Exploring Judaism Writers Fellowship Application Information

Exploring Judaism Writers Fellowship

Write on the internet as a rabbi.

The Exploring Judaism Writers Fellowship is a paid six-month cohort-based fellowship for rabbinical students to cultivate their professional spiritual voice, expand their writing portfolio, and share Torah with a broad audience.

A significant advantage of this fellowship is that you won’t just be writing into the void; you will create and publish eight essays that you can use immediately as part of your job search and meaningfully contribute to the Torah of Conservative/Masorti Judaism.

Who is this for?

Are you a rabbinical student in your last two years looking for work?
Are you a rabbinical student who wants to write online but doesn’t know where to start?

Interested in the fellowship but not a rabbinical student in your last two years? Add your name to our waitlist for future writing fellowship opportunities.

Rabbinical students often run into the same challenges:

  • Writing into the void
  • Writing to serve your congregants
  • Writing to build your brand
  • Writing to solve people’s problems
  • Writing to a broader audience
  • Writing for the internet reader
  • Writing to provide value

The three most significant challenges are:

Challenge 1:
Writing to find a professional opportunity.

Potential employers want to know that as a rabbi, you can communicate your ideas and your vision so you can motivate the community.

Challenge 2:
Writing for a broad audience and your people.

Part of the challenge is that, as rabbis, we are often talking to more than one group at a time. Being able to recognize what each audience needs and how to help them is key.

Challenge 3:
Writing to provide value and not just tell a story.

It is important to help our readers feel deeply and then do something about it. Providing them values and pairing that with stories can magnify your impact.

What will this fellowship unlock?

  • Know who you write for.
  • Write effectively every time you undertake a writing task.
  • Conquer writing doubts.
  • Start creating a long-term writing plan.

How does this work?

The Structure of the program

  • Live sessions on technical skills, content categories, internet writing, and Torah learning.
  • Video and written resources, templates, and examples.
  • Live co-writing sessions.
  • Personalized feedback on every piece of writing.
  • 1-1 Mentorship sessions to help students with their writing goals.

Your responsibilities

  • Write and publish seven Exploring Judaism articles.
  • Write a publishable op-ed.
  • Attend live, coaching, and co-writing sessions.
  • Follow through in a timely fashion.
  • Ask questions and engage fully.
  • Develop and submit a writing portfolio.

What have we already done?

Exploring Judaism is a project of USCJ and the Rabbinical Assembly. We aim to increase digital engagement with and for individuals and communities who identify with our movement.

We have reached hundreds of thousands online with our content in partnership with people like you!

What You Get from the Program

Live sessions on technical skills, content categories, internet writing, and Torah learning.

(Tentative Schedule)

  • August 2024
    • Opening Session: Welcome
    • Writing online content and user intent
  • September 2024
    • Using Writing Templates 
    • Re-purposing sermons and teachings for online content
  • October 2024
    • Scholar Visit
  • November 2024
    • Developing Your Voice & Style
    • Revising like a Pro
  • December 2024
    • Pitching and writing OpEds
    • Scholar Visit
  • January 2025
    • Providing Value and Balancing Audiences
    • Using Writing for Job Searches
    • Closing: Developing a Writing Practice

Live co-writing sessions.

Video and written resources, templates, and examples.

  • Templates for Explainers, Practical Living, and Meaning-Making Content
  • Example pieces and explanations
  • Training videos and resources

Personalized feedback on every piece of writing.

  • Every piece is reviewed and given specific feedback

1-1 Mentorship sessions to help students with their writing goals.

A writing portfolio that includes:

  • Mentor texts, blogs, and authors
  • Reusable writing templates
  • Writing goals
  • Personal writer’s statement

How much do you get paid?

Fellows will receive a $1500 stipend for their work upon completion of responsibilities.

FAQ

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Author

  • Rabbi Jeremy Markiz headshot

    Rabbi Jeremy Markiz is a teacher and consultant. Based in the Washington, DC area, he teaches the Torah of personal growth, meaning and intentionality, and making the world a better place. He writes a newsletter called, With Torah and Love. Rabbi Markiz helps clergy, congregations, and Jewish organizations grow and communicate clearly in the digital world, develop effective strategies, and solve problems with his consulting firm, Next Level Rabbinics.

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