Jewish Education Experiences Financial Scholarships & Awards

Temple Sinai is proud to be able to offer financial support to our youth, teens and young adults – both need-based scholarships and merit awards - that encourage and enable participation in meaningful and impactful Jewish education experiences. Due to the generosity of Sinai members, we are fortunate to have several funding sources which help support these efforts and ensure that finances are not a barrier for participation.

Qualifications:
Parent(s) or the applicant must be a member in good standing at Temple Sinai. The program for which support is requested must take place between Summer 2025 and the conclusion of Summer 2026.

The deadline to apply for all scholarships and awards is February 15, 2025.

Need-Based Scholarships

Temple Sinai offers two need-based scholarships to support our high school and college students as they embark upon Jewish experiences.  

1.    Lichtenstein Family Israel Scholarships
The Brenda & Mark Lichtenstein Israel Endowment Fund scholarship provides need-based scholarships of at least $2,000 to be used for trips organized by a Jewish entity, including schooling in Israel. Applicants must be between the ages of 15-26 by the application deadline. 

Requirements of Scholarship Recipients: Recipients of the Lichtenstein scholarship are asked to do the following upon completion of their program:

• • If in high school, help to plan Israel program for Noar and/or teens at Sinai.  If in college or out of college, share your experience through a blog and pictures.
  • Send a thank you note to the Lichtenstein family sharing a highlight of the experience. 

2.    Youth & Teen Jewish Experience Scholarships

Temple Sinai offers need-based scholarships for youth and teens to participate in an approved Jewish education experience (eg. Israel travel, Jewish overnight camp, leadership programs, social action experiences, Sinai grade-level travel experiences, etc.).  

Requirements of Scholarship Recipients: Recipients of the Youth & Teen Jewish Experience scholarship are asked to send a thank you note to the funder sharing a highlight of the experience. 

     Apply for Need-Based Scholarships Here

Merrill & Sheila Wynne Judaic Experience Award

One $5,000 award will be given to a student to be used toward an approved Jewish camping, social justice, education, or Israel program. The competitive Wynne Award is merit-based and intended to honor a recipient’s desire to pursue a transformative Jewish experience. Applicants must be between the age of 15-23 by the application deadline.

Requirements of Award Winner:  Recipients of the Wynne award are asked to do the following upon completion of their program:

• Present a summary report or blog article to share with the congregation.
• Present a D'var Torah about their experience during a Shabbat Service.
• Send a thank you note to the Wynne family sharing a highlight of their experience.

Apply for the Wynne Award Here

Please email Marisa Kaiser, Charles S. Ackerman Senior Director of Learning & Engagement with questions.

Disclaimer: Deliberations and decisions of the scholarship and award committees are final and confidential. Temple Sinai retains the right to use scholarship essays once they have been submitted as part of the scholarship applications.

Meet Our 2024 Wynne Award Winner Josh Markwood!

Receiving the Wynne Judaic Experience Award gave me the incredible opportunity to attend URJ Camp Coleman this summer as part of the 8-week Machon program. Returning to camp wasn’t just a trip back to a familiar place—it was a reintroduction to the transformative power of the camp experience and the community that shaped me. For nine years, camp was where I felt safe, happy, and able to grow as a Jew. This summer, I rediscovered those feelings while strengthening friendships I’d built over the years and forging new ones with peers from across the country and beyond. Together, we created a supportive and empowering community, reconnecting with our shared values and memories.

One of the most impactful parts of the summer was watching campers build those same connections. Working with a neurodiverse middle-schooler with high-functioning autism, I helped her navigate the unstructured chaos of free time, guiding her toward activities and interactions that brought her joy and allowed her to form meaningful friendships. Later, I worked in a cabin with the camp’s first camper with Down Syndrome, supporting him and his peers as they bonded over shared experiences and created a space where everyone felt seen and valued.

This summer reminded me of why camp has always been more than just a place—it’s a sacred community. The Wynne Judaic Experience Award not only gave me the chance to reconnect with that community but also to give back, helping others find the safety, happiness, and growth that camp gave to me. It was a summer of rediscovery, connection, and purpose, and it’s one I will cherish forever.