Scholarship Info
Read on below for special promotions, discounts and scholarship advice.
• BBYO National Scholarships
• Community Scholarships
• Other Funding Sources
Special Promotions
- BBYO Member Discount
BBYO members automatically receive a $50 discount off summer teen travel programs. - Alumni Discount
Calling all BBYO Passport alumni! If you took part in a prior summer teen travel program or the March of the Living, you are automatically eligible for a $250 alumni discount off future participation in a summer teen travel program or the March of the Living. Note: The $250 alumni discount can not be combined with the early bird discount.
BBYO National Scholarships
- March of the Living National Scholarship
In keeping with BBYO Passport's mission to share the experience of Israel with as many Jewish teens as possible, BBYO has established a need-based, national scholarship fund for March of the Living 2013. After registering risk-free, you will find a link to apply for a scholarship in your registration account. Funds are available up to $2,000/teen and according to need. Deadline to apply: December 17, 2012 - Milk & Honey National Summer Israel Scholarship
In keeping with BBYO Passport's mission to share the experience of Israel with as many Jewish teens as possible, the Milk & Honey Scholarship is available for participation in Summer 2013 Israel programs. Funds are available up to $2,000/teen and according to need. After registering, you will find the scholarship form in your registration account. Scholarship applications are no longer being accepted at this time. - Spitzer Fellowship for ILSI Participants
For those teens taking part in ILSI, financial assistance is being made available through the Charlotte and Jack J. Spitzer Fellowship. This fund was established to assist young people in attending ILSI where finances are a restricting factor. After registering, you will find the scholarship form in your registration account. Scholarship applications are no longer being accepted at this time. - BBYO Regional Scholarships
Teens involved in BBYO can contact their Regional/Council Staff for additional scholarships available on the regional level. Local chapters occasionally set aside scholarship money or can help raise money for members as well. In most cases, regional funds are available for summer Israel travel and for the March of the Living.
Community Scholarships
Most communities offer teen Israel travel scholarships through their local Jewish Federation or through other Jewish educational agencies. In most cases, these community funds are available only for the teens in the areas that hey serve. BBYO Passport programs in Israel meet the criteria to qualify for most of these scholarships. We have included a list of specific communities the offer such scholarships. If you do not find your hometown in the list below, check out the National Federation Directory.
Due to the nature of changes in funding and resources, we do not guarantee accuracy of the information provided nor guarantee eligibility as almost all sources are independently managed and have no connection to BBYO Passport.
Alabama
Birmingham
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based and must live in Birmingham
Amount: Up to $1000
Contact: Sally Friedman
Phone: 205.879.0416
Email: sallyf@bjf.org
Arizona
Phoenix
Award Name: The Harold and Jean Grossman Israel Experience Scholarship Fund
Qualifying Type: First-come/first-serve
Amount: Up to $1,000
Award Name: Gift of Israel Savings Program
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $2,100
Contact: Tamar Farber
Phone: 480.483.7121 x1109
Email: israelcenter@jewishphoenix.org
California
East Bay
Award Name: Israel Trips Financial Aid
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $4,000
Contact: Jessi Norris
Phone: 510.318.6411
Email: jessi@jfed.org
Los Angeles
Award Name: Israel Incentive Partnership Grants
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: $500
Contact: Beth Singer
Phone: 323.761.8342
Email: bsinger@jewishla.org
Award Name: Jewish Interest Free Loan Association
Qualifying Type: Multiple - Interest free loan
Amount: Up to $5,000
Contact: Natalie Fainberg
Phone: 323.761.8830 x109
Email: Natalie@jfla.org
Orange County
Award Name: Passport to Jewish Life
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Kathleen Mellon
Phone: 949.435.3484 x346
Email: kathleen@jffs.org
San Diego
Award Name: Israel Youth Travel Scholarship Fund
