Emerging Jewish Leaders Fellowship

Cultivating the Next Generation of Jewish Leaders

Touro Synagogue is a historic, thriving Reform Jewish congregation in New Orleans, with over 750 households and more than 225 children in our PreK-12th grade education programs. Touro’s expression of Judaism is egalitarian and respectful of the unique humanity of all. Our mission is to lovingly nurture a warm, diverse home for Jewish living, while boldly shaping a community of purpose and connection.

Join Touro Synagogue clergy, Tulane faculty, and leading Jewish educators from across the country for a yearlong, cohort-based program where you will:

Serve as Paid Assistant Teachers with Touro Synagogue’s Religious School
Participate in Monthly Cohort Learning Sessions
Gain Concrete Skills in Jewish Education, Leadership, & Professional Development
Make Professional Connections in a Wide Range of Areas Beyond Jewish Education

Together, our cohort will explore Jewish educational leadership, Jewish values, child and adolescent development, classroom management, communication, resume writing, teamwork, and networking. Your next step in Jewish leadership starts here. Apply today!

Fellows completing the program will receive a stipend and transportation allowance.

Application

The Yamim Yafim Emerging Leaders Fellowship is designed to support and mentor college and graduate students who are interested in working with children, education, and Jewish communal life. Through hands-on classroom experience, mentorship, and ongoing professional learning, fellows will develop skills in teaching, leadership, and reflective practice. Please complete the application below thoughtfully and thoroughly. We are excited to learn more about you, your experiences, and what draws you to this work.

Name(Required)

First Last

Pronouns(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Name of College or Graduate School(Required)

Anticipated date of college or graduate school graduation(Required)

Major/Minor(Required)

Please Upload Resume(Required)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Personal Reference

Personal Reference- someone who can speak to your character and personality.

Personal Reference Name(Required)

First Last

Personal Reference Email(Required)

Personal Reference Phone(Required)

Relationship to You(Required)

Academic Reference

Academic Reference – someone who can speak to your academic work, character, and approach to learning.

Academic Reference Name(Required)

First Last

Academic Reference Email(Required)

Academic Reference Phone(Required)

Relationship to You

Questionnaire

Please respond to the questions below in 1–2 thoughtful paragraphs each. These questions are an opportunity for us to better understand your experiences, your approach to working with others, and your interest in education and leadership.

Share about your experience working with children in a formal educational setting (which can include summer camp experience). Lack of experience does not automatically invalidate your application. Please note that while babysitting is a worthy endeavor, we are expressly looking for experience in formal educational settings.(Required)

Working with children can be an extremely rewarding experience, but can also create tension, particularly around classroom management. Describe what you would do with a child if you found them in a moment of conflict or difficulty.(Required)

Think of a time you and a colleague or classmate had a fundamental disagreement of values. How did you discuss this difference of opinion with each other? What skills did you use to help hear or learn about their perspective? If you came to a resolution, how was that achieved? What did you learn from this disagreement about yourself or how to address conflict in the future?

Describe the impact Jewish education has had on your life and how you hope that will influence your time in the emerging leaders fellowship.(Required)

Topic areas for our monthly seminars may include pedagogy, classroom management, inclusion and differentiated learning, Jewish educational leadership. Which one is most intriguing to you and why?(Required)

Participation in this fellowship requires active reflection on our strengths and weaknesses as teachers and a commitment to continued learning and growth. Describe one area of growth you have or a personal goal you would make related to this fellowship and how you hope to improve.(Required)

Please read the expectations below carefully before submitting your application. Participation in the Emerging Leaders Fellowship requires a commitment to consistent attendance, active engagement, and ongoing reflection and growth.(Required)

I understand that by submitting this application, I will be expected to:

Attend weekly Yamim Yafim sessions, regularly meeting Sundays 9am-12:30pm, August-May. Attendance includes maintaining at least 75% attendance – this percentage takes into account anticipated absences through a university’s standard academic calendar and semester breaks.

Attend and participate in monthly professional development cohort learning sessions.

Participate in monthly mentoring or supervisory sessions.

Submit all paperwork, reflections, and any other requested items or materials in a timely manner.

Emerging Jewish Leaders Fellowship

Cultivating the Next Generation of Jewish Leaders

Application

Personal Reference

Academic Reference

Questionnaire

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