Student Funding

Funding is available for undergraduate students who have declared a degree in Judaic Studies or who have taken at least three Judaic Studies classes. These students are eligible to apply for the following support: 

• Stanley Frankel Summer Travel Fellowship for up to $5,000 per request. The fellowship provides support for students traveling to Israel, Europe, or Latin America. This supports students pursuing theses research in archives or libraries, advanced language training, archaeological excavations, scholarly workshops, or social welfare and cultural reconstruction projects in communities recovering from political oppression and economic crises.

Declared majors and minors are eligible to apply for educational opportunities related to Judaic Studies up to $2,000 per request.

All requests are subject to approval by the Executive Committee. 

Per University of Michigan Travel Restriction, no funding for undergraduate student travel to Israel will be approved until further notice.

Funding is available for all University of Michigan undergraduate students who are receiving any grant or loan funds though the office of financial aid from the Weingast Family Fund for up to $5,000 per request. 

• Students pursuing travel or study abroad in Israel are eligible to apply.   
• Preference will be given to students from LSA who will be studying for semester or year-long programs. 
• All requests are subject to approval by the Executive Committee. 

Per University of Michigan Travel Restriction, no funding for undergraduate student travel to Israel will be approved until further notice. (Funding on pause.)

Support for Yiddish 101 students: Beginning Yiddish Scholarship

• Prospective or current Yiddish 101 students can apply here to win a $1,000 scholarship (limited number available).  
• Students need to submit an essay, video, zine, or other creative project that explains why learning Yiddish is meaningful to them. 
• Students subsequently must commit to enrolling in Yiddish 101 and 102. 
• Timing: Students can apply before they start taking Yiddish, as early as July 1 before the Fall semester begins. 
• The first half of the prize ($500) will be deposited after the drop deadline of fall semester, the second half ($500) after the drop deadline of winter semester.
• Students will be informed if they will be awarded this scholarship within two weeks of the drop/add deadline for the Fall semester.

Yiddish Fellowship for Yiddish 201

• All students enrolled in third semester Yiddish (Yiddish 201) will receive a $250 Yiddish Fellowship from the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. 
• The Fellowship will be processed to the student's account in December.

Beginner Yiddish Summer Program Support

• Students can receive generous partial funding from Judaic Studies to attend a summer program that will provide language skills equivalent to completing Yiddish 101 & 102. This will allow students to enroll directly in Yiddish 201 upon returning to the University of Michigan. 
• Judaic Studies will support students attending these programs, so long as the student agrees to enroll in Yiddish 201 & 202 at the University of Michigan the following semesters. 
• Eligible programs have to provide at least 6 weeks of daily classes. 
• Students must attend conversation classes as part of the program. 
• Judaic Studies will provide financial support for tuition, rent, and airfare (up to $5,000).  
• Students must first request financial support from the program itself, and show evidence of any other support they are requesting and/or receiving. 
• Judaic Studies will adjust its support based on how much other funding is available. 
• All funding is subject to approval by the Yiddish Language Program Director and the Judaic Studies Executive Committee. 

Eligible programs include:    

• YIVO Yiddish Summer Program (New York) (Beginner level; transfer credits likely)
• Steiner Summer Yiddish Program (Massachusetts) (Beginner level; transfer credits likely)
• Note: Students may apply for funding for other programs, contingent upon approval by the Yiddish Program Director and Executive Committee

Supplementary Yiddish Program Support (Intermediate and advanced)

• For students who are completing or have completed Yiddish 201 & 202 at the University of Michigan, support that can be requested for supplementary Yiddish programs. 
• Judaic Studies will support tuition, rent, and airfare (up to $5,000). 
• A student can only partake in this support once. 
• Students must first request financial support from the program itself, and Judaic Studies may adjust its support depending on the availability of other support. 
• After completing the program, students must write a short blog post on their experience.
• All funding is subject to approval by the Yiddish Language program director and the Judaic Studies Executive Committee. 
  

Each year the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies awards one graduating student with the Deborah Dash Moore Award for Academic Excellence. Eligible students must have a 3.6 overall GPA and 3.8 Judaic Studies GPA.

This monetary award is presented at the Judaic Studies spring graduation reception. Nominations are solicited from Judaic Studies faculty each winter and focus on the student's academic achievements in Judaic Studies classes

The Jeff Veidlinger Award for Dedication to the Frankel Center was created in 2024 to honor students who demonstrate deep investment in the Judaic Studies department. Its aim is to annually reward a student who has devoted their time and energy to the advancement and success of the department. Ideal candidates for this award are not solely participants in undergraduate events; they go beyond by bringing their friends and promoting our events within their larger networks. These students introduce fresh ideas and assist in relaying the needs of the student body to the department. Distinctive contributions that will set nominees apart include active involvement in research projects, participation in faculty searches, and engagement with fellows and institute workshops.

Nominations for this award are solicited in the winter, with a monetary award being rewarded to the recipient and recognized at the spring graduation reception.

The Best Undergraduate Scholarly Essay Award in the field of Jewish Studies was inaugurated in 2024.

All undergraduate students enrolled in Judaic courses are eligible to submit an essay they wrote on any aspect of Jewish history, society, politics, and culture. Comparative essays are also welcome. Theses and Honors Theses written in Judaic Studies can be submitted for this Award as well. Essays submitted for a grade in a course should be revised and further developed for submission to this Best Essay Award.

The minimum length is 15 pages double spaced, 12-point font, including a bibliography and notes. 
The recipient will be notified, recognized at the spring graduation ceremony, and awarded a monetary prize.