Ritually Rooted
A fellowship for college-aged individuals who want to dig deeper into Jewish learning, customs and traditions, finding and creating relevance for today.
Ritually Rooted has had a tremendous impact on my growth as a Jewish leader. It gave me the tools, confidence, and mentorship to explore and create meaningful rituals that are authentic to my identity and community. The program helped me connect with peers from diverse backgrounds, expanding my perspective and deepening my understanding of inclusive leadership. I now feel more equipped to guide others in spiritual and communal settings with intention and creativity. – 2025 Fellow
As a Ritually Rooted Fellow, you will:
- Learn timeless Jewish wisdom
- Connect with a cohort of peers on campuses across North America
- Build relationships with a mentor and faculty who are innovators and community builders
- Lead your community in creative ritual. Generous grants for ritual projects are available thanks to Men of Reform Judaism.
Ritually Rooted Fellows are:
- Jewish college-aged individuals from across North America who are available January – June 2026 to learn in a cohort of peers from skilled and supportive faculty, and mentors who are innovative community builders.
- Rising leaders in their communities.
- Excited to practice new knowledge and skills by crafting a ritual for their own community.
What past fellows say about the experience:
- “My mentor was supportive, attentive, and genuinely invested in my growth. Our conversations were not only intellectually enriching but also spiritually grounding.”
- “I am walking away from this experience with more clarity, more confidence, and a community that truly understands what it means to be rooted in something sacred.”
- “Ritually Rooted has been a life-changing experience for me. As a young Jewish leader… it gave me a space where I felt seen, valued, and empowered to bring my full self into Jewish practice and leadership. The learning, mentorship, and community all came together in a way that deepened my commitment to serving my community with purpose and creativity.”
For any questions, email Erin Fine.
Applications are due Friday, December 12th
Frequently Asked Questions
At least a little bit. As part of the fellowship you will be crafting a ritual experience for your community. We want you to be connected to some kind of community in order to set you up for success on this project. If you aren’t sure if you have enough of a connection, reach out for more information.
HUC is committed to building a learning community that represents the diversity of the Jewish Community. Jews-by-choice, Sephardi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, Jews of Color, people of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, LGBT2QIA+ people, and people who come from poor or working-class backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Please reach out to Erin Fine if you have questions about how you will feel supported in this space. On your application form, you can also indicate in which areas you will need help to feel successful and supported in the fellowship.
Ritually Rooted has two components to the application process:
- A nomination form filled out by a colleague, mentor, or supervisor in the community where you hope to build your ritual project.
- An application with information about you, your background, and your interest in the program.
The commitment for Ritually Rooted is about 22-35 hours total over the course of the Spring semester/Winter and Spring quarters, depending on independent project work time. This breaks down to:
- Eight, 90-minute synchronous learning sessions on Tuesday afternoon/evenings
- Four monthly, 30-minute synchronous community ritual moments on Fridays
- Asynchronous community ritual participation in discussion
- 3-5 hours of mentorship meetings to be scheduled at a mutually agreeable time
- 5-10 hours of independent work on your community ritual project between March-May/June
All group sessions will happen on Zoom. If it is geographically possible, small group and chevruta sessions may happen in-person.
Fellows will learn with a wide range of mentors and faculty from across North America and the Jewish ecosystem.
There is no cost to participate. In fact, fellows are eligible for ritual project grants thanks to the generosity of Men of Reform Judaism.
We will ask for at least one meeting with your student and their mentor earlier in their fellowship to discuss their goals and community ritual project. They will need some support on the ritual project in terms of scheduling and logistics, but our hope is that mentors will do as much of the heavy lifting as possible and can be in touch with you for campus /community – specific needs.
Each fellow’s project is unique and designed around their interests and the needs they see in their community. Fellows are encouraged to create and lead a ritual for their community.
Sample 2025 Community Ritual Project Titles
- Matzah Balls: Transformation through Immersion
- Illuminating Intentions: Exploring Candle Lighting and Gender
- Earth Day Interfaith Tree Dedication
- The Memory Zine
- Impact Library
- Rosh Chodesh Iyyar Art & Reflection
