Israel Scholarships

For more than 30 years the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies has provided financial assistance for high school and college students to travel and study in Israel. Students participating in approved programs will be eligible for assistance for the upcoming summer based upon merit and/or financial need. Awards typically average $1,000 – $3,000.

Awards are limited to Jewish students who have attended high school in either Erie or Niagara County in New York State or to Jewish students who are residing in either Erie or Niagara County and are new Americans.

The Israel Scholarship program will be accepting applications on a rolling basis for 2024.

Questions? Contact scholarships@jewishphilanthropies.org

Our Scholarships could not be made possible without the generosity of our donors.

The goals of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies Israel Experience scholarship program are to develop:

  • Increased Jewish identity
  • Greater commitment to Israel and the Buffalo Jewish community
  • Leadership in the Buffalo Jewish community

If you are applying for a Needs Based Scholarship we will treat your application and all of the information provided to us with the strictest confidentiality. Your name and other identifying information will not be included in any materials sent to the Scholarship Committee.

If the applicant fails to complete the Israel experience program, your family will have to repay the scholarship award to the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies

We ask that you provide any other information that you think would be helpful to us in making our evaluation of your application.

Eligibility & Guidelines

Participants may apply for funding for a program they have found that fulfills one or more of the following criteria:

  • Is organized by a camp recognized by the One Happy Camper Program
  • Is organized by a National Jewish Youth Movement (NFTY, USY, NCSY, BBYO, Young Judea, Bnei Akiva)
  • Is approved by Masa Israel Journey

We will review other programs on a case by case basis

Community Support Scholarships

To be eligible to apply for a Community Support Scholarship you must:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to Jewish culture, education, interest in the State of Israel and the Buffalo Jewish community
  • Maintain your permanent residence in the Buffalo metro area
  • Be between the ages of 14 and 28
  • Be enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 as of September 2022 or
  • Be enrolled in a post high-school Secondary Education Program
  • Have applied to an approved Israel experience program of work, study or travel in Israel which does not begin until after the application deadline
  • You may apply for a scholarship before you have received your acceptance to the program
  • Agree to participate in Jewish communal activities when you return from Israel

Financial Need Based Scholarships

To be eligible to apply for a Financial Need Scholarship, you must:

  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Maintain your permanent residence in the Buffalo metro area
  • Be between the ages of 14 and 28
  • Be enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 as of September 2022 or
  • Be enrolled in a post high-school Secondary Education Program
  • Have applied to an approved Israel experience program of work, study or travel in Israel which does not begin until after the application deadline
  • You may apply for a scholarship before you have received your acceptance to the program
  • Agree to participate in Jewish communal activities when you return from Israel

Income guidelines:

  • Please keep in mind that our funds are limited, and requests generally exceed demand
  • We work hard to make sure that the neediest families are given priority
  • We take into account the family’s total financial picture, not just income

To complete your financial need based application, you will need to include:

  • Pages 1 & 2 of your most recent Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 or Pages 1-3 of Form 1040-SR for parents/guardians listed
  • Verification of program costs from sponsoring organization (invoice or letter from organization).

IMPORTANT: If the above items are not included, your application will not be considered complete.

ALL APPLICANTS WILL NEED TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH A RABBI OR JEWISH COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL

  • Please have them email a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant to the Foundation at scholarships@jewishphilanthropies.org

  • The letter should include the date that the meeting took place to discuss the trip.

Donors

Donors receive the satisfaction of knowing that they helped young people have an experience of a lifetime and seeing the income from their gift used year after year for countless students into the future.  The scholarships are dedicated in the donor’s name or to honor or memorialize loved ones.

The Foundation gratefully recognizes and thanks those generous donors that established permanently endowed funds for this special purpose.  The Foundation administers the following funds, which provide Israel scholarships:

Jeannette & Sydney S. Abzug Fund

Katz/Mintz Families Fund

Nathan & Toby Ticktin Back Fund

Mary F. Levine Fund

Community Collective FunD

Nobel Family Fund

Joseph and Anna Gartner Foundation Fund

Harvey & Nancy Schiller Fund

Irwin & Sylvia Ginsberg Fund

Anna Schwartz Memorial Fund

Mildred & Jack Haniford Fund

Thon Fund

Milton J. Hurwitz Fund

Howard & Leslie Zemsky Israel Experience Fund

Dvorah & Donald Joseph Fund

The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies would be honored to assist you and your family in preserving your legacy through the gift of an Israel Experience for future students.

Irving H. Levy, Executive Director
(716) 204-1139 •  716-390-9653 •  Irv@jewishphilanthropies.org