Diller Teen Fellowship
A yearlong fellowship for high school students interested in exploring topics in leadership, Jewish identity, social justice and Israel.
The Diller program operates in 32 communities in North America, South Africa, Australia, South America, Europe and Israel.
As a Chicago Diller Teen Fellow, you will:
- Develop leadership skills
- Host Diller teens from Kiryat Gat, Lachish, and Shafir during a 10-day peer exchange in Chicago
- Travel to Israel for the three-week Israel Summer Seminar
- Create and implement an Impact project that addresses an issue important to you and your peers
- Forge powerful relationships with a diverse group of Jewish North American and Israeli teens
Application Requirements
Fellows are chosen based on their leadership aptitude, commitment to Jewish learning, passion for serving their community, and interest in exploring their connection to Israel. The program is open to rising sophomores and juniors throughout metropolitan Chicago.
Applicants must submit one reference. References should be from non-related adults who can attest to your character and leadership skills. Personal friends are also not acceptable. You will submit your reference’s information as part of your application, and they will automatically get emailed a reference form from us. You are responsible for following up with your reference to ensure that they submitted their recommendation form. Any questions or additional reference information can be sent to the Diller Program Director Tali Zuckerman at [email protected].
The Diller program requires a significant time commitment from Fellows and their families. To better understand the time commitment, check out this tentative Cohort 13 Calendar.
Funding and cost
The Diller Teen Fellows program in Chicago is funded by the Helen Diller Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the San Francisco Federation’s Jewish Community Endowment Fund; The Crown Family; and the Jewish Federation of Chicago.
Each fellow receives a $7,100 subsidy, resulting in a cost of $3,600 to the participant, which covers all program costs. Fellows may use up to $2,000 from their SKIP funds and they can use Bar/Bat Mitzvah certificates and Gift of Israel. Need-based scholarships are available and no applicant will be turned away for financial reasons.
Diller Teen Fellows is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Through the fellowship, I met Jewish teens from across the globe and built such a strong connection to them. Also, I learned more about myself as well as how to be an effective leader.
Tess A., Cohort 9
To learn more about the history of Diller Teen Fellows and see what other Diller communities are up to, visit the International Diller Teen Fellows’ website. Also check out our local Instagram account (diller.chicago) for a sneak peek into our current cohort!
Questions on applying for Chicago Diller Teen Fellows? Reach out to Program Director Tali Zuckerman at [email protected] or 872-257-7870.