Fellowship Experience
 

The Beit Midrash Fellowship is an opportunity to experience Hadar as a religious home as part of a cohort dedicated to Torah, Tefillah, Hesed, and community-building. Our fellows are generally between the ages of 21 and 30.

This fellowship entails a daily commitment to anchor our mekom Torah, including by supporting our daily egalitarian minyan for Shaharit and Minhah. In recognition of this investment, fellows receive a stipend, along with breakfast and lunch on a daily basis.

Dates

Yeshivat Hadar operates on terms, or Zmanim, that run throughout the year. Apply to be a Beit Midrash Fellow for one or both of these terms:

Afternoons

During the three free afternoons, fellows are invited to either learn in the beit midrash or pursue other commitments such as part-time work, internships, or educational experiences. In addition to pursuing independent learning, fellows who choose to learn in the beit midrash in the afternoons will have the opportunity to work with faculty and Kollel members to co-create frameworks to support their learning through independent projects, havruta or guided group learning (based on interest and enthusiasm). Fellows are also expected to make a regular commitment to Hesed volunteering outside of the core program hours.

Religious Commitment

Fellows anchor Hadar’s religious center by committing to living a life consistent with Hadar’s values of Torah, shemirat mitzvot, and Hesed, both inside and outside of the beit midrash.

Stipend

Beit Midrash Fellows receive $3,500 per term to support their participation in this program. Additional needs-based housing stipends of up to $4,000 per term are available as well.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply to Hadar? When are applications due?

The application for the full time Beit Midrash Fellowship has two parts: a letter of reference and a written application. Applications are due by Wednesday, March 15. Once your complete application has been reviewed, select candidates will be invited for an interview. If relevant, your interview will be scheduled shortly after the application deadline passes. If you need an accelerated application process, contact Rabbi Joseph Robinson. Late applications may be considered, space-permitting.

Who is the Beit Midrash Fellowship for?

Participants are generally between the ages of 21-30. American students need to generally have completed a BA. Students applying from Israel need to have completed one year of Army or equivalent. If you have any questions about age or life stage, please contact Rabbi Joseph Robinson.

What kind of Jewish background do I need to participate in the Beit Midrash Fellowship?

Full-time students come from a range of Jewish backgrounds and converge around a shared commitment to talmud Torah and shemirat mitzvot in egalitarian community. Some people have spent time in environments that reflect all of these values. For others, different aspects of the yeshiva environment are exactly what they are looking for but haven't yet experienced in community.
 
The Beit Midrash is designed for a cohort characterized by shared obligation in mitzvot and halakhic practice, including daily minyan. For this program, Yeshivat Hadar has a working definition of Jewish status that is anchored in halakhah. Read more about Yeshivat Hadar’s approach to Jewish status.

I have extensive experience studying Jewish texts and Talmud. Is this fellowship for me?

Yes! Hadar’s morning classes are tracked by level. Whether you have been an advanced learner at other US-based institutions or you have studied at yeshivot or midrashot in Israel, Hadar is the place for you! The precise contours of each level will depend on who applies and may vary from term to term. If you have specific questions, please contact Rabbi Joseph Robinson

I am thinking about a career in Jewish education and/or the rabbinate. Will this fellowship be a good fit for me?

Yes! Your time learning at Hadar will be a great investment as you prepare for a professional future in Jewish education and/or the rabbinate. Not only is our beit midrash a great place to develop knowledge, but the relationships you will develop with faculty over the course of your time at the yeshiva can be transformational for helping you plan the next step in your journey towards religious leadership.

If I am currently enrolled in a Jewish educational or rabbinic program can I study at Hadar for school credit or a stipend?

The fellowship is intended to support a meaningful commitment to the pursuit of Torah inspired personal growth and religious investment. To the extent that you are looking to fulfill a professional degree at another institution by studying with Hadar, please be in contact with us to explore the best pathway for learning in the Hadar beit midrash in a sustained way. Please contact Rabbi Joseph Robinson to open this conversation.

How much is tuition? Is there a stipend?

Beit Midrash Fellows are granted full tuition scholarship for all classes and receive a stipend of $3,500 per zman. Additional needs-based housing subsidies up to $4,000 per zman are available as well.

Are there Hadar classes I can attend without being a part of the Beit Midrash Fellowship?

Yes! We do offer many classes on a part-time basis, both in-person and online. Please contact Dena Weiss, Rosh Beit Midrash, for more information. Tuition is on a sliding scale and financial assistance is available as needed, including limited funds available for housing subsidies (not exceeding $3000).

Where do Beit Midrash Fellows live? What do they do for meals?

Beit Midrash Fellows find their own housing, often connecting with each other as housemates. The richest and fullest experience of the fellowship will be facilitated by living in a nearby neighborhood with a robust Jewish community encompassed by an eruv. Most students end up in Washington Heights or the Upper West Side. Parts of Brooklyn can also work, for those ready for a longer commute. These eruv maps are a good place to start:

• Washington Heights
• The Manhattan Eruv (Upper West Side/Upper East Side/Midtown/Lower Manhattan)
• Brownstone Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights/Park Slope/Crown Heights)

We are happy to provide vegetarian breakfast daily, and lunch Monday through Thursday. We have some capacity to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, and will do our best to do so.

What is Hadar doing to be environmentally friendly?
 
We're glad that you asked. We use compostable plates, cups and napkins, and whenever possible we compost organic materials generated through our programming. Regular meals are vegetarian. We're always looking for more that we can do, and if you have any suggestions please contact Rabbi Joseph Robinson

What is Yeshivat Hadar’s connection to Israel?

Hadar’s connection to Israel is strong and long-standing and there are often Israeli full-time students in our beit midrash. We have a full-time staff in Israel along with hundreds of Israeli alumni, many of whom have studied with us in person in New York City, and many of whom have participated in our Elul and Winter programs in Israel. You can learn more about those programs and see more Hebrew-language content here. Our New York-based faculty have logged a lot of time living, learning, and teaching in Israel. You will find a wide range of views and approaches to Israel among the faculty and fellow students. We approach Israel, Zionism, and the return of Jewish sovereignty with deep gratitude to live in this moment and a profound sense of responsibility around the ethics of power. The yeshiva says the prayer for the State of Israel before Musaf on Shabbat as well as Hallel on Yom Ha’atzmaut.

How do I find out more?
 
We are happy to answer any questions—please contact Rabbi Joseph Robinson at [email protected].

Apply

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with preference to those submitted by March 15, 2023.

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