Grants, scholarships available for travel, study in Israel

Grants and scholarships for travel and study in Israel are available to members of the greater Rhode Island community.  The generosity of several local families allows many area high school, college and graduate students, and some educators,  to study in Israel in a recognized study/travel program. The Rhode Island Jewish community supports an Israel experience as an integral part of a student’s education and growing Jewish identity.

The Leonard I. Salmanson Fund of the Jewish Federation Foundation provides both non-needs-based grants and some needs-based funds, without full financial disclosure. The Graubart Irving Scholarship Fund, the Lillian and Sidney Ross Fund and The Marochnack Zionist Memorial Fund all provide needs-based grants, with full financial disclosure.  The latter fund provides special consideration to recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union. 

The Alperin-Hirsch Family funds the Joel H. Zaiman Fund. An award is granted annually to one participant, who must demonstrate academic achievement and commitment to community service.

Limited funds are available for educators in affiliated Jewish schools to participate in conferences, workshops, courses and travel in Israel that will improve their teaching skills and background knowledge. Programs considered for grant funds must be relevant to the participant’s present and future goals in education and evidence a high level of quality.

Teens, twenty-somethings and Jewish educators who would like to explore opportunities to visit and study in Israel or to apply for any of these grants and scholarships may obtain applications from the Israel Desk section of the Jewish Alliance’s website, www.jewishallianceri.org. If you have questions, please contact Jana Brenman at the Jewish Alliance, 401-421-4111, ext. 181, or jbrenman@jewishallianceri.org. 

Submission deadlines are the end of October for winter programs; the end of November for spring programs; and mid-March for summer, fall and year-long programs.