Scholarships & Incentives

Regional Resources: Dean Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Application

The Dean Hoffman Memorial scholarship is $500 contribution towards a New Frontiernick’s USY Summer Pilgrimage expense awarded annually at our May Convention.  This scholarship was established in memory of a member of our region who exemplified the qualities of leadership, passion and dedication that New Frontier hopes to engender in all of its participants. 

Dean Hoffman truly embodied the finest we find in USYers.  He was a young man who was devoted to Judaism and Israel and his surrounding community.  Dean was a leader, a role model, and a friend to everyone with whom he came into contact with in USY.  The candidates for this scholarship are viewed as people who display the same type of characteristics at a comparable level of commitment and enthusiasm as Dean did, and as such, we feel that you are an excellent candidate to be considered for this award.

The recipient of this award is presented with a certificate of recognition at May Convention each year.   Please fill out the application below and email it to David Kaplan in the Regional Office at DKaplan@uscj.org no later than mid April. Late applications will not be accepted.
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_Community Resources: Scholarships for First-time Teen Trips to Israel

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Scholarships for First-time Teen Trips to Israel The Jewish Community Federation provides needs-based scholarships for Jewish teens in grades 8-12 who live in the Federation Service Area (Sonoma and Marin Counties, San Francisco and the Peninsula, Sunnyvale and north) to travel on an organized teen trip to Israel for the first time. Please note these funds are for short term Israel trips. Please contact JCF's Scholarship Program Manager at MeganK@sfjcf.org with any questions regarding short term Israel trips.

For long term Israel trips information, please contact Danna Rubin at 415.512.6274 or dannar@sfjcf.org.

Scholarship funds are provided by generous grants from the Stephanie Praszker Memorial Fund, the William S. Friedman Scholarship Fund for Teen Trips to Israel, and other funds administered by the Jewish Community Federation.

For all other programs, apply at least twelve (12) weeks prior to trip departure.

Eligible Israel trips  
Scholarship award process All application data is held strictly confidential and reviewed without any identifying information (anonymously) by JCF’s Camp and Israel Scholarship Committee, which determines awards based on financial need. Applicants will be notified at least four (4) weeks prior to departure (end of May for summer programs). Award checks made out to the Israel trip provider will be sent to the families to forward to the provider.

Scholarship requirements
  • Teens in grades 8-12 participating in their first organized teen trip to Israel may apply. Applicants may have previously traveled to Israel with family or with a community/synagogue tour, but NOT an organized teen trip.
  • Applicants must live in the Federation Service Area (Sonoma and Marin Counties, San Francisco and the Peninsula, Sunnyvale and north). 
  • Children must be Jewish (as identified by their families).  
  • Scholarship funds are to be used strictly for program fees and travel.

Gift of Israel Savings Plan For families who wish to release funds from their child's Gift of Israel Savings Plan (a program offered by Federation): Please visit the Gift of Israel webpage for program information and online forms to sign up and release your savings. Questions can be addressed to Judith Ramirez at JudithR@sfjcf.org

For more information: Contact Megan Kennedy, JCF’s Scholarship Program Manager, at MeganK@sfjcf.org

International USY Resources: Scholarships & Incentives

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Thank you for your inquiry regarding scholarship assistance for USY Summer Programs. We do not want finances to prevent anyone from participating. We will be happy to work with you to try to overcome any financial difficulties. There are a number of sources for scholarship funds. Click here for a PDF version of this information.





For ALL USY Summer Programs:
  1. Help a Friend – Talk to your friends about the program you are going on this summer and if they decide to sign up you will get $50 off your program. For every person that you get to enroll on a USY Summer Program, who indicated that you are the reason they are signing up, you will get $50 off your own summer escape.
  2. Men’s Club, Sisterhood, etc. – Contact your synagogue’s Men’s Club and Sisterhood. They may have scholarship funds available.
  3. Your Rabbi – Rabbis have discretionary funds and often want to help people like you get to Israel.
  4. Announcement in your Synagogue Bulletin or Weekly Newsletter – If you send our office (either via hard copy or email) a copy of the announcement in your synagogue’s publication with your name and the program you are enrolled in, you will earn $50 towards your summer program. We have four versions available at: USY Summer Program Ads for Publication
  5. Federation – Your local Federation may offer scholarships for Israel Programs (most Federations do). Additionally, some Federations offer scholarship for USY on Wheels programs, as well. Information on most federations can be found on our USY scholarship database at www.usy.org/escape/scholarships/scholarship.
  6. Your USY Region – Each USY region has a limited amount of funds available through their Tikun Olam Tzedakah program. Please check with your Regional Youth Director for additional details. Dean Hoffman Memorial Scholarship. See below to download application.
  7. Hebrew Free Loan Association – Some communities throughout North America have a Hebrew Free Loan Association. Although these are not scholarships, they are interest-free loans, which may also be of assistance.
  8. The International USY office has a very limited amount of funds available for cases of extreme and unique need. There is an application process. Applicants must show that they have applied for other assistance as well. Our funds can only be applied after the applicant demonstrates that they have sought additional assistance through other sources.
For USY Israel Pilgrimage:

Plant Your Way to Israel – Jewish National Fund (JNF) offers the opportunity to help plant trees in Israel and earn money to pay for an Israel trip. For more information on this program go to their website at www.jnf.org/pyw.

Please do not wait until the last minute to seek assistance, since all scholarship granting agencies have deadlines and limited funds.

Along with scholarships, International USY can help you set up a payment plan. This plan will assist in paying for a certain program over a period of time. If you are interested in setting up a payment plan, please be in touch as soon as possible with Aviva Tilles, Director of USY Summer Programs, at tilles@uscj.org or at (212) 533-7800, ext 1116.


Please note:
  • All prices are in U.S. dollars and subject to change. “Grades” is the current grades (2011-12 school year) you must be in to participate.
  • The cost of USY on Wheels includes the charter bus from the New York area (or Seattle, for Pacific Northwest), travel, room and board, gratuities, and admission fees.
  • Each Israel Pilgrimage program cost includes round trip airfare from New York, room and board, an approved medical plan, sightseeing tours with professional guides, gratuities and admission fees. All personal expenses are additional. Domestic flights are not included in the cost of USY summer programs. Extra baggage on your flights is additional.
Scholarships Scholarships are offered by the USY regions, local congregations and affiliated programs for qualifying USYers. For further information on these and other scholarship programs, contact your synagogue or regional USY director, or contact the USY International Office for more information.

Payment and Cancellation Policy A $750 deposit is required in order to reserve your spot and qualify for the early bird discount. Final prices are set to be announced around November 15, 2011. Once prices are officially announced, you will be notified immediately and you will have 2 weeks to cancel without penalty. After this two week period has concluded, should an application be withdrawn for any reason, a $150 processing fee will be withheld provided such written cancellation is received by March 1, at which point additional cancellation fees will apply. All applicants must complete the second half of the early bird application once the prices are announced

Please note: Additional cancellation fees may apply for all programs. You will be notified of such fees in advance.

USY does not provide trip cancellation or interruption insurance. Please contact your local insurance company or contact the USY office for recommended options.

Please note the following:
  • Spaces are limited on all programs and are first-come, first served.
  • If there is a SOLD OUT icon next to the program you want to go on, you can still sign up. Your name will be placed on a waiting list and if spots open up, we will contact you.