<p>A fun, free, interesting, and life-changing summer program is The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel (BYFI). Each year, the Samuel Bronfman Foundation sends 26 rising seniors (13 boys and 13 girls) to Israel for five weeks. The program has a lot of different focuses, but I found that the most meaningful were the pluralism and acceptance present on the trip. Though you have to consider yourself Jewish to attend, your level of observance is inconsequential. By becoming a Bronfman fellow, you not only experience an amazing trip to Israel, but you also join to BYFI community for life--a community of alumni which includes Jonathan Safran Foer and Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) among other academics, leaders, and thinkers in both the Jewish and secular communities. I'd be happy to answer any questions about the fellowship, but you'd also do well to check out the website: bronfman.org for more information. If you're a rising Junior, the application for the 2012 fellowship should be available soon (and you can sign up to get an email when it is ready)!</p>
<p>Hi there! I have been enamored with BYFI since I first learned of it a month ago. Naturally, I plan on getting started on my application as soon as I find the time. I would consider myself to be a competitive applicant. I have a 4.0 GPA, 2240 on the SAT, and am in the top 1 percentile of my class. My ECs are awesome and I have a notable interest in learning more about Judaism. Could you tell me what the application process is like beyond the physical application? How extensive are the interviews? Do you know how many usually apply? What would make me stand out? I feel like I am a good applicant but also that the competition is unfathomable. Thanks!</p>
<p>I found out about Bronfman about a month ago and have been working tirelessly on the application. Could you chance me for BYFI? Sorta weird cause it’s not a college and all, but… I’m nervous about the competition like theqazqaz. I guess even applying is good practice for colleges because I can’t get discouraged despite the competition; I’ll never know if I don’t try!</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m an orthodox Jewish girl. I was brought up conservative, but on my own I became more religious and now I go to a frum school. What really interested me in Bronfman was that there is a group dedicated to opening dialogue between different groups because I live in a world where my not-so-religious friends and peers judge me based on my new convictions and I’d like a chance to really talk and discuss it and bounce ideas around with other open minded people.</p>
<p>Anyway, my transcripts are from my old school and I have a 3.6 unweighted but tons of hard classes. I don’t have the best of grades; do you know how important they are? I’ve earned 3 Cs in my high school career and they haunt me to no ends. </p>
<p>My ECs are okay-- I’ve played viola for five years and am in a pretty prestigious orchestra, I work with Jewish World Watch in leading my peers to be activists in ending genocide and I am a dedicated volunteer with the Friendship Circle (an organization that pairs up a child with special needs and a volunteer to be friends.) </p>
<p>Since I’ve only been in my new school for five weeks, I don’t know how strong my teacher rec will be, but my other rec will be very strong.</p>
<p>I think my most interesting part is that I became Orthodox and the came out stronger for the trials it entailed. </p>
<p>Do you have any insight on if there is a specific quota they have to fill for different sects of Judaism and if so, if the Orthodox one is more or less competitive? What kind of people make the final cut? </p>
<p>On the actual program, how much time is spent on discussion and how much time is spent on being a tourist in Israel?</p>
<p>I hope to hear from you soon!</p>
<p>Hey Judyizm, send me a private message/email if you have more questions, but you sound like a good candidate. My story is similar to yours (from being traditional to modern orthodox), and I am a Bronfman alumna. </p>
<p>To be honest, (and this goes to theqazqaz’s question as well) grades and GPA are secondary. Yes, many Bronfmanim get into top colleges and in no small part due to their stellar academics: for early action this year, we sent 4 to Princeton, 2 to Yale, 3 to Uchicago and 1 to Harvard and Stanford apiece… just wait until Regular Decision. Yeah, many fellows are Ivy-bound…but some fellows are going to awesome liberal arts colleges are and just as happy and fulfilled. So yes, the threshold in terms of academics is set high - a 2240 is fine, in my opinion, and 3 C’s, though somewhat daunting, are NOT a barrier if you can explain how/why they occurred.</p>