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Dana Mekler
Phone: 858.737.7132
Email: danam@jewishfederationsandiego.org
San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, California
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: $500
Contact: Jason Moss
Phone: 626.445.0810
Email: jmoss@jewishsgpv.org
Santa Barbara
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: David Harris
Phone: 805.957.1115
Email: info@sbjf.org
Colorado
Denver
Award Name:Israel Community Ambassadors
Qualifying Type: Subsidy
Amount: Up to $2,500
Contact: Michal Uziyahu
Phone: 303.316.6472
Email: muziyahu@ajfcolorado.org
Connecticut
Danbury
Award Name: Teen Israel Experience program
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Cathy Goldenberg
Phone: 203.792.6353
Email: cathy.jfdanbury@sbcglobal.net
New Haven
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Needs-based
Amount: $500
Contact: Anat Weiner
Phone: 203.387.2424 x313
Email: anatw@jccnh.org
Delaware
Delaware
Award Name: Joseph & Marion Greenbaum Scholarship Fund
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: $1,500
Contact: Gina Kozicki
Phone: 302.427.2100 x20
Email: Gina.Kozicki@shalomdel.org
Florida
Jacksonville
Award Name: Joan Levin Gift of Israel Program
Qualifying Type - Merit
Amount: $700
Contact: Jill Abel
Phone: 904.448.5000 x200
Email: jilla@jewishjacksonville.org
Miami
Award Name: Israel Programs Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need Based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Dahlia Bendavid
Phone: 305.576.4000 x445
Email: dbendavid@gmjf.org
Palm Beach County
Award Name: B'nai Mitzvah Vouchers and Israel Incentive Grants
Qualifying Type: Merit
Amount: $600
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: $1,600
Contact: Jessica Stein
Phone: 561.615.4946
Email: jessica.stein@jewishpalmbeach.org
Georgia
Atlanta
Award Name: Experience Israel Program
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Varies
Award Name: Passport To Israel
Qualifying Type: Bar/Bat Mitzvahed in Atlanta
Amount: $350 voucher
Contact: Meredith Lefkoff
Phone: 404.870.7693
Email: mlefkoff@jfga.org
Augusta
Award Name: The Annette Barton Fund
Qualifying Type: Non-Need Based
Amount: Up to $500
Contact: Leah Ronen
Phone: 706.228.3636
Email: augustafed1@knology.net
Illinois
Chicago
Award Name: Israel Experience
Qualifying Type: Need-Based
Amount: Up to $2,500
Award Name: Israel Experience
Qualifying Type: Merit-Based
Amount: $1,000
Contact: Mandy Weiss
Phone: 312.444.2895
Email:mandyweiss@juf.org
Indiana
Indianapolis
Award Name: Joe & Sylvia Rothbard Family Israel Youth Experience Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Award Name: Send a Kid to Israel Partnership - SKIP
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $1,800
Contact: Inna Kolesnikova
Phone: 317.715.9264
Email: yld@jfgi.org
Kansas
Kansas City
Award Name: Guardian Foundation scholarships
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Amy Rosenfeld
Phone: 913.327.8145
Email: amyr@jewishkc.org
Wichita
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,500
Contact: Sandy Diel
Phone: 316.686.4741
Email: sdiel@mkjf.org
Kentucky
Lexington
Award Name: Scholarships for Israel Experience
Qualifying Type: First-Come/First Serve basis
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Judy Wortman
Phone: 859.268.0672
Email: jfb@jewishlexington.org
Louisville
Award Name: Louisville March of the Living Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Merit Based
Amount: Up to $3,000
Contact: Mike Steklof
Phone: 502.238.2774
Email: msteklof@jewishlouisville.org
Louisiana
North Louisiana
Award Name: Jewish Youth Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need Base
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Susan Gross
Phone: 318-868-1200
Email: sgross@JewishNLA.org
Maryland
Baltimore
Award Name: Community Fund for Israel Experiences Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Reena Roshgadol
Phone: 410.735.5024
Email: CFIE@cjebaltimore.org
Washington, DC
Award Name: Israel Quest Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $1,350
Contact: Marla Hurwitz
Phone: 301.348.7357
Email: Marla.Hurwitz@shalomdc.org
Massachusetts
Attleboro
Award Name: Israel Scholarship Salmanson Family Fund
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,500
Contact: Larry Katz
Phone: 401.331.0956 x179
Email: lkatz@shalomri.org
Berkshire County
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: First-come/first-serve
Amount: Up to $3,000
Contact: Arlene D. Schiff
Phone: 413.442.4360 x12
Email: arlene.schiff@verizon.net
Boston
Award Name: Israel Teen Travel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: $400
Award Name: Myra & Robert Kraft Passport to Israel Program
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $700
Contact: Will Corrdin
Phone: 617.457.8556
Email: willc@cjp.org
Merrimack Valley
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: $500
Contact: Laurie Mindlin
Phone: 978.688.0466
Email: laurie@mvjf.org
New Bedford
Award Name: Harvey Friedland Israel Youth Experience Memorial Fund & Evelyn Rosen Youth Israel Travel Fund
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Varies
Contact: Olga Yorish
Phone: 508.997.7471
Email: oyorish@jewishnewbedford.org
North Shore
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Varies
Contact: Laura Shulman Brochstein
Phone: 978.224.4095
Email: laurasb@jfns.org
Springfield
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Varies
Contact: Michelle Lancto
Phone: 413.732.9994
Email: mlancto@jewishwesternmass.org
Springfield
Grants to individuals: Israel Travel & Study
Qualifying Type: Must live in Pioneer Valley, Berkshires, or southern VT
Amount: $500-$1000
Contact: Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Phone: 413.736.2552
Email: gti@hgf.org
Michigan
Ann Arbor
Award Name: The Susan L. Lichter Memorial Endowed Israel Scholarship Fund
Qualifying Type: Merit-based
Amount: $2,500
Award Name: Israel Experience Subsidies
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Eileen Freed
Phone: 734.677.0100
Email: eileenfreed@jewishannarbor.org
Detroit
Award Name: Get There!
Qualifying Type: Subsidy
Amount: $750 - $1,000
Award Name: Get There!
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Alicia Felhandler
Phone: 248.642.5617
Email: felhandler@jfmd.org
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Award Name: The Louis Herman Israel Experience Fund
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,000
Award Name: Israel Center Scholarship Fund
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Award Name: Isadore & Molly Boroff Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Masa Qualified
Amount: Up to $4,000
Contact: Eilat Harel
Phone: 952.417.2321
Email: eharel@mplsfed.org
St. Paul
Award Name: Israel Experience Scholarships
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Varies
Contact: Sharyn Effress-Pesses
Phone: 651.695.3186
Email: spesses@stpaulfed.org
Missouri
St. Louis
Award Name: Stuart I. Pessin Award
Qualifying Type: Merit-based
Amount: Up to $1,250
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Award Name: Israel Teen Fellow Award
Qualifying Type: Incentive-based
Amount: $750
Contact: Karen Rader
Phone: 314.442.3756
Email: krader@cajestl.org
Nebraska
Omaha
Award Name: Israel Experience Grant
Qualifying Type: One time, non-need based
Amount: $1,000
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Mary Sue Grossman
Phone: 402.334.6445
Email: mgrossman@jewishomaha.org
Nevada
Las Vegas
Award Name: Israel Scholarship from the Welt Fund, Eisenberg Fund & Wilner fund
Qualifying Type: Merit-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Marjorie Griebel
Phone: 702.479.4444
Email: marjorie@jewishlasvegas.com
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
Award Name: Irving and Bernice Singer Israel Experience Fund
Qualifying Type: Non-Need Based
Amount: Up to $1,000
Phone: 603.627.7679
Email: office@jewishnh.org
New Jersey
Metrowest
Award Name: Passport to Israel
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Alan Gerberg
Phone: 973.929.3038
Email: agerberg@jfedgmw.org
Middlesex County
Award Name: Israel Teen Grants
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,000
Award Name: Anne & Herbert Goldstein Fund for Youth Travel
Qualifying Type: Competitive
Amount: $1,000
Contact: Meryl Harris
Phone: 732.588.1810
Email: mharris@jf-gmc.org
Monmouth County
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: $500
Contact: Ariella Raviv
Phone: 732.866.4300
Email: ariellar@jewishmonmouth.org
Southern
Award Name: Freda & Sam Yacker Israel Experience Award
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $3,000
Contact: Jeff Klein
Phone: 856.673.2521
Email: jklein@jfedsnj.org
Award Name: Saltzman Future Leadership Program
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Award Name: Teen Israel Experiences
