BCI - Brandeis Camp Institute

There is still time to join this summer's BCI Fellowship, beginning June 23.

For 18 days, you'll step away from the ordinary and join a community of people in their 20s exploring Jewish identity, creativity, leadership, culture, and connection.

BCI is part fellowship, part retreat, part summer adventure. You'll spend your days learning, creating, questioning, celebrating, and building friendships that often last long after the program ends.

Tuition is just $500, and a limited number of scholarships are still available. Housing, meals, programming, and activities are all included.

📍 Brandeis-Bardin Campus
📅 June 23 – July 12

If you're looking for a summer that challenges you, inspires you, and connects you to something bigger than yourself, there's still time.

Register today at aju.edu/bci

Ziering Brandeis Camp Institute Through Ziering Brandeis Camp Institute (BCI), young adults develop the tools to answer defining questions of your 20s: Who are you? What do you believe? And how will you lead?

📢 Calling all Alumni — we’re looking for YOU! 🫵
https://r35wq.share.hsforms.com/2X0_FvsyST4SEs2anVMxIGA

We’re building our alumni family and it starts with staying connected. Help us update our alumni network by taking this quick 5-minute survey and making sure we have your latest contact info.

✨ Reconnect with classmates
✨ Stay in the loop on AJU news & events
✨ Be part of our growing alumni community

Please also forward this to fellow alumni—we’d love to reconnect with them too!

Your information will be used solely for AJU communication purposes.

Click the link and help us bring our alumni family back together 💙
🔗 https://r35wq.share.hsforms.com/2X0_FvsyST4SEs2anVMxIGA

Dear Friends, As I complete my first year as President and CEO of American Jewish University, I want to extend my tremendous gratitude to our exceptional staff, lay leaders, alumni, program participants, and donors for their support and leadership.

Today, we’re launching our dynamic, user-friendly website, aju.edu. This is much more than a new website. It is a clear statement of our identity, mission, and impact. We hope you will visit it often and refer it to your friends and family.

We’ve returned to our roots and have refocused our work "singularly focused on the Jewish future."

This year, we’re celebrating two important milestones that demonstrate our impact: the 85th anniversary of the Ziering Brandeis Camp Institute (BCI) and the 40th anniversary of Miller Introduction to Judaism. Thousands of Jewish leaders around the world trace their inspiration and attribute their commitment to the Jewish people to their experiences at BCI. Our Introduction to Judaism program has created thriving Jewish homes and has guided thousands interfaith couples to make meaningful Jewish choices. Stay tuned for opportunities to join us as we reconnect with our alumni and commemorate these milestones.

The website launch also includes the rollout of the 2050 Institute with a podcast, "The Jewish Tomorrow" and a salon series, "The Future of...". The 2050 Institute is a bold and transformative initiative focusing on the next generation of Jewish life in North America.

American Jewish University is reinforcing its founding principles as both a living laboratory and a university of higher learning committed to experiential education that’s deeply rooted in Jewish texts and tradition, rich arts and culture and state-of-the-art innovation. We are strategically connecting our current and planned programs to reinforce our dedication to offering life-long experiences for Jews (and those interested in learning about Judaism and the Jewish people) of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.

Thank you for your continued support,

Jay Sanderson
President & CEO
American Jewish University

✨ Please join us in welcoming Halle Shumate as the new Associate Director of BCI!

A SoCal native, Halle brings experience in Jewish communal leadership from organizations including Hillel, BBYO, Jewish Community Relations Councils, and Jewish Federations. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can explore Jewish identity, engage big ideas, and build meaningful community.

At BCI, she’ll be working with our faculty, alumni, and partners to deepen the BCI experience, grow our community, and strengthen BCI’s vibrant alumni network.

We’re so excited to have her on the team. Welcome, Halle! ✨

If BCI mattered in your life, consider paying it forward 💫

This summer, Brandeis Camp Institute (BCI) is offering one 18-day immersive fellowship (June 23–July 12) for Jews in their 20s to step away from the noise and explore identity, purpose, and leadership—from the inside out.

Know someone who belongs at BCI?
Nominate someone you believe in 🫶

🔗 https://aju.formstack.com/forms/bci_nomination_form

✨ Registration for BCI 2026 is OPEN! ✨

BCI’s immersive 3-week summer experience brings together Jewish and Jew-ish adults in their 20s from around the world for powerful learning, creativity, and connection on AJU’s idyllic campus.

Through Jewish text, honest dialogue, arts, music, and nature, participants explore big questions about identity, purpose, and community. BCI creates space to reflect, wrestle, and grow while building the confidence and skills to lead thoughtfully in Jewish spaces and beyond.

Step outside your comfort zone
Connect meaningfully
Built a vibrant Jewish future

🗓 June 23 – July 12, 2026
‼️ Final Application Deadline: May 15
🔗 Apply now: AJU.EDU/BCI

Know someone who belongs at BCI? Share this post and help them begin their transformational journey. 💫

Did you know? Deborah Lipstadt, renowned Jewish historian, professor, and former U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism (2022–2025), once served as Director of BCI (then BBI) from 1986–1987.

Deborah was recently awarded the Jonathan Sacks Prize for Outstanding Achievement as a Public Intellectual by Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Jewish people and in the fight against antisemitism—from before her time at BCI to today.

Click the link below to learn more about her incredible achievements:

Bar-Ilan University to award Jonathan Sacks Prize to US historian Deborah Lipstadt Arie Zaban, president of the academic institution, said her work “reminds us that standing up for truth requires courage, clarity and persistence.”

✨ Help bring the magic of BCI to life ✨
As BCI gears up for this summer, we’re hiring an Associate Director for Administration to help lead our immersive program for Jewish young adults. This role supports operations, recruitment, and community partnerships.

👉 Learn more and apply 🔗 https://bit.ly/3Z3Q0d8

⏰ Last chance! Final submissions are due tonight!

There’s still time to share your vision for the Jewish future. Record a short 60 second video (yes, your phone is perfect!) and send it to us on WeTransfer by midnight for a chance to win up to $3,600.

Whether your vision is rooted in joy, learning, spirituality, creativity, community, or continuity—we want to hear it. In about 60 seconds, tell us your hopes, dreams, or ideas for a vibrant, thriving Jewish future. ✨

Learn more and send us your video ➡️ AJU.EDU/FUTUREFELLOWS

AJU just launched Jewish Future 2025, a national video fellowship inviting YOU to dream big about what a thriving Jewish future could look like!

We’re calling on creators, thinkers, and community members to share bold, 60-second video answering the question: “What does the perfect Jewish future look like?” Submissions should highlight authentic hopes for a thriving Jewish life — rooted in joy, learning, spirituality, creativity, community, and continuity.

A panel of judges will select three winners based on originality, creativity, and clarity of vision. Winners will receive cash prizes of $3,600, $1,800, and $540, and be named AJU Jewish Future Fellows. Winning videos will be featured on AJU’s social accounts.

🫵 Open to all U.S. residents, ages 18+
🗓️ Submissions are now open and due by November 17, 2025.
💡 Winners will be announced on December 15, 2025.

Submit your vision and help us shape the Jewish future ➡️
AJU.EDU/FUTUREFELLOWS