Bronfman Fellowship Scales Up Campus Commons

With a grant of $250,000 from UJA-Federation of New York, The Bronfman Fellowship is scaling up Campus Commons: Building Bridges with Jewish Wisdom, its innovative leadership program for college students of all Jewish backgrounds. Following its impactful pilot program of 31 students from 27 campuses across North America, the program is expanding to include up to 80 students in two cohorts in 2025-2026. Drawing on the Fellowship’s 39 years of experience cultivating the pluralistic leadership of Jewish teenagers and young adults, this free program empowers students to use Jewish values and wisdom to enhance social cohesion on their campuses and beyond.

Designed by a team of top educators at The Bronfman Fellowship, Campus Commons is a powerful response to the rise in polarization, social instability, and isolation on college campuses, particularly for Jewish students. More than 63 percent of college students report that the climate on their campus prevents people from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive. At the same time, 88 percent believe that colleges should encourage students to be open to learning from people whose beliefs differ from their own. Campus Commons helps participants cultivate their own agency and gain real-world, actionable skills to foster environments where people can build relationships across differences.

Participants explore core Jewish ideas and texts related to pluralism, as well as the latest research in social psychology, communication, and conflict management.

The pilot program of Campus Commons, launched earlier this year, has been remarkably successful. According to a survey of participants, 96 percent said they gained greater insight into their own strengths or motivations as a bridge builder and encountered at least one new perspective that they found meaningful and thought-provoking. Also, 93 percent learned at last one new skill for communicating across differences and experienced at least one new or enriching aspect of Judaism through the program.

The priority deadline to apply is June 30, and admission is rolling until Sept. 10. Students can learn more and apply at campuscommons.bronfman.org.