The Tikvah Fund is a think tank and educational institution focused on the foundational ideas of Jewish civilization, the great challenges facing the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and the political, moral, and economic traditions of Western civilization and American democracy. Tikvah runs a wide range of initiatives in the United States, Israel, and around the world, including educational programs and fellowships, publications and websites, conferences, and policy research.
Our main interest is challenging exceptional people—from middle school to high school, from gap year to college, from graduate students to full-time professionals—to become Jewish leaders and Jewish citizens. We seek to expose them to the most important ideas—in Jewish thought, Zionist history, political philosophy, economics, and strategy—and to inculcate a sense of responsibility for Jewish, Western, and American civilization. We also offer extensive programming and content for the alumni of our various programs, and we encourage our participants to think about their time with us as the gateway to a larger Tikvah community.
The Menachem Begin Scholars Program is a highly selective two-year fellowship for 9th and 10th grade students from across North America. Scholars will attend advanced seminars with other exceptional students led by first rate educators and faculty members. Students will focus on ‘The Hebrew Bible and Jewish Thought’, ‘The Foundations of Western Civilization’, ‘The American Republic’ and ‘Israel: The Modern State’.
The program includes a 2-day orientation in Princeton, NJ. Scholars will be invited to attend Tikvah’s National Student Leadership Conference. Throughout the year there will be thought-provoking events, student-led debates, and regional in-person meet ups. The fellowship culminates with an exciting, intensive one-week trip to Israel.
The Begin Scholars Program is hallmarked by a talented faculty of master teachers and guest speakers. The full list of previous Begin can be found here.
Any 9th and 10th grader interested in big ideas and serious discussion is invited to submit an application. Ideally, candidates will apply prior to the summer, nevertheless, later applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For those interested in applying, please email agarson@tikvahfund.org.
The Menachem Begin Scholars Program is a two-year enrichment program. Orientations for 9th graders begin in July & August right before they enter high school. Seminar begin in the Fall. The National Students Leadership Conference is usually held in January but is subject to change. The program culminates in the summer of their 10th grade with an unforgettable trip to Israel.
All seminar sessions will be held on Zoom. Our class schedule is designed to be flexible, with each class taking place at different times. There will be voluntary in-person meetups taking place throughout the year.
Students or parents should inform us of other summer commitments at their earliest convenience. We will try our utmost to avoid clashes and accommodate all participants.
Yes! Scholars who graduate the two-year Menachem Begin Scholars Program will be offered preferential admission to Tikvah Scholars Program – Tikvah’s flagship 10-day summer retreats. The most dedicated and outstanding Scholars will be invited to apply for the Solomon Fellowship – for 11th and 12th grade students.
✔ Princeton Orientation: $495
✔ Advanced seminars + debates + guest speaker events: $495
✔ National Student Leadership Conference in Washington, DC: $495
To facilitate payment, we offer the option to pay in two instalments. If anyone requires financial assistance, arrangements can be made to ensure that all participants can fully engage in the program. Please email scholarships@tikvahonlineacademy.org for more information or with any requests for financial aid.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Avi Garson at agarson@tikvahfund.org.