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Study or Volunteer in Israel

Want to travel to study or volunteer? We can’t help you get everywhere, but we can give you grant money to get to Israel.

The Jewish Federation of Detroit’s Get There! program provides funding to help you take part in a life-changing Israeli experience. For Jewish Detroiters between 13-28, Get There! is an ideal source of extra funds to help pay for gap year opportunities, study abroad, volunteer work, internships and other qualifying programs.

To get there, get started today. The Get There! applications are fully online. The links below will take you to the online portal where you can make an account, edit, view and share your application in one easy place.

Two kinds of grants are available from the Get There! fund — an Incentive Grant and a Need Based Grant. You can only be awarded one, not both. Please find the eligibility requirements below.

» Questions? Email Bracha Katz at bkatz@jewishdetroit.org.

Supported by the Ben Teitel Israel and Overseas Teen Travel fund and the Joseph & Rebecca Friedman Memorial Scholarship

  • Jewish resident of metropolitan Detroit (Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties)
  • Age Requirements: Applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 26
  • First time organized peer trip or educational program
  • Program of one year or less
  • Recognized program to Israel or overseas approved by Federation’s Israel & Overseas Department
  • Not eligible: JFMD subsidized trips (including Taglit-Birthright Israel, NEXTGen and Teen Mission), and previous Get There! Recipients.

Based on funding availability applications will be reviewed for longer trips, non-first-time trips and for applicants through age 28.

  1. Up to 42 days: $1,250*
  2. 43 days to 1 year: $1,750*

*- based on length of program and funding availability

Due to our scholarship approval process, please allow 4-12 weeks to hear back from us. Please see dates below to know when to expect an answer.

  • Applications received between December 2nd and March 1st will hear by April 1st.
  • Applications received between March 2nd and June 1st will hear by July 1st.
  • Applications received between June 2nd and September 1st will hear by October 1st.
  • Applications received between September 2nd and December 1st will hear by January 1st.
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  • Jewish resident of metropolitan Detroit (Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties)
  • Ages 13-28
  • Trip must provide a Jewish educational experience. Does not have to be your first time to Israel
  • Internships and volunteer programs do not qualify at this time. See Ben Teitel Incentive Grant above for volunteer and internship programs.
  • Program 12 months or less
  • Recognized program to Israel or overseas approved by Federation’s Israel & Overseas Department
  • Proven financial need*
  • Not eligible: Taglit-Birthright Israel and previous Get There! Recipients. Programs offered by out‑of‑state schools that include a trip to Israel are also not eligible for Incentive Grant funding.

*All applicants will be required to complete a Personal Financial Statement and submit their most recent tax forms to the Israel & Overseas Department, including: 1040(s) and State and Business Schedules (C, D, E), if applicable. Consideration may be given to extenuating circumstances.

  • Up to $10,000 based on a variety of circumstances. 

Applications for Needs-Based Grants are reviewed—and grants awarded—twice each year: 

  • Mid-January Review: Applications must be submitted by January 1 
  • Mid-July Review: Applications must be submitted by July 1 

Important: 
Applications will not be reviewed retroactively. If a student has already departed for their program, the application cannot be considered. To be eligible, all application materials must be submitted before departure and in time for the review cycle that precedes travel. 

APPLY HERE

Interest-Free Loans

In addition to Get There! travel grants, Hebrew Free Loan (HFL) can provide interest-free loans up to $10,000 to help cover costs for Israel experiences. Please click here for next steps.