[Jewish] Please forward- NIF Social Justice Fellowship

[Rachel Rubinstein]

    From Hampshire Alum Sharon Goldberg:

    The New Israel Fund is accepting applications for next year's Social
    Justice fellowship in Israel. As you remember, I was a fellow after
    I graduated from Hampshire, and it was a really amazing experience.
    The fellowship is a unique opportunity to work in the social justice
    world in Israel, and especially right now, it is very, very
    important. Unlike most Israel intern/volunteering/fellowship
    programs, this is a paid program that places fellows with
    organizations in Israel engaging in a broad range of social justice
    activities. It is also much less "programmy" than other programs--my
    year, we had a gathering with all the fellows once a month, and
    ongoing support from the New Israel Fund as needed, but that's
    really it. And I think it's perfect for Hampshire students because
    it's a very independent, self-directed kind of program: the fellow
    chooses the organization and negotiates a project together with
    them.



    For students who aren't familiar with NIF, it is a major
    grant-making organization created to pool resources from Jewish
    communities abroad to support progressive social justice work in
    Israel, as an alternative to the mainstream Israel donor funds, like
    the Jewish National Fund. It is one of the largest and most
    important grantmakers for social justice organizations in Israel;
    most progressive civil society organizations in Israel receive or
    have received money from the NIF at some point, or capacity-building
    support from its SHATIL arm (which also administers the fellowship).
    It has been relentlessly attacked by the Israeli Right for being
    anti-Israel (which it is not), and it is spearheading the
    coordinated efforts of the human and civil rights organizations
    responding to the recent legislative attempts to cripple the social
    justice NGO sector.



    It should be noted that the NIF is focused on social justice and
    social change in Israeli society, so while many of the organizations
    are part of the anti-occupation movement and work for Palestinians'
    rights, all the placement organizations are in Israel. Also, the NIF
    no longer funds organizations involved in "global BDS programs", so
    none of the possible placements would either--students can check out
    some of their policies here:
    http://www.nif.org/about/selected-nif-policies . I would encourage
    students who are interested in social justice work in Israeli
    society to consider the fellowship, even if they don't agree with
    100% of the NIF's policies--remember that fellows choose their
    placement organizations and act with autonomy in the program.



    I highly, highly recommend the program and I'd be happy to talk to
    any Hampshire students who may be interested.



    I hope you all are doing well!

    Best,

    Sharon

    --
Sharon Rose Goldberg
202.500.6362
sharonrosegoldberg at gmail.com


http://nif.org/get-involved/get-involved/general/41-social-justice-fellowships

    NIF/SHATIL Social Justice Fellowships

      (Including the Nomi Fein and Rabbi Richard J. Israel Social
      Justice Fellowships)
     
    Online Application for 2012-2013 Now
            Available!



      Please contact Sarah Lawson for any questions at fellowships at nif.org


        About the Social Justice Fellowships

      In 1997, the Nomi Fein Social Justice Fellowship was established
      by Nomi's family after her sudden death at the age of 30.  Three
      years later, a second Social Justice fellowship was created to
      honor the life and memory of Rabbi Richard J. Israel.  Click
        here to read more about the legacies of Nomi Fein and Rabbi
      Richard J. Israel.  In 2008, thanks to the generosity of NIF
      donors, the NIF/SHATIL Social Justice Fellowship was again
      expanded.  For the 2012-13 Fellowship year, we have six (6) U.S
      spots and one (1) Canadian spot. To read more about the 2010-2011
      and the current 2011-2012 NIF /SHATIL Social Justice Fellows click here
    The Experience

      NIF/SHATIL Social Justice Fellows spend 32 hours per week
      interning in an approved, individually-selected Israeli
      non-governmental organization (NGO), active in one of the
      following areas:


        civil and human rights;


        social and economic justice;


        environmental justice;


        Jewish pluralism


    Additionally, Fellows engage in monthly
      enrichment programs and periodic site visits to further develop
      their understanding of Israel, Israeli activism, and their role as
      activists both in Israel and at home.  Fellows also receive
      training in leadership and community development.  Because Fellows
      intern full time in an Israeli NGO, successful applicants
        must have either excellent Hebrew language skills, or good
        Hebrew with excellent Arabic skills.  Living expenses
      are covered by a modest stipend. [For more info on Fellowship
      expectations click
        here] The Fellowship year runs from September 1, 2012 - June
      30, 2013 and completed applications, including two letters of
      reference, are due on January 20, 2012. 
      Applicants should be college graduates by the start of the
      Fellowship year. Only U.S. and Canadian residents are
        eligible for the SJF; Israeli permanent residents are
      not eligible to receive an NIF/SHATIL Social Justice Fellowship.


      About the New Israel Fund and SHATIL

      The New Israel Fund (NIF) was established in 1979 to strengthen
      democracy and promote social justice in Israel, and is today
      Israel's foremost social-change institution. Specifically, it
      works to advance the following objectives: Fighting for civil and
      human rights; Promoting religious tolerance and pluralism; Closing
      the social and economic gaps in Israeli society; and Protecting
      Israel's environment. In 1982, NIF established SHATIL, the New
      Israel Fund's Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change.
    Since its founding, NIF has granted more than $200 million to
      more than 800 Israeli non-profit organizations. But NIF is far
      more than a grant maker; NIF is a unique working and philanthropic
      partnership of North Americans, Israelis, and Europeans. SHATIL,
      NIF’s action arm, provides more than 1,000 Israeli non-profit
      organizations with support each year, building their
      organizational capacity by providing training, consultation,
      coalition-building assistance, and other services.



----- End forwarded message -----


Rachel Rubinstein
Associate Professor of American Literature and Jewish Studies
Dean of Academic Support and Advising
Hampshire College
(413) 559-5821