<p>What Bronfman values far more is intellectual curiosity. Your essays are crucial to your application and believe me - you will spend HOURS during the first week hashing over what each peer wrote because 1) first days of programs are always awkward but more importantly 2) every single Fellow took the time to answer each question thoroughly and thoughtfully. Bronfman is looking for a group of fellows that will be diverse enough (in religious denomination, regional residence and overall background) to spark intriguing, intense conversations about American-Jewish identity. They’re looking for candidates that are ready to jump into controversial issues head-on and keep an open mind when they hear an opposing opinion. Bronfman dubs itself a leadership program though actually there are no official leadership training exercised- but Bronfman does choose kids who will one day (hopefully) show themselves as innovators and creative, involved members of the Jewish community. </p>
<p>Quotas - Hmm, I don’t think there’s a perfect formula for that. This year we had 5 modern Orthodox kids (3 who went from traditional -> Orthodox in their lifetime, 2 that were frum form birth) 5 or so conservative kids, 4 or so reform kids , some ‘floaters’, and the like - although it’s rather difficult to categorize, hence the “or so” at the end of the numbers; we really fall all around the spectrum. With that said, no Bronfman group will ever be homogeneously mono-denominational.The program is kosher and shomer Shabbat, but pluralistic and accommodating to individual needs. Honestly, I’d have to say that there were several times when I did feel that Orthodox Judaism or right-wing political perspectives were under-represented, but I never felt that my opinion was invalid or shunned. In often taking me out of my comfort zone, Bronfman enabled me to grow as a Jew and defend my beliefs in a more informed, aware manner. </p>
<p>The people that make the final cut are those that I’ve described above. If you work hard on your essays and are mentally/spiritually ready to have some amazing discussions about Judaism, then you’ll get in.</p>
<p>As for the tourist/learning ratio, I’d have to say a large part of it is discussion. It’s like taking immersive all-Jewish Studies electives at a college, or doing some sort of learning seminar. You get a booklist once accepted, and a massive sourcebook when you arrive. The group is split up into 4 classes; each “shiur” lasts a week and you rotate through the different faculty members - this year we had topics like History of Zionism and literary/biblical referneces in modern hebrew poetry. There are also frequent lectures with Rabbis, journalists, educators and political analysts, and great q&a sessions that follow. Text studies abound.</p>
<p>As for touristy things…there’s occasion for it. Every week or so, we went on tours and visited some nice spots where we were given 2-3 hours to shop/walk around. We did learn/travel to different places, so we had, say, a weekend in Tzfat and home-stays with Israelis. The last week , post-Mifgash with the Israelis and pre-final-ceremony, was less structured and far more laid-back. We did more physical activities (hiking/swimming) and got a chance to take a night hike in the Negev and dip in the Dead Sea. It’s not at all traditional tourism though. If anything, you’re getting a tour of Israel from the inside out - from the people, from the texts- and visiting the sites complements that sort of intellectual study.</p>
<p>wow, this sounds so cool! i just applied for bronfman and im really excited!</p>
<p>Would it be a complete turn-off if I label myself as a Humanistic Jew (nonthiest)?</p>
<p>I don’t think it would be a turn-off: this summer we had a Fellow who believed in believing in G-d which, to my knowledge and understanding - though naturally this is just a very condensed version of his view - means that he believes in the community that worships G-d, and he came from an Orthodox observant background. Then again, there were some people who openly stated that they did not believe in G-d, though they associated culturally with the Jewish people. </p>
<p>You should make it clear (and determine this for yourself primarily, and to the readers secondly) that you are genuinely interested in learning about Judaism…5 weeks is a lot of time to discuss Jewish identity, so make sure you’re up for that sort of experience. </p>
<p>With that said, you should definitely be honest in your application about your beliefs and opinions. There’s no right/wrong answer.</p>
<p>Hi! I’m a reform Jew from Chicago whose interested in this fellowship. </p>
<p>Just one problem: The only standardized test I will have taken by the application deadline is the PSAT. I don’t take the SAT until late January. Are they okay with that?</p>
<p>^wait, they require standardized test scores? I don’t remember seeing that on the application.</p>
<p>Contact the office staff, they’re very helpful. I don’t remember the bit about the SATs - I’d taken the PSATs but only took the SATs in May of last year, so at least for my year they didn’t require SAT scores…you must, however, send in a transcript.</p>
<p>Oh okay, I sent my transcript in. </p>
<p>Thank you cawlidgethyme, you’ve been really helpful!</p>
<p>*3 to Yale, 5 to Princeton, my mistake.</p>
<p>I want to know what makes the Bronfman Fellowship so great and why people choose this program over others that take kids to Israel.
Also what in particular are they looking for in their applicants?</p>
Hi everyone! I was just notified that I am a finalist for the Bronfman Fellowship and I want to know how to ace the interview! Do you guys have any tips? Any would be much appreciated 
Thanks!