The Tikvah Academic Fellowship is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of exceptional scholars engaged in teaching and research that bolsters Jewish and Western Civilization while renewing academic institutions. The Fellowship supports aspiring academics pursuing research in Jewish texts and ideas, Jewish history, modern Israel/Zionism, and related topics within a broad range of disciplines, including religion, history, the social sciences, area studies, philosophy, law, literature, and the arts. This program provides talented doctoral candidates and recent PhD graduates with modest financial assistance, community-building conferences and events, mentorship, and structured support to enable them to produce the peer-reviewed publications necessary to secure competitive tenure-track positions.

The program consists of three components:

1. The Tikvah Legal Fellowship Retreat

This is a five-day, in-person conference with the Blackstone Legal Fellowship from May 31 to June 5, 2026. Fellows will study the moral foundations and power of the law, receive mentorship from preeminent legal scholars, and meet with a vibrant and growing community of Christian law students — natural allies in the constitutionalist movement.

2. The Summer Internship

Fellows who have not already committed to a summer internship upon acceptance will be matched with legal organizations that are actively working to preserve civil liberty for Jews and other people of faith.

3. The Stipend Project (Optional)

Fellows have the option to pursue a $2,000 stipend. It will be awarded to Fellows who complete a significant project with a partner organization aligned with our mission and values by the end of their first semester as second-year law students.

Tikvah has long recognized the shortcomings of leading American universities. We have spent years building educational programs to offset ideological distortion and to supplement the limited quality of educational offerings that even the most prestigious campuses offer. Tikvah convenes students committed to Jewish excellence and dedicated to the preservation of American principles into a community that honors moral courage and genuine inquiry. For over a decade, the most intellectually ambitious students have looked to Tikvah to bolster, or in many cases provide, a serious liberal education.

However, Tikvah and institutions like it cannot do it all. For the future of both the West and America, it is imperative for higher education institutions—the very institutions responsible for stewarding civilization—to re-dedicate themselves to educating rising generations through the careful study of the history, literature, religious traditions, political thought, and philosophical inquiries of the West. This is only possible if there are enough of the right kinds of professors to teach such a curriculum. At present, too few faculty members are prepared for the task. Tikvah is committed to helping ensure this changes.

Building the Pipeline

Through the Tikvah Academic Fellowship, Tikvah aims to tap our curated network of talented and ambitious young men and women who have a deep appreciation for the West and for Jewish ideas. By helping them navigate their way through the publication and job application processes, we will build a talent pipeline of professors to help restore departments, disciplines, and academic institutions. To that end, our new Fellowship will provide mentorship, financial support, conference and community-building opportunities, and clear, high expectations that our fellows meet exacting standards of professional development.

Our goal is to help exceptional academic fellows secure tenure-track positions across the country in our core areas: religion and theology, Jewish history, Bible, political thought, literature, Middle East studies, international relations, and national security. We aim to help fellows become competitive for positions at various types of Anglophone institutions, including liberal arts colleges or professional schools as well as research universities.

Each year, we will accept six to ten new Fellows. The Fellowship is open to doctoral candidates who have received approval for their dissertation projects and recent PhDs who have received their degrees within the last two years. We believe that the period between prospectus approval and the first few years after graduation is the right moment to help Fellows produce the peer-reviewed publications they need to be competitive in the academic job market.

Pillars of the Academic Fellowship

Over the course of the year, the Academic Fellowship will provide assistance in four areas key to the success of aspiring tenure-track scholars.

1. Publications

The core deliverable of the Academic Fellowship is the production of an excellent scholarly article, book manuscript, or book chapter in a leading academic journal or by a leading academic publisher. To receive the final stipend installment, Fellows must confirm acceptance of their work for publication (actual publication does not need to occur during the Fellowship period). Drafting and journal or publisher selection will be conducted in consultation with an assigned mentor, with an eye toward the peer-review process.

2. Mentorship

Each Academic Fellow will be mentored by a first-rate professor, vetted by years of experience teaching in Tikvah programs, and with a proven track record of success in the traditional academy. Mentorship will focus not only on the goal of publication but also on preparing Fellows for careers in the academy. Mentors will meet monthly with Fellows one-on-one, with the opportunity for additional group meetings in person or online according to thematic or disciplinary focus.

