Fellowship Overview
The Tikvah Post-BA Fellowship is a one-year program for exceptional recent BA graduates interested in Jewish ideas and Jewish affairs. The fellowship will be based in New York City and each fellow will receive a stipend of $40,000.
Program Elements
The program will include four core elements:
- Two Core Seminars: one on "Human Nature: Philosophical, Theological, and Literary Perspectives" and one on "The Jewish Political Condition." The seminars will be taught by master professors and will include intense periods of study at the leading Tikvah Centers around the world-including Princeton, NYU Law School, the University of Toronto, Columbia, Oxford, and the Shalem Center.
- The opportunity to work in one of the leading institutions of Jewish life- such as a magazine of ideas, a synagogue, a day school, a think-tank, or a civic-political organization (Track 1)-or the opportunity to undertake a major independent research project, combined with advanced study at one of the major universities/learning institutions in New York City (Track 2).
- Guided independent study, giving fellows the chance to master texts, thinkers, and ideas of special interest to them, under the direction of professors hand-picked to guide each fellow's own specialized course of study.
- Regular dinners and meetings with impressive intellectual, political, religious, and civic leaders, who will share their experiences and offer guidance and advice as the fellows make decisions about the next steps in their lives and careers.
Who Should Apply and Why?
The program is open to all recent BA graduates-from the US, Israel, or anywhere in the world. Who should apply, and why?
- Individuals who have a more mature sense, after finishing their BA program, of both their distinct intellectual strengths and those areas of thought where they need to learn more.
- Individuals who are considering, among different concrete options, what their own next career or educational steps should be.
- Individuals who have applied and been accepted to graduate school, law school, or rabbinical school and who would benefit from a year of study, work, and mentorship before returning full-time to the traditional classroom.
- Individuals who are interested in beginning their careers as teachers, writers, editors, researchers, or activists, and for whom the fellowship would offer an exciting first job.
The Application Process
To apply for the Tikvah Post-BA Fellowship, individuals will need to provide:
- Full detailed Curriculum Vitae or Résumé
- Personal Statement, describing your previous course of study, current interests, reasons for applying for the fellowship, and intellectual and professional ambitions
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Job or Independent Research Proposal, describ- ing the type of position you would desire or the specific research project you plan to undertake
- A writing sample
Please submit your application and materials to: fellowship@tikvahfund.org
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. All applications must be received by April 1, 2011.
