Senator Ben Cardin Jewish Scholars Program
Thank you for your interest in the Senator Ben Cardin Jewish Scholars Program. This is an elite program, open to Jewish community and public school teens, designed to create the next generation of Jewish leaders through individual training and exposure to current world influencers. Qualifying applicants will participate in a series of one-on-one text-based study sessions with a community mentor, drawing on classic Jewish sources as well as contemporary reflections from the society that surrounds us. This will be followed by a short speech on a related topic, from trailblazers who have accomplished incredible things in a variety of fields. These are individuals at the top of their industries and are carefully chosen to illustrate the wide-ranging effects one can have on the community while maintaining a proud Jewish identity. Participants will gain insight into the multi-faceted approach classical Judaism has to key issues, and discover how even in 21st century America, Judaism remains ever-relevant, both inside the study hall and in the world beyond.
These sessions will culminate in a unique lobbying mission to Washington, DC, where you will be taken in small groups to meet with sitting senators and representatives and lobby on behalf of legislation relevant to a variety of Jewish interests. Participants will be trained in lobbying techniques, and paired with professional lobbyists who will assist you during your time in the Capitol. This will give you an eye into the political process, and a voice with which to personally express your support of various legislation to the congressmen who will actually be voting on them, as well as a deeper look into the political relations of American Jews who are passionate about making a difference.
Program Details
Sessions run from 7:30 pm to 9 pm with dinner served from 7pm at each session. Participants are expected to commit to participating in all aspects of the program including the lobbying mission to Washington, DC. Please see below for all program dates. Participants will have the option to spend a summer in Israel on an unforgettable 4-week experience with NCSY’s The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ), for the highly subsidized price*. (See here for more details about this incredible trip.) Please indicate if you are interested in this extraordinarily exciting opportunity as the number of spots available at this price is very limited.
For more information, contact your City Director, or the NCSY Office, at 410.358.6279/atsoffice@ncsy.org.
* Subject to eligibility, terms and conditions apply. Not including application fee.
To fill out the Baltimore and Greater Washington Cardin application, please click here. For Philadelphia and Cherry Hill application, please click here.
Baltimore
- Tuesday nights
- Start date: January 25, 2022
- End date: March 15 2022
- Lobbying mission: TBA
- Location: Goldberg’s Bagels, Pikesville
- Application deadline: Thursday, January 20
Washington – Montgomery County
- Tuesday nights
- Start date: February 8, 2022
- End date: March 29, 2022
- Lobbying mission: TBA
- Location: Beth Sholom, Potomac, MD.
- Application deadline: Tuesday, February 1
Washington – Northern Virginia
- Wednesday nights
- Start date: February 8, 2022
- End date: March 29, 2022
- Lobbying mission: TBA
- Location: Starbucks at Franklin FarmShopping Center
- Application deadline: Tuesday, February 1
Cherry Hill
- Tuesday nights
- Start date: January 25, 2022
- End date:March 24, 2020
- Purim Break: March 10, 2020
- Lobbying mission: TBA
- Location: Torah Links of Cherry Hill
- Application deadline: Wednesday, January 15
Philadelphia – Huntingdon Valley
- Tuesday Night
- Start date: January 25, 2022
- End date: March 24, 2020
- Purim Break: March 10, 2020
- Lobbying mission: TBA
- Location: CBS Community Center, 198 Tomlinson Road, Philadelphia PA 19116
- Application deadline: Wednesday, January 15
Philadelphia – Lower Merion
- Wednesday Nights
- Start date: January 25, 2022
- End date: March 18, 2020
- Lobbying mission: TBA
- Location: TBA
- Application deadline: Wednesday, January 15