The Hillels of Illinois Harriet and Maurice Lewis Family Summer Intern Program (LSIP) is an eight-week paid work/study internship program hosted by JUF. This prestigious program has evolved to meet the professional and communal needs of Jewish students today – students who are captivated by Jewish community building and are interested in developing their own professional portfolio.

Program History

The program is a project of The Hillels of Illinois and is funded by a generous gift from the Harriet and Maurice Lewis Family to JUF.

LSIP was established in 1987 by Harriet Gerber Lewis z”l, a Chicago-area philanthropist and General Chairman of the 1988 JUF Campaign. Lewis believed that it was the duty of each generation to pass a love for Jewish life on to the next generation.

The program has continuously evolved to assist college students with job preparedness and personal branding in order to give them a head start in their career exploration and job acquisition. 

LSIP has received national recognition for its success in helping college students make career choices, develop workplace skills and enhance Jewish identity.

Eligibility

• Jewish undergraduate students (18-22 years old)
• Must reside (parental residence) or attend school in Illinois
• Must have completed at least one year on campus (excluding a freshman year abroad) as of summer start date and have at least one semester left on campus after the internship program.
• Must express an interest in working within the Jewish community in a professional or volunteer (lay) capacity.
• Must have demonstrated leadership ability.

Compensation

Each student who participates in the Lewis Summer Intern Program will receive a competitive stipend.

Program Structure

Orientation: June 11 & 12, 2026

The orientation is an in-depth introduction to the structure and goals of The Harriet and Maurice Lewis Family Summer Intern Program and to the Chicago Jewish community at large. It includes meetings with professional and lay leaders of the Jewish Federation and team-building activities. Orientation provides the interns with a wonderful opportunity to meet the other interns and The Harriet and Maurice Lewis Family Summer Intern Program staff.   

Note: We understand that this may be still during the academic year for those on the quarter system. Students who are still taking finals during these dates will still be eligible for the program. 

Field Work Placements: June 15 – August 7, 2026

Interns work full time in supervised placements in agencies and departments of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Interns must be available to fulfill all work requirements during this time period and need to schedule their summer vacations accordingly. 

Assignment is made on the basis of agency need and the individual student’s interests or qualifications as discussed in the interview.

Interns will work at their placements four days during the week and will spend one day per week in seminars.

Weekly Seminars in Professional Development and Jewish Community

Seminars will be held on Fridays of selected professional development concepts along with issues currently facing the organized Jewish community from multiple perspectives. Format may include discussions, simulations, guest speakers, and briefings from agency staff. Informal social activities are often a by-product of these group interactions.

• Building your Professional Brand  
• Social Media and Business Branding
• Tradition and Leadership
• Planning & Allocations of our Chicago Jewish Community
• Jewish Values in the Workplace Presentations
• LinkedIn Workshop
• Guest Speakers from Leaders in our Community
• Current Trends in Successful Resumes and Cover Letters
• Israel Current Events and Education
• Recognizing Anti-Semitism, Anti-Zionism, and Anti-Israel Sentiment
• Public Speaking & Networking Skills
• Mock Interviews 

Internship Descriptions

Participating agencies affiliated with the Jewish United Fund and other institutions* in our community will offer placements for accepted interns based on interest and experience. Interns should be prepared to discuss what category of internship they are interested in.

Lewis Summer Internship assignments vary from year to year, but internships are structured to provide a broad scope of experiences in his or her agency under close professional supervision.

Specific internship descriptions will be discussed at second-round interview.

Internships based on categories:

Interns work full time in supervised placements in agencies and departments of the Jewish United Fund, as well as other institutions. Interns must be available to fulfill all work requirements during this time period and need to schedule their summer vacations accordingly.

Opportunities are available in the fields of:

• Public Policy
• Social Work
• Psychology
• Education
• Health Care/ Public Health
• Communications
• Grant Writing
• Development
• Marketing 
• Business
• Non-profit management
• Finance
• Data Analytics
• Planning
• Public Affairs

Transcripts may be required to assess applicant qualification for certain positions based on their Major/Minor.

Students may receive college credit for the Summer Intern Program depending on their academic programs. Many universities consider The Harriet and Maurice Lewis Family Summer Intern Program valid as an independent study project, granting full or partial credit. Interns must make arrangements for academic credit through their university or department on their own.

Participating Organizations have included (but are not limited to):

• JUF
• JCFS 
• CJE SeniorLife
• JCC 
• Sketchpad
• Repair the World Chicago
• OneTable
• The Institute of Soil & Soul
• Metro Chicago Hillel
• Keshet
• Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago
• The Ark
• Jewish National Fund
• Illinois Holocaust Museum
• No Shame on U
• Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership