Hevruta, a collaboration of the Shalom Hartman Institute and Hebrew College, is a fully integrated gap-year program for North American and Israeli student leaders from a diverse range of Jewish backgrounds and life experiences. This exciting and dynamic learning opportunity will address both Israeli and North American cultures and contexts as compelling centers of contemporary Jewish leadership and discovery. Over the course of their ten-month experience, Hevruta participants will engage in rigorous inquiry and text study, while taking advantage of Jerusalem’s rich intellectual and spiritual resources. A three-week North American component will explore American Jewish identity in a global context, deepening the exchange of ideas among students. After completing the program, Hevruta alumni will be well-positioned to use their influential voices to shape the Jewish people’s most important conversations and communal decisions.

An Unparalleled Opportunity for Pluralistic Learning

How is Hevruta different from other Israel gap-year programs?Hevruta is the only Israel gap-year program that brings together an equal number of North American and Israeli participants for pluralistic learning and leadership training. This model fosters meaningful cultural exchanges and powerful educational opportunities for students.

Where does the Hevruta program take place?The program consists of nine months of study in Jerusalem, on the campus of the Shalom Hartman Institute, and three weeks of study in Boston, on the campus of Hebrew College.

Where will I live while in Israel?Participants will live in independent apartments in Jerusalem’s Rehavia and Beit Shmuel neighborhoods, with both American and Israeli peers. The apartments are a short walk to the Shalom Hartman Institute.

What are the key educational components of the program?The academic program is rigorous and challenging, and centers around Jewish ideas, Jewish literature, and leadership. You’ll study a full range of texts, delve into Great Jewish Books, and participate in Hevruta’s Jerusalem Leadership Lab.

Do I need to know Hebrew prior to enrolling in the program?While academic and extracurricular activities are conducted in English, a working knowledge of Hebrew will enhance your experience. You may wish to enroll in a Hebrew Ulpan class prior to entering the program.

Who are my teachers?Program faculty are drawn from the teaching staffs of both the Shalom Hartman Institute and Hebrew College. They are among the world’s leading scholars in Jewish tradition and contemporary spirituality.

Can I earn college credit through participation in the program?Most participants have the opportunity to earn college credits. The academic program is supervised by Hebrew College, located in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, and accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Intensive LearningEncounter new avenues of discovery and inquiry through text study, discussion of Great Jewish Books, and leadership training.

Integrating Americans and IsraelisLive and study side-by-side with Israelis and Americans of different backgrounds and cultures, paving the way for lifelong friendships and enduring partnerships.

Global Jewish LeadershipInteract with the organizations, people, and issues that are shaping the future of Israel and Judaism.

Impactful Service Learning Engage in service projects around Jerusalem that contribute significantly to areas of critical social need.

Cultural and Communal ProgrammingImmerse yourself in Israeli culture—from concerts and lectures to theatrical performances and exhibitions—and design and lead programming for your peers.

Israel as a Living LaboratoryThrough monthly excursions across the country, encounter the people and places that make Israel so vibrant, complex, and compelling.

Our participants are not “tomorrow’s leaders”— we need their leadership today, and will empower them to pursue their passions in a supportive, inspiring environment.

Shalom Hartman Institute

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Hebrew College

Academic CalendarSeptember 3, 2014—May 27, 2015

Cohort40 students—20 each from Israel and North America

Tuition$25,000

ScholarshipsApplicants are encouraged to look to local organizations, i.e., synagogues and federations, for financial support for this special experience. Scholarships are not available at this time.

Admissions Criteria• High-school graduate who has yet to begin undergraduate college

studies • Intellectually curious and capable• Mature and independent• Open to living and learning in a pluralistic environment based

on mutual respect• Interest in integration and engagement with Israeli peers• Demonstrated commitment to participating in and building Jewish

community• Previous experience in Israel• Experience in leadership roles during high school

Application Requirements• $100 nonrefundable application fee• Official high-school transcripts• Autobiographical essay• Two letters of recommendations

Application DeadlineApril 1, 2014

Online Applicationbit.ly/hevruta-app

ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

Hebrew College160 Herrick Road Newton Centre, MA 02459617-559-8815hebrewcollege.edu/hevrutahevruta@hebrewcollege.edu

Shalom Hartman Institute11 Gedalyahu Alon StreetJerusalem 93113 Israel+972-2-567-5320hartman.org.il/hevrutashi@shi.org.il

Founded in 1921, Hebrew College promotes excellence in Jewish learning and leadership within a pluralistic environment of open inquiry, intellectual rigor, personal engagement, and spiritual creativity. Its programs include graduate degrees and courses in Jewish studies, Jewish education, and leadership; community education for adult learners; and a supplemental Hebrew high school and middle school. Visit www.hebrewcollege.edu.

The Shalom Hartman Institute is a center of transformative thinking and teaching that addresses the major challenges facing the Jewish people and elevates the quality of Jewish life in Israel and around the world. A leader in sophisticated, ideas-based Jewish education for community leaders and change agents, the Institute is committed to the significance of Jewish ideas, the power of applied scholarship, and the conviction that great teaching contributes to the growth and continual revitalization of the Jewish people. VIsit www.hartman.org.il.