MN JCF Scholarships
The Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation manages several funds that provide scholarships in partnership with Minneapolis Jewish Federation. Check below to see if any of our participating funds meet your needs.
Paul A. Weingarden Law School Scholarship Fund
The Paul A. Weingarden Law School Scholarship Fund provides a limited number of needs based scholarships of at least $5,000 to Jewish law students to assist with the costs of law school tuition and books.
Applicants may attend any law school in the U.S., but must either (a) be from Minnesota; or (b) live in Minnesota at the time the scholarship is awarded. Past scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for additional scholarships in subsequent years.
Applications must be submitted by May 31.
Click here to apply.
The Story Behind the Fund:
Paul Weingarden was raised by a mother who valued education and a solid work ethic. Since the age of 12, Paul always had a job, whether it be newspaper delivery, ballpark vendor, or parking attendant.. He is the first person in his family to graduate from college. His family could not contribute towards tuition, so Paul worked full time through his undergraduate and law school studies at the University of Minnesota while still managing to volunteer his time working for civil rights in Mississippi, VISTA volunteer in East Los Angeles, CA, legal aid volunteer in North Minneapolis and as an intern for the US Attorney’s office in Minnesota. After graduating from law school and a 2-year stint as a prosecutor, he founded the real estate law firm which after 42 years still bears his name today.It has always been Paul’s dream to not only have a successful career but also to live on in the hearts and minds of those who have similar dreams as he did, which is why he started this scholarship program. It is his hope that in future years, there will be an ever changing world of men and women who perhaps, with his assistance, can achieve their dreams with a bit less stress and say a little prayer for the long passed benefactor who helped when they needed it.
Annette Paletz Memorial Scholarship
The Annette Paletz Memorial Scholarship was founded in 2008 as a way to remember Annette Paletz, who passed away suddenly in March of 2007.
Who is eligible? This merit-based scholarship for community service is eligible to Minneapolis high school students interested in attending Jewish Educational Travel Programs in Israel. Such programs include:
· Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI)
· BBYO
· Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
· Chetz V’Keshet
· JCC Maccabi
· Mach Hach Bnei Akiva
· National Council of Young Israel-Achva
· National Jewish Council for Disabilities Yad B’Yad Israel
· NCSY
· NFTY
· Ramah
· Shorashim
· Teen Exchange
· URJ Heller High
· USY
· USY-Epic Israel
· Young Judaea
What does the Paletz Scholarship offer? Up to two $500 scholarships will be awarded per application cycle to be used towards tuition for any Jewish Educational Travel program.
When can I apply? The scholarship application has two deadlines:
(1) Deadline of March 1 for programs taking place during April 1st-September 30th
(2) Deadline August 1 for programs taking place during October 1st - March 31st
Why an Israel scholarship to honor Mrs. Paletz? Annette had a passion for Israel and was the first person from Minnesota to participate in the semester-long journey to Israel as part of the Alexander Muss High School Israel program back in 1976 when she was 17 years old. Knowing that this experience had a profound effect on Annette's life, it was only fitting to create a scholarship fund in Annette’s memory that will assist Minnesota Jewish teens experience life and learning in Israel.
The fund is available to receive tax-deductible tributes and contributions through the Jewish Community Foundation. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible gift to the Annette Paletz Fund, you can send a check to the Jewish Community Foundation, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, 4330 Cedar Lake Road Minneapolis, MN 55416.
Questions? Please contact the Community Impact Department at 952-417-2348
The Joshua Scholarship Fund
Currently: OPEN
Yeshiva Scholarship
The Joshua Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Minnesota residents who wish to study for one year in Israel at Yeshivot Hesder, Michlala Lebanot, or Orot; or other compatible Religious Zionist institutions. Priority for scholarships will be given to those with financial needs.
Click here to apply.
Camp Moshava Scholarship
The Joshua Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Minnesota residents who wish to attend Camp Moshava Wild Rose in Wisconsin, a religious Zionist camp sponsored by Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada for the purpose of furthering the educational and ideological goals of Bnei Akiva. Priority for scholarships will be given to those with financial needs.
Click here to apply.