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Award Name: BJBI Youth Fund
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Penina Hoffnung
Phone: 856.673.2508
Email:phoffnung@jfedsnj.org
New Mexico
New Mexico
Award Name: Israel Experience Grant
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: $500
Contact: Sam Sokolove
Phone: 505.821.3214
Email: sam@Jewishnewmexico.org
New York
Albany & Northeastern New York Community
Award Name: Jewish Enrichment Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Deborah Chapman Goldstein
Phone: 518.783.7800 x 230
Email: dgoldstein@jewishfedny.org
Award Name: The Israel Experience Program
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Marci Galinkin
Phone: 518.783.7800 x 239
Email: mgalinkin@jewishfedny.org
Buffalo
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up tp $1,000
Contact: Lisa Collins
Phone: 877.933.6369
Email: Lisa@jewishphilanthropies.org
New York
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Varies
Contact: BBYO Passport Staff
Phone: 800.698.1002
Email: info@bbyopassport.org
Orange County
Award Name: The Jack and Jessica Blinkoff scholarship
Qualifying Type: Competitive
Amount: Full cost of an Israel trip
Award Name: Youth 2 Israel
Qualifying Type: Need Based
Amount: Varies
Phone: 845.562.7860
Rochester
Award Name: Gift of Israel Incentive Savings Fund
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $1,200
Award Name: Israel Teen Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Aileen Koffman
Phone: 585.461.0490 x8650
Email: akoffman@jewishrochester.org
Syracuse
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: $250
Contact: Judith Stander
Phone: 315.445.2040 x114
Email: jstander@jewishfederationcny.org
North Carolina
Charlotte
Award Name: Gorelick Teens to Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: First-come/first serve
Amount: Up tp $1,000
Contact: Rachael Levine
Phone: 704.944.6751
Email: Rachael.Levine@jewishcharlotte.org
Durham-Chapel Hill
Award Name: Sara & E.J. Evans Israel Experience Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Merit
Amount: $1,000
Contact: Sam Norton
Phone: 919.354.4955
Email: sam@shalomdch.org
Greensboro
Award Name: Greensboro's Israel Experience Grant Program
Qualifying Type: Non-need-based
Amount: Up to $1,750
Contact: Rachel Wolf
Phone: 336.852.5433 x229
Email: rwolf@shalomgreensboro.org
Award Name: Jacke W. and Lottie K. Samet Israel Experience Scholarship Fund
Qualifying Type: Need Based, First Peer Experience to Israel
Amount: Varies
Contact: Betsy Gamburg
Phone: 336.852.4829 x222
Email: bgamburg@shalomgreensboro.org
Ohio
Akron
Award Name: The Israel Incentive Savings Program (IISP)
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Matching up to $3,300
Award Name: Ted Marks Scholarship Fund
Qualifying Type: Merit
Amount: Varies
Contact: Josh Mantel
Phone: 330.835.0000
Email:Josh_Mantel@shawjcc.org
Cincinnati
Award Name: Israel Travel Grants
Qualifying Type: None
Amount: $6,500
Contact: Sharon Spiegel
Phone: 513.985.1536
Email: SSpiegel@jfedcin.org
Cleveland
Award Name: Jewish Identity and Israel Travel Program Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $2,000
Award Name: Gift of Israel
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $2,200
Contact: Helen Wolf
Phone: 216.371.0449
Email: hwolf@jecc.org
Columbus
Award Name: Israel Experience
Qualifying Type: Incentive-based/Need-Based
Amount: Up to $2,000/Additional $2,000
Contact: Marla Davis
Phone: 614.559.3250
Email: mdavis@tcjf.org
Toledo
Award Name: Jewish Experience Fund
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: $1,000
Contact: Rene Rusgo
Phone: 419.724.0365
Email: rene@jewishtoledo.org
Oregon
Portland
Award Name: Teen Israel Experience program
Qualifying Type: Merit-based
Amount: Up to $4,000 or 80% of the program
Contact: Your Congregational Rabbi
Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley
Award Name: Teen Experience Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Incentive grant
Amount: Varies
Contact: Mark Goldstein
Phone: 610.821.5500
Email: markg@jflv.org
Award Name: Visit Israel Savings Partnership
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $4,000
Contact: Abby Trachtman
Phone: 610.821.5500
Email: abbyt@jflv.org
Philadelphia
Award Name: Passport to Israel Incentive Savings Fund
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up To $1,400
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-baesd
Amount: $2,500
