Apply to the Rabbinical Students' Delegation

Thank you for your interest in the American Jewish World Service Rabbinical Students' Delegation (RSD). Please complete the online application by March 5, 9:00 a.m. EST.

Rabbinical Students' Delegation, June 2012
Where: Ciudad Romero, El Salvador
When: June 11-21, 2012*
Cost: $200**
Scholar-in-residence: Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky, B'nai David-Judea (BDJ), Los Angeles

* Dates subject to change

** There will be a separate fundraising expectation upon return. Please note that the $200 contribution to AJWS does not include inoculations/medications or entry/exit taxes.

Admission Overview

American Jewish World Service RSD's admissions process seeks to identify candidates who possess the potential to provide outstanding professional leadership that will shape the future of American Jewish community's commitment to global justice. 

Starting with our delegations in 2010, we are encouraging all students who are pursuing graduate degrees which will lead to positions of Jewish communal leadership to apply for RSD.  We hope to receive applications from future Jewish educators, cantors and other Jewish communal leaders.

We welcome applications, irrespective of denominational affiliation, gender, racial or ethnic origin, disability or sexual orientation.

Important Information

Below you will find information pertinent to the application process as well as the responsibilities of those accepted to RSD 13. Please print and save for your reference.

If accepted to the program, participants are responsible for: 

• Submitting the Individual Financial Agreement, $200 non-refundable program fee and Participant Release and Waiver of Liability by Monday, March 26, 2012.

NOTE:  The Rabbinical Students' Delegation is highly subsidized– contributions from participants cover less than 15 % of the total costs. RSD participants are expected to raise a minimum of $900 to support AJWS after they return from their in-country experience.  AJWS provides fundraising trainings and tips to participants before fundraising begins.  We believe that fundraising is an integral skill to gain as a social change-maker and an excellent way for volunteers to engage others in their work.

• Submitting the Physician Certification Form by Friday, April 20, 2012.

NOTE: The program fee does not cover vaccination costs.  Each participant is responsible for paying his/her vaccination costs and for scheduling a doctor's appointment in a timely fashion.

• Participating in the mandatory orientation session:
• Sunday, April 22, 2012, 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. in New York, NY.
• Participating in post trip session:
• TBD.

NOTE:  AJWS will cover travel expenses for these sessions. 

Please have the following items ready when you begin filling out the online application:

• Your passport number and expiration date
• The names and e-mail addresses of two references
• The names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of two emergency contacts
• Your résumé
• Your essays prepared in Microsoft Word or PDF format.  Please answer each question separately in 350 words or less.

• Why do you want to participate in the Rabbinical Students' Delegation?
• How do you foresee integrating your experience on the Rabbinical Students' Delegation into your work and life?
• Please offer an interpretation of one of these texts which explains and illuminates the role of social justice in Jewish life: Download the Text Interpretation PDF

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rori Picker Neiss at rneiss@ajws.org or 646.808.2115.  We look forward to receiving your application.

To begin the application process, simply fill out the following form and click submit. All fields are required. Once you begin the online application, you cannot save and return to the original form. Further instructions and the online application will appear on the confirmation page.