3. Community

The talent pipeline will be strengthened by time spent face-to-face. Fellows will meet once a year for their own academic conference, where they will present their work in progress for rigorous feedback. The conference will include prominent professors and academic leaders, encouraging Fellows to meet high standards and creating a lively environment where the slow schedule of academic publication does not hamper success.

4. Research

In fields such as history and international relations, success in the academy is contingent on the completion of independent archival research, including trips to historical archives housed in the United States and abroad. Tikvah will support a small number of exceptional Fellows in their pursuit of archival research on a case-by-case basis each year.

September 2026

• Program Orientation: Virtual welcome session introducing Fellows to program structure, expectations, and resources
• Mentor Assignment: Pairing of Fellows with distinguished faculty mentors based on disciplinary expertise and research interests
• Zoom Discussions: Inaugural session with Dean Samuel Goldman focusing on program goals and career development strategies
• Individual Goal Setting: Fellows work with mentors to establish research objectives and publication timeline

October 2026

• Required Attendance: Conference at University of Florida, Gainesville (October 26-28)
• Monthly Virtual Community Meeting: Career development, discussion, and peer networking
• Individual Mentor Meetings: One-on-one sessions to refine research focus and begin proposal development
• Academic Planning: Begin research, explore publication development

November – December 2026

• Monthly Virtual Community Meetings: Continued career development discussions and review of relevant new publications
• Intensive Proposal Development: Fellows work closely with mentors to craft compelling proposals
• Peer Collaboration: Opportunity for Fellows to share research ideas and receive feedback from cohort, including the opportunity to present practice job talks
• Journal/Publisher Selection Strategy: Mentors guide Fellows in identifying appropriate target publications
• Proposal Submission: Submit writing proposal by December deadline

January 2027

• Milestone Achievement: Receive first stipend installment ($2,500) upon mentor and program approval of writing proposal (January)

February – April 2027

• Monthly Zoom Discussions Continue: Focus shifts to research execution, writing strategies, and publication process navigation
• Intensive Research Phase: Fellows conduct primary research, archival work, and analysis as needed for their projects
• Regular Mentor Check-ins: Meetings on an individual schedule during the active writing phase
• Draft Development: Complete revised drafts of academic work with mentor guidance

May – June 2027

• Submission Process: Submit the final academic article/manuscript for peer review and publication consideration

Fellowship Completion

• Final Milestone Achievement: Academic article/manuscript accepted for publication by peer-reviewed venue
• Program Completion: Receive second stipend installment ($2,500) upon successful publication acceptance and conference participation
• Fellowship Renewal Evaluation: Assessment of individual success and potential for renewal based on publication achievement, conference performance, professional development progress, and overall program contribution
• Alumni Network Integration: Developing an ongoing relationship with the Tikvah academic community
• Career Placement Support: Continued mentorship for job market preparation and academic career advancement

Deliverables & Requirements

Primary Deliverable

• Publication Acceptance: Successful acceptance for publication of one peer-reviewed academic article, book chapter, or book manuscript in a recognized scholarly venue. Work must demonstrate original research and contribute meaningfully to the fields of American democracy, Jewish thought, or related topics.

Secondary Deliverables

• Consistent Participation: Regular attendance and active engagement in monthly virtual community discussions with Dean Samuel Goldman and fellow cohort members
• Mentorship Engagement: Sustained individual meetings with assigned faculty mentor throughout the program year, demonstrating progress and incorporating feedback
• Conference Attendance: Mandatory participation in Launch Conference at the University of Florida (October 26–28, 2026) and all other scheduled programming
• Presentation Excellence: Delivery of a polished academic presentation at the summer conference, showcasing research findings and scholarly contribution
• Professional Development: Active participation in career development activities and demonstration of progress toward academic career goals
• Program Completion Standards: Meeting all deadlines, maintaining academic integrity, and fulfilling program expectations for full stipend receipt and successful fellowship completion

Tikvah is an educational institution and think-tank dedicated to advancing Hebraic ideas, strengthening the American project, deepening the bond between America and Israel, and bringing together Jews and Christians committed to the renewal of Western civilization. Through its educational programs, fellowships, media platforms, and public initiatives, Tikvah advances serious engagement with the enduring wisdom of the Jewish tradition and the great challenges facing the Jewish people, America, and the Western world.