Penny Jakobovits Biennial Scholarship 2026

The scholarship provides registration and accommodation for the 2026 UPJ Biennial in Melbourne. Travel will also be paid for those residing outside of Melbourne.
Application form can be found at the bottom of this page.

Objective

To enable the learning and experience of the UPJ Biennial for a UPJ member aged between 25-40.  The person will show evidence of being a current or potential leader in the Jewish community and/or the general community demonstrated by evidence of community interest and activity to date.

The scholarship will include the appointment of a mentor by mutual consent to meet with the mentee before the Biennial and then after the Biennial through the process of considering and completing their project. The mentor should attend the Biennial, but if unable should be available to speak with the participant during the Biennial. The mentor will help the mentee consider their future goals and contribution to the Jewish community.  The mentee will develop a small project for their community guided by the mentor with the approval of the Rabbi or President of their community organisation.

The UPJ will oversee the process of choosing the mentors and preparing them for this project.

Application Process

The applicant will discuss their application with their rabbi or lay leader and the president of the congregation or organisation. The rabbi or lay leader and the president or nominating person will each make a short recommendation after discussion with the applicant.

A special feature of this scholarship is that the successful applicant (s) is matched with a mentor who meets with them before, during and after the Biennial to help set their goals and develop a small project for their community.  After the conference, the successful applicant(s) will continue to meet with their mentor as they develop their goals for continued participation in their community. The time of mentorship will be determined by the pair, but should normally not exceed 6 months. The small project they develop with their mentor will be presented upon conclusion to the Board of their synagogue or to an appropriate audience depending on the project.

This concentrated form of development will clearly also help congregations and communities themselves to grow with new ideas being presented to them.

Nomination Criteria

• The nominee is a member of a UPJ congregation or Jewish community organisation
• The nominee will be highly recommended by their rabbi or lay leader and president or chair of the nominating organisation.
• The nominee is in the age range from 25-40 years old at the time of application.
• The nominee has demonstrated signs of leadership ability in volunteering roles in the Jewish and/or general community.
• The nominee has shown outstanding achievement in the area of social justice action whether this be in the Jewish or general community
• The nominee will commit to attending for the conference and most, if not all, sessions

  Criteria for selection of mentors

• Has not-for-profit and/or for-profit proven organisational skills
• Has project management experience
• Has good people skills, e.g. listening, patience, is non-judgmental, is sincerely dedicated to helping the mentee address their concerns and challenges
• Is available via phone or video during the period of the mentorship

If you believe you’re the right fit for this scholarship we encourage you to fill in the form below.