Starting this month, KU Hillel is partnering with JCRB|AJC in Kansas City and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) to create a one-of-a-kind fellowship.
The Jewish Advocacy Fellowship was created with KU Hillel after a conversation between Suzy Sostrin, KU Hillel executive director, and Gavi Geller, JCRB|AJC executive director. They discussed how to best equip the next generation of Jewish leaders to fight anti-Semitism and advocate for global Jewry.
That led to further discussions and cementing this partnership with AJC Campus Affairs, creating the very first Hillel fellowship opportunity, starting at the University of Kansas Hillel.
Almost a quarter of Millennials and Gen Zs have not heard of the Holocaust, according to a study done by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
“We feel that it is our responsibility to educate future Jewish leaders about how to be advocates for the larger Jewish community,” Sostrin said.
The curriculum set out for KU Hillel’s fellowship includes conversations with a field of experts. Topics for the semester include coalition building, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, and Israel advocacy. Zev Hurwitz, AJC director of Campus Affairs, and Sarah Markowitz, JCRB|AJC Kansas City Education & Programming associate, worked on creating this innovative set of classes.
KU Hillel had many interested applicants for this selective fellowship, which begins on Dec. 8. Each session will be conducted virtually, which allows for a broader cohort of experts in the field.