Immersive Summer Fellowship Brings Jewish Confidence to Students

This summer, more than 40 Jewish college students applied for one of the 15 spots in the Jewish Summer Fellowship, a program led by Rabbi Mendel Brawer of the National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE).

Participants spend six weeks on a converted farm in the Borscht Belt town of Ellenville, New York, surrounded by nature and immersed in Judaism. They will also leave with a generous stipend.

“Its a unique experience to be able to have six weeks at any point in your life to dive into learning,” said Jonah Gardberg of the University of Missouri. “There are so few distractions. It’s a beautiful place. You can lock in.”

The Fellowship re-creates the atmosphere and rigorous schedule of a yeshiva, as classes begin at 8:15 and run until well into the evening. Subject matter includes Jewish prayer, Hebrew reading, Chumash and Biblical history, Jewish law, and Chassidic philosophy.

Rabbi Shimon Hecht, a member of the Executive Committee of the NCFJE, says that what makes the program unique is the atmosphere. “It gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in Jewish learning and living,” he said.

Bolstering the immersive atmosphere are a staff of instructors including scholars-in-residence and visiting rabbis, as well as rabbinical students who serve as study partners and listening ears.

Last summer, Ellis Kaye was looking for spirituality on a buffalo ranch in Montana.

Kaye, who just completed his sophomore year at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, describes himself as a searcher. For a long time, he found spirituality in backpacking; in spending weeks outdoors in the vastness of the American West, away from people. But Kaye found these to be spiritual experiences without grounding. After his rabbi recommended the Fellowship, Kaye says he found what he was looking for.

“The guidance here is very powerful. I can have one-on-one conversations with the rabbis, which I really appreciate,” said Kaye. “It’s also balanced with a beautiful space. We are surrounded by natural beauty. It’s very meditative.” 

There’s also time to enjoy the surroundings and enjoy sports and excursions, like kayaking, camping, paintball and sunrise hikes.

“Jewish pride is a great thing, but in my opinion, even more critical is Jewish confidence. And that rests on knowledge and understanding,” said Rabbi Brawer. “This program gives students the tools to be confident in their own Judaism; to own it.”