Contact: Pam Pearlmutter
Phone: 215.832.0837
Email: ppearlmutter@jfgp.org
Pittsburgh
Award Name: Israel Scholarships Program
Qualifying Type: Incentive
Amount: $1,750
Award Name: I-Connect Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $2,000
Award Name: Passport to Israel
Qualifying Type: Matching
Amount: Up to $2,400
Contact: Efrat Avramovich
Phone: 412.521.1101 x 3002
Email: efrat@ajlpittsburgh.org
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Award Name: Israel Scholarship Salmanson Family Fund
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $1,500
Contact: Larry Katz
Phone: 401.331.0956 x179
Email: lkatz@shalomri.org
Tennessee
Memphis
Award Name: Israel Experience Grant
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $2,500
Contact: Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein
Phone: 901.767.7100
Email: bzuckerbrot-finkelstein@memjfed.org
Nashville
Award Name: Mary & Harry Zimmerman Youth Exchange Endowment Fund
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $2,000
Award Name: Israel Incentive Grant
Qualifying Type: Multiple
Amount: Up to $2,000
Contact: Vanessa Leibowitz
Phone: 615.354.1624
Email: Vanessa@jewishnashville.org
Texas
Austin
Award Name: Israel Experience Scholarship
Qualifying Type: First-come/First-serve
Amount: Up to $1,000
Contact: Dana Epstein
Phone: 512.735.8008
Email: dana.epstein@shalomaustin.org
Dallas
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Sarah Glauben
Phone: 214.615.5275
Email: sglauben@jfgd.org
Houston
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Paulette Walden
Phone: 713.729.7000 x 309
Email: pwalden@houstonjewish.org
San Antonio
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Enrolled in Chai High Program
Amount: Varies
Contact: Judy Lackritz
Phone: 210.302.696o
Email: lackritzj@jfsatx.org
Virginia
Richmond
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Non-Need Based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Sara Rosenbaum
Phone: 804.545.8629
Email: srosenbaum@jewishrichmond.org
Washington
Seattle
Award Name: Teen Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $3,000
Contact: Cindy Bockelman
Phone: 206.774.2251
Email: cindyb@jewishinseattle.org
Wisconsin
Milwaukee
Award Name: Kesselman Israel Program Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Rabbi Hannah Greenstein
Phone: 414.390.5764
Email: hannahg@milwaukeejewish.org
Award Name: Milwaukee Jewish Community Foundation Camp Scholarships
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Varies
Contact: Jen Vettrus
Phone: 414.390.5722
Email: jenv@milwaukeejewish.org
Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia
Award Name: Israel Scholarship
Qualifying Type: Need-based
Amount: Up to $2,500
Contact: Shelley Goldberg
Phone: 604.257.5100
Email: sgoldberg@jewishvancouver.com
Other Funding Sources
Below is a list of various sources for potential scholarship funding that BBYO Passport participants have received in previous years. The goal of this resource is to provide prospective BBYO Passport participants information about organizations within their geographic region that have offered scholarships in the past. We do our best to provide accurate material and information from each source.
- Local Synagogue
Often, synagogues have set aside funds specifically designated for sending local teens to Israel. Call your synagogue's office to learn if they offer this type of scholarship. Departments that often have scholarship available include but are not limited to: General Scholarship Fund, Rabbi Discretionary Fund, Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Israel Committee & Youth Department. - Local Jewish Organizations
Some other local Jewish organizations may have scholarships available. Here are some potential sources in your community that are worth exploring.
- Jewish National Fund (JNF)
- Plant Your Way to Israel Fundraiser
- Local Holocaust Museum
- Jewish Community Center (JCC)
- Jewish Council for Your Services (JCYS)
- Jewish Family Services (JFS)
- Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE) - Search the Internet!
A quick internet search will reveal numerous Jewish organizations that offer money to Jewish teens traveling to Israel. Send them an e-mail and see if you qualify.
Do you know of a scholarship not listed or have updated information? Please let us know and we will post the information for others who are seeking funding for their BBYO Passport experience.
