Running from September 2025 to December 2026, the JNF Fellowship focuses on the following 3 outcomes:  

• Strengthen Your Connection with Israel: Become an advocate, inspiring yourself and others.  

• Appreciate and Contribute to Impactful Work: Be part of JNF UK’s initiatives in local Israeli communities, enriching lives.  

• Develop as a Future JNF UK Ambassador: Increase your willingness to step up and play your part in strengthening Medinat Yisrael.  

Year 12 Schedule  

During Year 12, one workshop per month will be held in the London area. These sessions, typically 2.5 hours long, will take place after school or on Sundays and include a 2-day seminar during a school half-term. Each workshop will focus on different aspects, including:  

Leadership Training: Develop key abilities such as communication, and self-empowerment skills.  

Workshop Sessions: Engage with leading Israel advocates from various fields to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities Israel faces.  

Team Bonding: Opportunities to bond and grow as a team.  

Trip to Israel: As part of the programme, participants will embark on a complimentary bespoke 4-day trip to Israel. This trip will provide an opportunity to learn more about the country, engage with locals, witness and actively contribute to the impactful work JNF UK is doing, making a difference in Israeli lives.  

Year 13 Schedule 

Project: At the start of the first term of Year 13, you will organise a modest community project inspired by your experiences in the Fellowship.  

Graduation: The programme will culminate in December 2026 with a graduation ceremony, celebrating your achievements and growth.  

Post-Fellowship Opportunities 

Join the JNF Fellowship Alumni Group: Gain access to a valuable network of ambassadors and advocates for Israel, enabling you to draw from their talent.  

Priority Participation in Future JNF UK Events: Be among the first to participate in future initiatives run by JNF UK.  

Support for Future Initiatives: JNF UK will encourage and support you with opportunities to bring JNF UK’s core values into the community.  

Gap Year Volunteer Opportunities: If you decide to take a gap year program in Israel, JNF UK will provide opportunities for you to volunteer on one of its projects, making a positive impact on Israeli life.  

The JNF UK fellowship is open to all students in Year 12 as of September 2025. 

We will select students based on the quality of their application and their engagement in the interview discussion.

Priority will be given to people who we believe will benefit most from the programme.

In some cases, we will ask applicants to provide a personal reference. 

Who are we seeking?

Ideal Fellow (Values) – Someone who 

• Feels a sense of affiliation towards Israel with a thirst to connect at a deeper level.
• Exhibits a strong dedication to their passions.
• Demonstrates a willingness to fully commit to the expectations of the programme.
• Is / has been involved / volunteered in a worthwhile communal activity. 
• Has a sense of empathy for others with a desire to effect change. 
• Is willing to take a stand and be different from the crowd. 

Ideal Fellow (Abilities) – Someone who

• Displays collaborative leadership potential. 
• Can present themselves in a positive way, conveying messages with potential to debate / influence others. 
• Has the organisational skills to manage commitments and respond to communications in a timely manner.  
• Has a developed level of self-awareness and resilience.

Nothing, except your time and commitment. We do expect you to attend all the sessions.

There is no fee to join, and everything in the programme (including food at events, travel costs from outside of London and the trip to Israel) will be paid for by JNF UK. We see this programme as an investment in the future of the Jewish community, and it’s open to everyone irrespective of their financial background.

For over 120 years, JNF UK has supported the development of Israel. Our focus is on improving the quality of life of all Israelis, irrespective of their socio-economic background. Our current priority is rebuilding and strengthening the communities who have been most affected by the events of October 7th 2023.

We’ve worked hand-in-hand with the Jewish community here in the UK to make this happen, helping to bridge the physical gap between the two countries. 

This work has also included strengthening the provision of Israel education in schools, so that the next generation can nurture that relationship for years to come. 
That desire to provide young people with the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the Jewish homeland is behind our launch of the JNF UK Fellowship. 

Application Process. 

Submit your application: Complete all sections, including the following three questions. 

• Share general information about yourself (nothing to do with JNF) – Your interests, achievements and future aspirations.  

• Why do you believe that JNF-UK should invest in you? What benefits do you think you will gain from this Fellowship, and how will JNF UK and your cohort benefit from having you as a Fellow?  

• Share details of any involvement that you have had in the Jewish / wider community in your life so far and your aspirations for the future. Include involvement with any charities, youth movements or voluntary opportunities 

Book your interview: We’ll send you a link to book a 15-minute online interview with Michael Cohen, our Fellowship Leader.  

Prepare for and attend your interview: The three questions you may be asked are. 

• What has attracted you to the JNF UK Fellowship programme?  

• If you were designing the Fellowship Programme. What topics would you like to see included in it that you believe would support you to become a leader and deepen your connection with Israel and advocate for her?    

• Over the last 120 years JNF UK have been working tirelessly supporting the state of Israel. Over these decades the needs of Israel have changed and the work of JNF UK has changed with it. What do you think the changes have been and how has JNF UK continued to uphold the statement on their logo – ‘supporting Israel for life’?  

Application assessment: Your application will be reviewed and we’ll send you important information on the Fellowship Programme and a form to complete. 

Application outcome. We’ll notify you if you have been accepted onto the 25/26 JNF UK Fellowship Programme! 

Applications Close on Monday 19 May. 

“I would tell someone that if they’re really passionate about Israel, even if it’s something that they want to learn more about, or if they have some sort of connection to the Jewish community, then they definitely should take the programme, because it’s, it’s really useful to educate you as a Jew, about your country, and show you the things you need to know.” – Adam Olchik, JNF UK Fellow

“We’ve got to develop the leaders, the future leaders of our community. And this is an amazing programme that really gives them a skill set that enables them to go forward and to build those leadership skills and to be the future leaders of our community.” – Parent of Graduate 2023/24

“I’m eternally grateful for the connections that I’ve made on the journey and the experiences that we were able to receive as a result of the fellowship programme.” – Gidon Shelley, JNF UK Fellow