North America and Israel we can assist with scholarship applications.
Sample Email to a Scholarship Provider
Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Israel Scholarship
Camp Miriam Alisa Bowman Leadership Fund
Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
Camp Gilboa Gilboa Stewardship Fund
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Jewish Federation of San Diego County
Jewish Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Jewish Federation & Family Services Orange County
Jewish Federation of the East Bay
Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis
The Center for Jewish Education Baltimore
Jewish Federation of the Berkshires
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City
Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey
Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey
The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies
Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York
Jewish Federation of Central New York
Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County New York
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
Scholarships
Introduction
This list of scholarships, updated in 2017, can almost entirely be summarized by the “Canada and the US” section. For specifics, see your state/province by clicking on it in the Table of Contents above. This is not an exhaustive list, so if an organization is not here, it does not mean they don’t have a scholarship available; it never hurts to ask them if they have something. And in case you wanted to cross-check, here are four more lists! (the information on them is slightly dated, so trust this list for factual discrepancies)
- http://usy.org/escape/scholarship/
- https://summer.ncsy.org/financialaid/scholarship-listing-by-state/
- http://try.ramah.org.il/wp-content/uploads/TRY-Scholarship-opportunities-2018.pdf
- http://www.bbyopassport.org/General-Resources
Sample Email to a Scholarship Provider
Hello,
I’m writing to ask if ______ supports youth in their efforts to go on an organized trip to Israel. I am a member of Habonim Dror, a Zionist youth movement focused on education and social action. We spend a lot of time learning about and discussing Israel, and we send campers and young adults to Israel on various movement programs.
This year, a group of Habonim Dror members my age will be attending ______, [include a short explanation of the program]. ______ is an amazing opportunity for Habonim Dror members to deepen their relationship with Israel and to think about our responsibility to strengthen it. The program allows students to learn about Israel through an immersive educational experience, enriching their engagement with the Jewish community once they return.
In order to attend this program, I am in need of some financial support. I read on your website that ______ provides scholarships for young Jews to attend programs in Israel, but I could not find the link for the scholarship application. Please let me know how I can apply for these scholarships at your earliest convenience.
[Alternatively, etc.]: In order to attend this program, I am in need of some financial support. I read on your website that ______ supports young Jews engaging in Israel, so I was wondering if this could include a scholarship that would support my attendance on this program.
Thank you very much, [and I look forward to hearing from you soon,]
______
Canada and the US
- Your machaneh! https://www.habonimdror.org/summercamps/
- Your local ken and madrichim, for help with your scholarship applications.
- The HDNA Central Office, both for scholarships and payment plans.
- Your synagogue.
- Your synagogue’s men’s club/women’s club.
- Your Rabbi. Rabbis often have discretionary funds, separate from synagogue funds, which they can use… at their discretion.
- Your local Jewish Federation. https://jewishfederations.org/federation-finder
- Your local Bureau/Builders of Jewish Education (BJE).
- Your local Jewish Community Center (JCC). http://jcca.org/find-a-jcc/
- Your university/college Hillel.
- Any other Jewish group you’re a part of.
- Your Jewish Day School.
- Amy Adina Schulman Fund. https://amyadinaschulmanfund.org/
- Hebrew Free Loan (interest-free loans). http://www.iajfl.org/
- Masa. http://www.masaisrael.org/
Canada
Alberta
Calgary Jewish Federation
British Columbia
Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Israel Scholarship
- Website: https://www.jewishvancouver.com/israel-and-overseas/financial-aid
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: Need-based, BC resident or grew up in BC
- Deadline: November 24th, February 28th (two intake periods)
- Contact information: Shelley Rivkin srivkin@jewishvancouver.com
Camp Miriam Alisa Bowman Leadership Fund
- Website: N/A
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Member of the Camp Miriam community
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Leah Levi camp.miriam@gmail.com
Ontario
Associated Hebrew School
- Website: N/A
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Alumnus
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Ossy Goldenberg enrolment@ahschools.com
Tannenbaum CHAT
- Website: N/A
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Alumnus
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Renee Cohen rcohen@tanenbaumchat.org
Jewish Free Loan Toronto
- Website: http://jewishfreeloan.ca/j-sap
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: This is an interest free loan for college or personal use.
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Irina Krushelnitsky irakrush@jewishfreeloan.ca
United States
Arizona
Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
- Website: https://www.jewishphoenix.org/get-involved/israel-center/israel-programs-for-teens
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: 2 months prior to trip
- Contact information: Harriet Colan harrietc@vosjcc.org
California
Camp Gilboa Gilboa Stewardship Fund
- Website: N/A
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: Member of the Gilboa community
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Elana Bloomfield info@campgilboa.org
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
- Website: http://www.jvsla.org/programs-and-services/jvs-scholarship-program/overview/
- Programs: Hagshama (not to be used directly for this program)
- Eligibility: Need-based scholarship for college.
