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SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

The Jaffa Institute’s Scholarship Program provides hard-working youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with the same access to higher education as their more affluent peers. Despite experiencing severe obstacles to academic success, these individuals have demonstrated their motivation to succeed by graduating from high school and earning acceptance to colleges and universities.

Today, in response to the growing need in our service area, the Jaffa Institute is honored to award 115 higher education scholarships annually. The program annually offers these promising students financial assistance to start or continue their higher education and acquire the knowledge and skills to begin a career that will enable them to achieve future economic independence and stability.

*2025 Scholarship Applications are closed*

*2026 Applications will open in September*

2 students on either side of scholarship ceremony standing poster
scholarship ceremony 2018

HOW DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WORK?

For donors, the Scholarship Program provides the opportunity to help impoverished youth escape the cycle of intergenerational poverty by sponsoring students. To address each student’s specific financial situation, the scholarships vary from one to four years and range (from $600 to $4,000) based on the scholarship recipient’s tuition cost and ability to work throughout their studies. 

Scholarship applicants complete a form detailing their need for a scholarship, including tuition costs, expected monthly income, academic standing, and duties related to military or national service.

Each year, a special ceremony for receipts, their family members and some donors is held to present the awarded scholarships. The Jaffa Institute held its first ceremony in 1992.

David Portowicz shaking hands with scholarship recepiant leaning over table

To support A STUDENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

stack of 3 books with graduation cap on top

The Asher Naim Memorial Scholarship Fund is named in honor of prominent Israeli diplomat, Asher Naim, z’’l. 

After retiring from the Foreign Service, Mr. Naim continued his volunteer activities, aiding the absorption and integration of the new immigrant community of Ethiopia into Israeli society. As the founder of the Ethiopian Scholarship Fund for Ethiopian Jews, Naim raised money (with over 5,000 tuitions raised to date) for young Ethiopians living in Israel, interested in attending college and graduate school. As a devoted advocate, Ambassador Naim worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Ethiopian-Israelis until his death in 2016.

In honor of Ambassador Naim’s memory, the Jaffa Institute raises funds to support  the Asher Naim Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Fund provides higher education scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to Ethiopian-Israeli students. These scholarships serve as a fitting tribute to Ambassador Naim, and would ensure that these young adults have the same educational opportunities as their peers.

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