What is the IPF Atid Policy Fellowship?

The IPF Atid Policy Fellowship is a yearlong, paid fellowship offered to undergraduate students who are passionate about Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state, the two-state outcome, Middle East policy, and building relationships with fellow students locally and nationally. Fellows will be committed to promoting nuanced, informed, policy-based discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They will be part of an intimate national cohort of campus leaders who will learn together and support each other throughout the year while growing the IPF Atid community. 

Qualifications / Who YOU are

  • Passionate about Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state alongside a viable and independent Palestinian state
  • Current undergraduate student with preference given to juniors and seniors
  • Experience planning events and working with campus groups
  • Relationships with a diverse range of organizations on campus such as Hillel, Chabad, Political Science clubs, and/or other Israel and foreign policy organizations
  • Priority given to students in our chapter cities of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, DC

Benefits

  • Training throughout the year on Israel Policy Forum research, reports, and innovative content
  • Exclusive access to Israel Policy Forum events in major cities
  • An in-person gathering at the end of the fellowship
  • $500 stipend upon completion of the fellowship

Expectations

  1. Learn – participate in trainings with Israel Policy Forum experts to better understand the conflict and increase your knowledge of relevant security issues impacting Israelis and Palestinians
  2. Write – have the opportunity to publish your analysis on Israel Policy Exchange and receive support in op-ed writing
  3. Educate – build relationships and plan purposeful programs to educate your community on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the goal of elevating and enriching the campus discourse
  4. Participate – attend monthly virtual meetings with your cohort and regular check-ins with your program coordinator.

This fellowship is generously supported by the Bergman Family Charitable Foundation.

How many students will you be accepting?

Our 2023-2034 cohort will consist of approximately 10 fellows.

How many programs per year are we expected to plan?

Fellows are expected to plan 2-3 events per year, including large briefings, Shabbat dinners, book clubs, discussion groups, and other relevant programs.

How will the cost of events be covered? 

Fellows will fill out a short request for funding form before each event. You will always have IPF Atid support for your events. Specific funding allocations will be granted on a case-by-case basis. 

How is success defined at the end of the fellowship?

  • Successfully hosting 2-3 programs
  • Timely communication with IPF Atid staff
  • Meaningful relationships developed with other campus leaders
  • Several written pieces throughout the year (optional)

How can I get involved in IPF Atid following the fellowship?

Once fellows graduate college, they are invited to formally join the IPF Atid community. Involvement will differ based on geographic location post-graduation.

FELLOW SPOTLIGHTS:

Elijah Kahlenberg, UT Austin

My experience has been outstanding. Not only have I grown in my knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but being a fellow has helped me grow as a young professional and academic. Being an IPF Atid Policy Fellow has exposed me to so many individuals and resources I otherwise could only have dreamed of meeting at this stage of my professional journey. I am extremely grateful to be part of the IPF Atid family. Overall, this has been an amazing opportunity and I cannot wait to see what the second half of the fellowship brings.

Tamar Lerner, Indiana University

Being an IPF Atid Policy Fellow has been a beneficial experience. I am growing professionally in my field of interest, building my writing portfolio and ability to plan programs. I also have a plethora of resources and experts available to help me in any way that I need. I feel like I am better suited to continue my academic research in this field and am excited to continue moving forward with it.

Sam Harshbarger, Princeton University

I’ve really enjoyed this fellowship and learned a lot from our cohort and our meetings with Israel Policy Forum staff. I’m grateful for the cohort dynamics, which have created an intimate community of peers. IPF Atid staff has been very supportive in planning on-campus events and offering me opportunities to expand my engagement with, and understanding of, Israel and the conflict. I’m very satisfied with my experience so far as an IPF Atid Policy Fellow and look forward to the coming semester.

Maya Waldman, Northwestern University

This fellowship is a great opportunity to get involved on campus with all things related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. IPF Atid offers you all of the resources and training you need, and there are so many opportunities to get involved. The IPF Atid staff does an incredible job supporting the fellows and there are always workshops and events to attend. I’m honored to have been chosen as a fellow and plan to continue getting my campus involved with the work being done at Israel Policy Forum.

Ori Tal, Tel Aviv University

IPF Atid has been a great resource for advancing the way I see the conflict and how important a two-state solution is. IPF Atid has provided me with great connections and has been an amazing networking tool all the way from the United States to Israel. It has opened up new opportunities to discuss politics, diplomacy, and regional ties with Israeli, American, and Middle Eastern experts that I wouldn’t have been able to talk to before. The community has been very comforting in times when new problems come to the surface and it’s been so rewarding to see the IPF Atid community grow abroad at TAU.

Dov Factor, The George Washington University

Participating in the IPF Atid Policy Fellowship has given me the space to explore the paths toward a two-state solution both as an activist and as an analyst. The focus on both on-campus dialogue and planning events allows this issue to come to light for those looking for Israeli dialogue on campus outside of traditional avenues. Beyond that, engaging in the intellectual work, from briefings to writing workshops, has been the most impactful component as it helps me translate my own views as a liberal Zionist into concrete policy that can explain an often underrepresented view of the conflict

Meet the 2022-2023 Policy Fellowship Cohort!