Global Justice Fellowship FAQs

The AJWS Global Justice Fellowship is a selective, pluralistic six-month program designed to inspire, educate, train, and empower American Jewish clergy members to become leaders in support of global human rights.

The Fellowship includes four core components:

• Online group learning sessions about Judaism and global human rights, and how to address pressing social issues in ways that are sustainable and lead to real change. Sessions are designed to build pluralistic community and practice concrete skills, offering opportunities for mentorship from AJWS Global Ambassador Ruth Messinger and AJWS head of Jewish Engagement, Rabbi Elizabeth Richman. 

• A week of educational travel to the Dominican Republic to meet some of AJWS’s most powerful human rights activists and give context to the online learning.

• A two and a half day trip to Washington, D.C., to advocate for policies that advance human rights across the globe, informed by the Fellows’ study and travel experiences. 

• Post-trip engagement with AJWS’s human rights work through public writing, meeting with elected leaders, action alerts, and participation in AJWS’s network of clergy leaders who are dedicated to advancing human rights and ending poverty in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. 

AJWS is the leading Jewish organization working to promote human rights and end poverty in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We pursue lasting change by supporting grassroots activists and global human rights organizations, and by mobilizing the American Jewish community to advocate for policies that enable people across the globe to live dignified and healthy lives free from oppression. The Global Justice Fellowship empowers American Jewish clergy leaders to use their unique voice and moral authority in support of this work and of democracy and civic engagement more broadly.

The AJWS Global Justice Fellowship is heavily subsidized by AJWS, enabling us to offer this opportunity at a minimal cost. Fellows pay a one-time, sliding scale fellowship fee of $180–$540 based on financial capacity and are additionally responsible for any pre-travel doctor visits, vaccinations, medications, visas (not expected this year), souvenirs/personal items, and transportation to and from your home airport in the U.S. All other fellowship expenses — including international and domestic travel, meals, and all supplies and programs — are covered as a benefit of the fellowship.

The following list outlines the entire cost of the program:

Expenses paid by AJWS:
• International flights and travel, accommodations, group meals, and activities during international travel
• Domestic flights and travel, accommodations, group meals, and activities in D.C.
• Programmatic costs (AJWS curriculum, museum and walking tour admissions, group medical supplies, trainings, etc.)

Expenses paid by fellows:
• $180 – $540 fellowship fee (sliding scale)
• Visa for international travel (not needed this year)
• Pre-travel doctor visit
• Vaccinations or other medical expenses related to international travel
• Food or other personal expenses during free time and outside of group meals (these expenses are minimal; we recommend bringing approximately $50-100 for such costs during international travel)
• Transportation to and from domestic airports

We know that clergy have varying professional development and personal budgets and we do not want financial constraints to be the limiting factor in anyone’s participation in the Global Justice Fellowship. The sliding scale of $180–$540 is based on your assessment of your financial capacity. If you have access to professional development or travel funds at work and/or personal financial capacity, we ask that you take this into account and contribute at the higher end of the scale. And if your financial capacity is more constrained and you would like to discuss different arrangements than those mentioned here, please contact us.

There is no stipend provided. While many fellowships are a full-time commitment and therefore provide a living stipend, the GJF allows individuals to participate while continuing their full-time work.

The fellowship is open to all US-based rabbis, rabbas, maharats, and cantors who possess the potential to provide outstanding leadership to help shape the future of the American Jewish community’s commitment to global justice. Participants should be ordained by a school of rabbinic or cantorial study and be a member in good standing of a recognized rabbinic organization/council, alumni association, or movement that maintains a code of ethics and a process for adjudicating ethics violations. AJWS does not discriminate based on denominational affiliation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation.

Applicants must be able to participate in all components of the six-month fellowship, including: the seven-day experience abroad, the advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., and regular online learning sessions.

The ideal applicant:
• Believes in AJWS’s mission to promote human rights and end poverty in Africa, Asia, Latin American, and the Caribbean.

• Has a strong desire to learn more about how clergy leaders can use their positional power and moral authority to impact global policies and build a more just and equitable world for all through advocacy and public narrative.

• Is excited about writing and speaking on issues of global social justice in the media, with elected officials, and, as appropriate, in their community.

• Has the desire and disposition for responsible travel in the Global South.

Past participants in AJWS travel and volunteer programs other than the Global Justice Fellowship are eligible to apply. The GJF is a distinctly different program from many others AJWS has run before. It is designed for clergy to learn about AJWS’s current work and theory of change, raise their voices on global human rights, continue to develop their changemaking skills, and be part of a supportive community of peers and mentors grappling with the demands of being Jewish leaders in 21st century America. It is a new experience even for alumni of past AJWS programs.

No. Clergy members of any age are eligible to be Fellows. Our fellowship groups generally represent a diverse range of ages.

We strive to ensure that any person, regardless of physical ability, can participate in the fellowship. And, the places we travel to sometimes lack the infrastructure to meet every need. Before traveling, we ask all participants to meet with their doctor to discuss travel safety, vaccinations, and medications, if necessary. Please contact us if you have specific questions, needs, or concerns that you would like to discuss.

