One of the many ways we help the Memphis Jewish community thrive is by creating opportunities for community members to find meaningful involvement in Jewish experiences. In 2016, we helped launch a program designed to help engage college students, the Jewish Community Fellowship at Rhodes College.
In support of strengthening both Jewish campus life in Memphis and the greater Memphis Jewish community, a prestigious college fellowship opportunity is available for students participating in Jewish life in their communities who elect to attend Rhodes College.
The Jewish Community Fellowship created by Rhodes College has made available five $10,000 merit-based fellowships, each renewable for 3 years for a total of $40,000 per student.
“Students come to Rhodes from all over the world. Some are here for those four years before embarking on their careers or graduate programs elsewhere, while others choose to make Memphis their home. Some have lived in Memphis their whole lives. But whether they are here for a short period or are permanent Memphians, Jewish Rhodes students should feel like they are part of our Memphis Jewish community,” said Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein, Chief Strategy Officer at Jewish Community Partners (JCP).
“These fellowships are the beginning of the process of connecting Jewish students to the Memphis community,” said Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein. “Once they have been awarded the fellowship, we expect them to become involved in the Rhodes Hillel’s leadership, we invite them to interact with community leaders, and offer other meaningful ways for them to become woven into the fabric of Jewish Memphis.”
Read about past fellowship recipients here, in their own words.
Students must apply to Rhodes College as either Early Decision or Early Action applicants by November 15, or as Regular Decision Applicants by January 15. Students must then be offered admission for the Fall 2020 semester, and choose to enroll at Rhodes. Details on the application process can be found in the Fact Sheet below.
An evaluation committee for the Fellowship, established by JCP, will review all applications and make recommendations to Rhodes. Recommended students will be considered for admission and the fellowship by Rhodes on a competitive basis. Students winning recognition will receive a Jewish Community Fellowship from Rhodes of $10,000, renewable for up to three years.
Rhodes may award competitive students an academic scholarship in a larger amount. In that case, the scholarships may not be combined and the larger scholarship will be awarded. However, students will still receive the other benefits of being named a Rhodes Jewish Community Fellow.
The fellowship application can be found here.
For additional information, contact Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein at 901-767-7100 or bzuckerbrot-finkelstein@jcpmemphis.org.
Rhodes College Jewish Community Fellowship-2020-2021
Fact Sheet
Deadline to apply for admission for
Fall 2020 semester
Early Decision: November 1, 2019
Early Action: November 15, 2019
Regular Decision: January 15, 2020
Deadline to apply for Fellowship
For Early Decision and Early Action Applicants: November 15, 2019
For Regular Decision Applicants: January 15, 2020
Scholarship description and requirements
Rhodes College is pleased to make available five $10,000 merit scholarships to students who participate in Jewish life in their communities across the United States. Eligible students must apply for admission to Rhodes by January 15th for the Fall 2020 semester, be offered admission and choose to enroll at Rhodes. Fellowship applications will be reviewed by Memphis Jewish Federation (MJF) and MJF will recommend applicants to Rhodes. A complete application includes a cover letter, a resume of current participation in Jewish life, and a 500-word essay. The essay prompt can be found below.
Fellowship awardees are expected to become active in Jewish life at Rhodes and to fulfill the following requirements:
Attend a minimum of 10 Rhodes Hillel events/programs each school year;
Plan one Rhodes Hillel event/program per year;
Attend monthly leadership meetings with other Fellows and Rhodes Hillel Director;
Write an article about Jewish life at Rhodes for print and electronic distribution;
Make a presentation about Jewish life at Rhodes at a Memphis Jewish Federation board meeting;
Complete an annual Fellowship Recertification Form.
In addition, Fellows are strongly encouraged to consider an elected leadership position on the Rhodes Hillel Student Board.
Essay prompt
We live in an increasingly complicated world. How does your involvement in Jewish life influence the way you foresee accomplishing Rhodes’ vision of “graduating students with a life-long passion for learning, a compassion for others, and the ability to translate academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action in their communities and the world?”
Please apply here: https://admission.rhodes.edu/register/jewishcommunityfellowship
Background on Hillels of Memphis
Hillels of Memphis serves Jewish students throughout the
Memphis community, from all Memphis campuses. The Rhodes College chapter was
launched in 2017, building on the previous work of the Jewish Student Union.
Rhodes Hillel is operated by a student board in cooperation with Hillels of
Memphis Director Sophie Bloch and a lay-led Advisory Council. Rhodes Hillel
focuses on cultural, religious, educational, and social programming and is open
to all students regardless of background. Rhodes Hillel is operated by Memphis
Jewish Federation and endowed through the generosity of an anonymous donor.
Background on Memphis Jewish Community
The Memphis Jewish community is a full-service, vibrant community with seven
synagogues, a beautiful and first-rate Jewish Community Center, engaging
programming for youth and young adults, outstanding Jewish preschools, day
schools and religious schools, an active Jewish Federation and Jewish
Foundation, kosher food options, award-winning residential nursing home and
rehabilitation facility and more. For more information about Jewish life
in Memphis, please go to www.jcpmemphis.org
Questions/Additional information
At Rhodes College, please contact Ali Hamilton, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: 901-843-3706/hamiltona@rhodes.edu
At Rhodes Hillel, please contact Sophie Bloch, Campus Director: 901-452-2453/sophiebloch@hillelsofmemphis.org