For Emerging Jewish Leaders Hiddush: Beit Midrash Fellowship

Overview

NOTE: Applications for the 2026 fellowship cohort are now closed. Stay tuned for future learning opportunities.

At Hebrew College, we believe that the flourishing of the North American Jewish community depends on compelling rabbinic leadership. We seek to cultivate future rabbis who root themselves in a love of Torah and Jewish life, a longing to be of service, a striving for intellectual and spiritual honesty and depth, and a humble appreciation for what we can learn with and from one another when we listen with open hearts and minds.

Hebrew College continues to flourish with a growing enrollment, and we want to do what we can to increase the overall size and quality of the next generation of rabbis. Rabbis play a central role in sustaining Jewish communities, providing spiritual guidance, and transmitting Jewish wisdom to new generations. This fellowship will focus on cultivating the creativity, intellectual curiosity, and relational leadership that are necessary for successful rabbis as well as many other professional paths.

The Hiddush Fellowship is by nomination only. Rabbis and other Jewish leaders are invited to nominate candidates by filling out a brief form. Candidates who have been nominated by a rabbi or other Jewish leader are invited to apply for the Hiddush Fellowship. Admissions is made on a rolling basis.

While our broad ambition is to cultivate interest in the rabbinate, our goal is to facilitate a year of meaningful Jewish experiences for a community of passionate and intellectually curious young Jews. Fellows will be under no obligation other than to make the most of their time in the fellowship.

Program Description

The fellowship will run for the 2026 calendar year and include the following:

• Online havruta learning — We believe all learning begins in relationship. Fellows will be paired for ongoing havruta (partnered) study over the course of the year. The full cohort will gather monthly via Zoom for a 90 minute session led by faculty both from Hebrew College and beyond, responding to the overarching question, “What Torah do you hope future Jewish leaders are engaging with today?” No prior text study experience is required.
• Immersive retreat — Fellows will gather at Hebrew College from March 5-9, 2026, for an immersive, holistic taste of Rabbinical School — including beit midrash, tefillah, community building, and Shabbat. The retreat will focus on themes of rupture and belonging in the Jewish community. Each day of the retreat fellows will study traditional sources in havruta; hear inspiring teachers; engage in discussion of contemporary issues in the Jewish world; take part in soulful prayer; and deepen their connections in community. Participation in this retreat is mandatory for all fellows.
• Personal mentorship — Fellowship participants will receive one-on-one mentorship from highly regarded rabbis in the field. Each fellowship participant will receive three coaching sessions with active (or recently retired) rabbis who are skilled mentors/coaches and exemplary leaders.