No. Applicants selected for the program must be able to commit to the entire six-month fellowship, including: all online learning sessions, international travel, and travel to Washington, D.C.

No. Applicants must be available for all required sessions. We provide dates well in advance and barring extenuating circumstances, we expect Fellows to commit 100% to attending all required components of the six-month fellowship.

We accept 10-15 Fellows for each GJF cohort.

AJWS runs one GJF for clergy every other year. If you are a clergy leader interested in applying for the fellowship but are not available this year, please email Rabbi Elizabeth Richman to learn about other upcoming programs for clergy and/or be added to a future recruitment list.

The application is located here. All applications are considered together following the application deadline. We aim to inform applicants of their status about six weeks after the application deadline.

Typically, the GJF starts after the chagim in late October/early November and ends in April or early May of the following year.

Participants must attend all components of the fellowship, including the regular online sessions, the seven-day international program, regular GJF webinars, and travel to D.C. GJF fellows are also expected to support AJWS’s human rights work through public writing or speaking, meeting with elected leaders, and continued participation in AJWS’s advocacy efforts. Please see Schedule and Requirements for details.

After the six months of the fellowship, Fellows remain key members of AJWS and our network of clergy leaders, with access to clergy- and GJF-only opportunities. Fellows continue to work with AJWS’s advocacy team as requested to support human rights legislation and policies on Capitol Hill. With support from AJWS staff, they will also continue to build their skills and leverage their GJF experiences to help strengthen AJWS’s work and generally be a goodwill ambassador for AJWS within their networks as opportunities arise.

Our online learning sessions and Washington, D.C., travel are facilitated by AJWS’s rabbinic head of Jewish Engagement, AJWS Global Ambassador Ruth Messinger, AJWS’s Director of U.S. Advocacy, and our full Advocacy and Jewish Engagement team, along with guest sessions led by AJWS staff around the world. The same core team staffs the international travel and Washington, D.C., components of the fellowship. Members of AJWS’s Executive Leadership Team and Communications department may also join the group at times.

The same core facilitation team also leads the international travel component, joined by AJWS staff and consultants who work full-time in the country of travel and by a member of AJWS’s Marketing and Communications team. AJWS also works with a longtime, trusted logistical facilitator on the ground who travels with the group 24/7 and is responsible for all in-country logistics.

Once you are accepted to the fellowship, AJWS staff will guide you through the steps to be ready to travel internationally, including meeting with your doctor for any pre-travel vaccinations or medications they might recommend for you. If you are selected as a fellow, you should also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the planned international travel and, if not, apply to renew your passport ASAP.

Safety is our first priority. While there are always risks when traveling, we are committed to mitigating these risks as much as possible through preparation and smart planning.

AJWS has significant experience running programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and thousands of people have travelled with us over the years! Prior to travel, AJWS conducts a risk assessment of the places the group will visit. Our on-the-ground travel facilitator is trained in risk mitigation, first-aid certified, and carries a medical kit. Throughout the trip, AJWS’s U.S.-based staff are available 24/7 to assist in emergency situations. We also work closely with external organizations that specialize in risk mitigation and emergency response, both to prepare for travel and provide extra support in the unlikely event of an emergency. Fellows will also participate in a safety and security review.

We also ask that participants meet with their doctor in advance so they receive the appropriate medical advice and, if applicable, vaccines and medications before they embark on international travel. AJWS cannot provide medical recommendations.

Your health and safety while abroad are our top priority. Travelers will be reimbursed directly by AJWS’s travel medical insurance provider for basic medical expenses they incur while traveling abroad with AJWS. This includes emergency dental, hospital, and doctors’ fees and costs for drugs prescribed abroad. It does not cover routine medical care. For more information about coverage and the reimbursement process, please contact Andy Myhrum at amyhrum@ajws.org or 212-792-2872. Travelers requiring more robust coverage should secure their own travel medical insurance.

AJWS travel programs strive to be pluralistic and to support the participation of individuals with a range of Jewish dietary practices within the limitations inherent in travel to the Global South.

All food served in D.C. will be certified kosher. While traveling internationally, most meals will be eaten at non-certified restaurants and hotels, and at our partners’ offices. AJWS always requests that any food prepared for our group be vegetarian, vegan, and/or kosher fish, and with advance notice we can generally accommodate food allergies. If you adhere to a different standard of kashrut or have other dietary restrictions, we are happy to work with you on ways to access what you need while traveling and/or to provide suggestions for food you can bring with you. Please do not hesitate to contact Rabbi Elizabeth Richman for support or to ask questions.

Yes. Shabbat will be largely planned and led by the Fellows and will likely include prayer, learning, and other Shabbat-friendly activities. There is no requirement for travel or use of electricity on Shabbat, and AJWS requests that food served on Shabbat be cooked before Shabbat begins.

In D.C. and for most of our international travel we stay in 4-star hotels with typical Western amenities, including air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and hot and cold running water. Accommodations while traveling over Shabbat are more “retreat-style” rustic but still provide all of the above.

If you have questions about the AJWS Global Justice Fellowship, please feel free to contact us by emailing Sloane Hardin at shardin@ajws.org or Rabbi Elizabeth Richman at erichman@ajws.org.