By CJ Gossage
Assistant Editor
Hebrew Union College recently announced the Elijah Fellowship, a new initiative intended to cultivate the spiritual lives of aspiring Jewish leaders.
Named after Elijah, the intensely spiritual prophet who experienced God’s stormy presence while tucked away in a rock cleft, this fellowship emphasizes prayer, ritual and practice.
An Elijah Fellow will receive one-on-one spiritual direction from a mentor selected from the North American Jewish ecosystem, cohort-based learning experiences, guidance through personal reflective exercises and access to an in-person three-day retreat in Spring 2026.
Nora Feinstein, Director of the Fellowship, desires for this program to nurture “minds, hearts and souls…” This spiritual fellowship encourages fellows to become more aware of their spiritual life and reflect on one’s connection to the Divine.
Fellow applicants should be college graduates with minimal leadership experience so as to offer the Fellows a transformative experience early on in their leadership journeys.
The fellowship will require 6-8 hours per month from September 2025 to May 2026. Commitments will include monthly Zoom sessions with the entire cohort, usually accompanied by short readings given beforehand, monthly spiritual direction, DIY learning, and a cohort-wide retreat (Shabbaton) to close the fellowship.
HUC and the Elijah Fellowship encourage Jews-by-choice, Jews of Color, people with disabilities, immigrants, and LGBT2QIA+ to apply.