- Deadline: March 31st
- Contact information: scholarship@jvsla.org
- Website: https://www.jewishla.org/program/israel-experience-grants/ (two scholarships)
- Programs: MBI
- Eligibility: First trip to Israel on a program (second scholarship is same but need-based)
- Deadline: First come first serve
- Contact information: Vicky Lee vlee@jewishla.org or israelexperience@jewishla.org
Jewish Free Loan Association
- Website: https://www.jfla.org/summer-camp-loans/
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Low- or moderate-income household. This is an interest free loan for Israel programs.
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Rebecca Marcus rebecca@jfla.org
- Website: https://www.jfla.org/loan-programs/student-loans/
- Programs: Hagshama (not to be used directly for this program)
- Eligibility: Low- or moderate-income household. This is an interest free loan for college, not a scholarship, which can offset the costs of college.
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Rebecca Marcus rebecca@jfla.org
Jewish Federation of San Diego County
- Website: https://jewishinsandiego.org/myisraeljourney
- Programs: MBI
- Eligibility: Need proof of MBI enrolment
- Deadline: January – March
- Contact information: Janese Cassel janesec@jewishfederationsandiego.org
Jewish Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
- Website: https://jewishfed.org/how-we-help/opportunities-support/scholarships/israel-within-reach
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: 2 months before trip start date
- Contact information: Danit Trau israelwithinreach@sfjcf.org
- Website: https://jewishfed.org/how-we-help/opportunities-support/scholarships/israel-experiences-teens-and-young-adults
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: March 15th for MBI; May 1st for Workshop
- Contact information: Aiko-Sophie Ezaki aiko-sophiem@sfjcf.org
- Website: https://jewishfed.org/how-we-help/leadership-development/awards
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: History of leadership
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Variety; see website
Jewish Federation & Family Services Orange County
- Website: https://jewishorangecounty.org/about/what-we-do/grants/passport
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Need-based
- Deadline: January, March, May for Workshop and MBI; September for Hagshama
- Contact information: Jillian Katz passport@JFFS.org
Jewish Federation of the East Bay
- Website: https://www.jfed.org/financial-aid/#1495824867782-0639f8d5-8a2f
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Need-based
- Deadline: March 5th for MBI; May 1st for Workshop; November 2nd for Hagshama
- Contact information: Alison Stein alison@jfed.org
Colorado
Jewish Colorado
- Website: http://www.jewishcolorado.org/scholarships/
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Colorado resident
- Deadline: First come first serve
- Contact information: Heather Flowers hflowers@jewishcolorado.org
Connecticut
Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut
- Website: N/A
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: March 6th
- Contact information: Jade Stoltz jstoltz@jfed.net
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
- Website: https://www.jcfhartford.org/Grant/IsraelTripScholarships/tabid/270/Default.aspx
- Programs: MBI
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: December 1st
- Contact information: Deb Howson dhowson@jewishhartford.org
Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
- Website: http://scholarships.jewishnewhaven.org/israel
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: March 8th for MBI; May 3rd for Workshop
- Contact information: Brian Levy blevy@jewishnewhaven.org
Delaware
Jewish Federation of Delaware
- Website: http://www.shalomdelaware.org/scholarships
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: Various
- Deadline: Various
- Contact information: scholarships@shalomdel.org
Florida
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
- Website: http://jewishmiami.org/about/departments/israel_overseas/looking_for_scholarships/
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Need-based
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: israeloverseas@jewishmiami.org
Illinois
Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
- Website: https://www.juf.org/israel_experience/Scholarships-High-School.aspx
- Programs: MBI
- Eligibility: Enrolled in high school, need-based
- Deadline: March 1st
- Contact information: Jody Horowitz israelexperience@juf.org
- Website: https://www.juf.org/israel_experience/Scholarships-College.aspx
- Programs: Workshop, Hagshama
- Eligibility: Attend school in metropolitan Chicago, need-based
- Deadline: April 15th
- Contact information: Jody Horowitz israelexperience@juf.org
- Website: https://www.juf.org/israel_experience/Scholarships-Merit.aspx
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: In school in Chicago
- Deadline: March 1st
- Contact information: Jody Horowitz israelexperience@juf.org
Indiana
Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis
- Website: https://www.jewishindianapolis.org/scholarships-internships/israel-scholarships
- Programs: MBI; Any (two scholarships)
- Eligibility: Need-based; N/A
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: israelscholarship@jfgi.org
Maryland
The Center for Jewish Education Baltimore
- Website: https://www.cjebaltimore.org/CFIE
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: Need-based
- Deadline: April 10th
- Contact information: Reena Roshgadol cfie@cjebaltimore.org
Massachusetts
Jewish Federation of the Berkshires
- Website: https://jewishberkshires.org/our-work/nurturing-a-jewish-future
- Programs: MBI, Workshop
- Eligibility: Must have contributed to the Federation’s past year’s campaign
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: federation@jewishberkshires.org
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
- Website: https://hgf.org/grants-awards/israel-travel-and-study
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Live in Western Massachusetts or Southern Vermont
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Shay gti@hgf.org
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
- Website: https://www.cjp.org/our-work/israel-overseas/israel-teen-travel/the-myra-and-robert-kraft-passport-to-israel
- Programs: MBI
- Eligibility: Must begin investing in 3rd or 7th grade, be a member of a synagogue, and be enrolled in a Jewish education program. Then, CJP will add $700 as well as whatever interest was gained to the total amount.
