Grants for Teen/Young Adult Israel Programs

 

The Lemsky Endowment Fund offers grants for teens and young adults to participate in educational programs in Israel. Rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for up to $3000 in funding to participate in a recognized summer or semester program in Israel, while high school graduates in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for up to $4000 in funding to participate in a recognized gap year, summer, or semester program in Israel (through age 32). Grant funding is counted cumulatively-- a teen who accepts a $3000 grant to participate in an Israel program during high school will be eligible for a maximum $1000 grant for an Israel program at the post high school level. Funding may be applied to program cost only, not to airfare or other expenses.

 

Click here for more information. 

 

Click here for the application for the Teen Israel Experience Summer and for the application for Next Stop Israel for Young Adults .

Please contact us with any questions about the grants program or the application process.

 

Not sure if an Israel program is right for you? Click here to read personal reflections from Teen Israel Experience alumni about the impact of summer and semester Israel programs during high school.

Lemsky Endowment Fund

 

The Lemsky Endowment Fund of Memphis Jewish Federation, established through the generosity of the late Abe Lemsky z'l, further enables Federation to strengthen the bonds between Memphis Jews and Israel through a variety of programs.

 

The Lemsky Fund has accomplished this by providing support for a variety of programs and activities, including

  • Subsidies for high school and post high school students to participate in summer and/or study and volunteer programs in Israel

  • Financial support for Memphis-based Israel Engagement programs

  • Vital funding for special projects in Israel provided through the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Joint Distribution Committee, and World ORT, to aid new immigrants, the elderly and Israeli populations at risk

  • Grants to Jewish schools for organized school trips to Israel

Needs-Based Financial Aid is Available for Teen Israel Experience and Next Stop Israel Programs

 

Limited additional needs-based funding for Israel programs is also available. The applications for Teen Israel Experience and Next Stop Israel for Young Adults include an option to request for needs-based assistance.

 

Information on accessing an application for needs-based aid is included in the program application.  

Need-Based Israel Travel Subsidies for First Timer Adults 

 

MJF’s Lemsky Endowment Fund now provides travel subsidies for first-time Memphis Jewish adults participating in an organized Israel trip, who have demonstrated financial need. Any Jewish Memphian over age 32 (post Birthright) who joins a Memphis-based Federation, Synagogue or JCC trip to Israel may request from Memphis Jewish Federation a flight subsidy of up to $1500 for a coach ticket to Israel.

 

The process will be strictly confidential. Subsidy recipients are required to volunteer at Super Sunday or at another Federation-sponsored event if they will be out of town on that date (with anonymity preserved). For more information, call Carrie Richardson at 901-767-7100. 

Local Israel Engagement Programs

  • Non-Profit Agency Local Israel Programs

    Memphis Jewish Federation is now accepting applications from non-profit agencies for a Lemsky Endowment Fund grant for a local program that builds bridges and forges connections between Memphis Jews and Israel.

Are you a Memphis non-profit agency looking to apply for a grant for a local Israel Engagement program or programs that fit within the stated mission of the Lemsky Endowment Fund?

 

Lemsky Endowment Fund Application Guidelines for FY2023-2024

 Download the guidelines here

 

Please contact us if you have any questions: lemskygrants@jcpmemphis.org