While the summer heat brings many people's favorite time of year, for college students it can usher in both opportunities and new anxieties.
This year has been a hard year to be a Jewish college student, as antisemitism raged across universities in the final weeks of the spring semester. So having a much-deserved break from campus is needed and welcome.
However, summer brings a major transition for those on campus. Graduating seniors are beginning the next chapters in their life stories, incoming first-year students are writing a new chapter of theirs-and the rest trying to utilize their time in ways that will benefit them in the future.
The current job market has been hard, and students may be afraid to publicly express their Jewish and pro-Israel identities. JUF and the Hillels of Illinois are committed to providing a safe space for Jewish students, and also opportunities for personal and professional growth, making for a very busy summer!
Lewis Summer Internship
Since 1987, the Harriet and Maurice Lewis Family Summer Intern Program has given dozens of students annually the opportunity to participate in a prestigious internship. Students not only receive hands-on work experience, but professional development seminars that prepare them for their future careers.
Emmy Leshin credits the program with her growth in collaborative skills and professionalism. This 2023 Lewis Summer Intern says the program gave her a first glimpse of the professional workplace, driving her to return to JUF as a Lewis Summer Intern Program Assistant this summer.
Onward Israel
The Chicago cohort of Onward Israel places students in Tel Aviv for eight weeks; they participate in a selective internship and immerse themselves in Israeli culture. October 7 has made travel to Israel much more uncertain, but many Chicago-area students have still seized the opportunity to partake in the 2024 season. The interns venturing to Israel this summer are passionate, resilient, and grateful. We are grateful to them, and look forward to hearing what they learn.
Lewis @ Camp Program
Many college students still hold a soft spot for their childhood summer camp. Lewis @ Camp Program offers Illinois college students a chance to be counselors and interns at several overnight camps and JCC day camps. These transformative experiences develop crucial leadership skills, and reaffirm the interns' commitment to their own Jewish identity. Through these professional development opportunities, camp interns will gain new friends, and skills to help them find their next roles while exceling in their current positions.
Regardless of what summer track a college student chooses, this season signifies a time of transition. Students need guidance and mentorship, from you and from us. We are honored to help support students, and we look forward to seeing what amazing things they will accomplish.
To learn more about LSIP, visit juf.org/lsip.
Sophie Friedman is Program Manager of College Internships at JUF.
