Financial information

The cost of the Nativ program includes round-trip airfare between New York and Tel Aviv, tuition and fees, housing, medical insurance (not including dental), meals, required transportation, and all planned sightseeing and touring. Personal expenses are not included. Scholarships are available for the Nativ program.
The cost of Nativ for the 2011-2012 Nativ year is $23,800* (Before the Masa Grant)

* Price subject to change

Scholarship options include:

Hebrew University Need-Based Financial Aid Application Financial Aid (for H.U. studnts only)

Forms are available upon request for Hebrew University financial aid. All processing and decisions are handled by Hebrew University. Applicants will be notified directly, and arrangements can be made to apply these funds to the cost of the Nativ program. More information available at the Hebrew University website http://overseas.huji.ac.il/

USY's Tikun Olam Scholarship

The tzedakah project of USY allocates certain funds for deserving applicants. Candidates should contact their regional USY offices for more information regarding regional scholarships. In addition, limited funds may be available through the international USY office.

Procedures for Scholarship Applications:

The initial request for scholarship aid should be made directly to your synagogue and USY Region. Please use this form only if you anticipate greater needs than will be available from all other sources. We maintain the position that any deserving USYer should be able to attend Nativ despite financial circumstances; however our sources are limited.

Please fill out the form below and return it to our office together with a copy of your 1040 form from 2010. Scholarship applications can only be processed if a 1040 form is submitted.

Please be assured our scholarship committee will respect the confidentiality of this information.

The deadline for filing scholarship applications is April 1st, 2011. Applications should be mailed to:

Nativ Scholarship Applications,

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism,

820 Second Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Download a Scholarship Application form ( to save it on your local PC, right click and select "save ... as")

The MASA project - Grants and Scholarships

The MASA project is a joint initiative of the Israeli Government and the Jewish Agency for Israel whose purpose is to make long-term programs in Israel more affordable by giving need based scholarships to participants. The Nativ program is approved by MASA and applications can be obtained through the MASA website.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities:

Many synagogues have special scholarship funds or are able to find other means to subsidize deserving youth. Contact should be made through the Rabbi, Youth Director, or other synagogue official.

Jewish Federation

Contact local Jewish Organizations afull list can be found at http://www.ujc.org/section_display.html?id=5. Even if your Federation is not listed on the list provided, it is worthwhile to contact the Jewish Federation in your community.

QUICK TIP: How to ACTUALLY Get Money from Your Federation

The only way to get money from your federation is TO CALL their office. DO NOT email them if you want to get a scholarship.

When you call the Federation, ask to speak with the Financial Aid Director or to the person in charge of scholarships. Explain your situation to them and ask them if you‘re eligible to apply to any of their scholarships.

If they have a scholarship that you‘re eligible for, they‘ll either email you an application to fill out or send you to their Web site where you can fill out the online application.

Plant Your Way to Israel

You can raise money to be used toward NATIV with JNF's Plant Your Way to Israel program. Ask your friends and family to plant trees with Jewish National Fund, and half of the funds will go to support JNF forestry projects in Israel, and the other half will be held in a special account on your behalf. The funds can be redeemed to support your trip to Israel. You can conveniently manage your PYW account online through a personalized fundraising webpage. Register today, and get more information at, www.jnf.org/pyw. Questions? Contact education@jnf.org or (212) 879-9305, ext. 263.

The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund

for post-high school study in Israel programs which earn college credits. The intention of the Fund is for those students showing academic promise in religious studies and a need for financial assistance to pursue study in Israel, and it is open to men and women who are not currently in Israel.(http://www.alisafund.org)

The Amy Adine Schulman Scholarship Fund

The grant requires a commitment to educate others through lecture, program or other activities upon returning to your home or school community. You must be willing and able to do this so others will have the opportunity to learn about and to be inspired to do similar work. (http://www.amyadinaschulmanfund.org)

Bureau of Jewish Education

In the United States, many cities have a Bureau of Jewish Education that gives out scholarships. Each of the Bureaus below offer scholarships to study at a seminary or yeshiva in Israel. Contact them directly for information.

PLEASE NOTE: The Bureaus of Jewish Education listed below only give scholarships to people who are located in and or around their city. Please do not contact them if you’re from a different area.

Buffalo, NY (http://www.jewishphilanthropies.org/israel_scholarships.html): If you’re in the Buffalo area, to apply for the Israel Scholarship Fund, contact the Foundation of Jewish Philanthropies by clicking this link to request an application.

Cleveland (http://www.jecc.org/Israel/COLLAPP.DOC): If you’re in the Cleveland area, contact Helen Wolf, Israel Programs Director, at (216) 371–0446.

Indianapolis If you‘re in the Indianapolis area, contact their office to see what scholarships they offer at(317) 255–3124. 

Orange County, CA If you‘re in the Orange County area, contact their office at (949) 435–3450.

Phoenix If you‘re in the Phoenix area, contact the Israel Center at israelcenter@jewishphoenix.org or (480) 634–4900, ext. 1119.

Rhode Island Grants and scholarships are available for Greater Rhode Island residents for high school or college educational programs in Israel. Contact Shira Garber Strosberg for more Information at: (401) 331-0956, ext. 181 or sgarber@bjeri.org.

San Francisco (http://www.bjesf.org/financial_israel.htm#yadults): If you’re from the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Janet Rothman, Financial Aid Director, at jrothman@bjesf.org or (415) 751-6983, ext. 107.

Loans

Several lending institutions offer private loans to assist in financing education costs, and applications should be made directly to these institutions. For further loan opportunities, local banks should be consulted. More information regarding Financial Aid may be found in the Hillel/FACETS National Guide to Scholarships, Fellowships, and Financial Support for Jewish Students.