- Deadline: Beginning of 3rd or 7th grade.
- Contact information: Marie Miller mariem@cjp.org
- Note: After 2017, there may be money in a renewed Israel Travel Scholarship program. Contact Stacey Gainey staceyg@cjp.org to check.
Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation
- Website: N/A
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Laurie Mindlin laurie@mvjf.org
Michigan
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
Minnesota
Minneapolis Jewish Federation
- Website: https://jewishminneapolis.org/experience-israel/travel-scholarships/louis-herman-israel-experience-fund/
- Programs: MBI
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: ASAP
- Contact information: Sofya Barth sbarth@jewishminneapolis.org
- Website: https://jewishminneapolis.org/experience-israel/travel-scholarships/boroff-scholarship/
- Programs: Workshop
- Eligibility: N/A
- Deadline: December 2nd, April 14th, July 21st (three intake periods)
- Contact information: Maayan Levy mlevy@jewishminneapolis.org
- Website: https://jewishminneapolis.org/experience-israel/travel-scholarships/israel-center-scholarship/
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Family income under $120,000
- Deadline: Suggested 3 months prior to departure
- Contact information: Eilat Harel eharel@mplsfed.org
Missouri
Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City
Nebraska
Jewish Federation of Omaha
Nevada
Jewish Nevada
New Jersey
Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey
Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
- Website: https://www.jfnnj.org/services/
Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey
New York
The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies
- Website: http://www.jewishphilanthropies.org/israel-scholarships/
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Live in Erie or Niagara County
- Deadline: December 1st
- Contact information: Lisa Collins lisa@jewishphilanthropies.org
UJA-Federation of New York
- Website: N/A
- Programs: MBI
- Eligibility: Live in New York City, Long Island, or Westchester County
- Deadline: April 20th
- Contact information: For a need-based scholarship, Maya Paris-Saper finance@habonimdror.org; for a merit scholarship, your synagogue or one of UJA-Federation’s “core partners” (if you are a member).
Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York
- Website: https://www.jewishfedny.org/israel/israel-experience/
- Programs: Any
- Eligibility: Must donate at least $50 to the Federation per year. Then, can deposit up to $175 per year in an account, which will be matched with $100 from the Federation, up to $1000 over 10 years. Money can be disbursed at any time for an Israel program.
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: Amy Drucker adrucker@jewishfedny.org
Hebrew Free Loan Society
- Website: http://hfls.org/about/how-to-apply/
- Programs: Hagshama (not to be used directly for this program)
- Eligibility: Low- or moderate-income household. This is an interest free loan for college, not a scholarship, which can offset the costs of college.
- Deadline: N/A
- Contact information: scholarship@hfls.org
- Website: http://hfls.org/scholarships/
- Programs: Hagshama (not to be used directly for this program)
- Eligibility: Low- and moderate-income household. This is a scholarship which can offset the costs of college.
- Deadline: July 7th
- Contact information: scholarship@hfls.org
Jewish Federation of Central New York
- Website: http://jewishfederationcny.org/?page_id=3313
- Programs: MBI; Any (two scholarships)
- Eligibility: N/A; need-based
- Deadline: April 4th
- Contact information: Judith Stander jstander@jewishfederationcny.org
Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County New York
- Website: https://jewishorangeny.org/jewish-life/engaging-our-youth/scholarships/israel-experience-scholarships
- Programs: Any; MBI (two scholarships)
- Eligibility: N/A; need- and merit- based
- Deadline: January 31st
- Contact information: Sharon Ball sharon@jewishorangeny.org
North Carolina
Greensboro Jewish Federation
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
Ohio
Jewish Federation of Columbus
Cincy Journeys
- Website: https://cincyjourneys.org/israel/high-school
- Website: https://cincyjourneys.org/israel/post-hs/grants
Oregon
Portland Jewish Federation
Pennsylvania
Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
Tennessee
Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
Texas
Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
Washington
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
- Website: https://www.jewishinseattle.org/investments-in-jewish-life/scholarships/teen-israel-scholarships/
Washington, DC
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
Wisconsin
Milwaukee Jewish Federation