Next Chapter

This July, FJL launched Next Chapter, a new 10-day programme for college-age students and young professionals ready to take the next step in their Jewish learning.

Our inaugural cohort of 16 participants immersed themselves in the beit midrash (study hall) at two of Israel’s leading Torah institutions: the women at Midreshet Nishmat and the men at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush). With learning designed to be both serious and accessible, participants explored everything from Halakha (Jewish Law), Tanakh (Bible) and Talmud to Jewish thought. Through close study of Jewish texts, lively discussion and engaging teachers, they experienced the depth of Torah learning first-hand.

We are grateful for our partnership with The Rabbi Sacks Legacy, which gave participants a meaningful opportunity to engage with Rabbi Sacks’ thought and legacy. In a series of seminars with Rabbi Alex Israel, they explored his ideas and their relevance to contemporary Jewish life. Participants also heard from Alan Sacks, Rabbi Sacks’ brother and President of The Rabbi Sacks Legacy’s Israel Board, who shared a more personal perspective on his brother’s life and work. The programme also included a guided visit to the Rabbi Sacks Archives at the National Library of Israel.

The programme showed the power of combining study with action and responsibility. Participants volunteered with organisations including Yad Sarah, Leket Israel, and GIFT, and travelled south to meet Israelis affected by the war and contribute to ongoing volunteer efforts. They heard from speakers including venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg and spent an uplifting evening with Rav Shlomo Katz for a kumzitz and conversation. A Shabbaton in Ramat Beit Shemesh gave the group the chance to experience Shabbat within the local community and spend time learning, singing and connecting together.

Next Chapter was created not simply as another Israel experience, but as an invitation to discover what deeper Jewish learning can look like. Over ten days, participants were given the time, teachers and tools to explore Judaism seriously — and to begin writing their own next chapter.

UK Summer Leadership Programme in NY and Washington, D.C.


This summer, 35 students from universities across the UK joined us on the New York and Washington, D.C., programme, combining internships in a range of fields with professional development, Jewish learning and a packed programme of speakers and experiences.

Alongside their internships, students had the chance to learn from people at the top of their fields. Highlights included a visit to Bloomberg to hear from Ken Cooper, Global Head of Human Resources, a session with Scott Bornstein, Executive Vice President of Greenberg Traurig, an AI workshop at a New York start-up and a visit to the United Nations.

The group also heard from an impressive range of Jewish leaders, including several FJL alumni who returned to share where their own journeys had taken them. Johnny Harounoff (FJL DC ‘14), Jay Mens (FJL UK-NY ‘17), Max Steinberg (FJL UK-NY ‘13), and Marco Laurence (FJL UK-NY ‘16) spoke about their work across public life, business and the Jewish community, and about the role their Jewish values have played along the way.

Jewish learning remained a central part of the summer, with regular sessions from the FJL educational team and visiting scholars, including Rabbi Daniel Rowe, Senior Lecturer at Aish Global. Shabbatons in Passaic, Philadelphia and Kemp Mill gave students the chance to spend Shabbat with local families and experience the warmth of each community.

For the final few days of the programme, the group travelled to Washington, D.C., where they visited Capitol Hill and the Israeli Embassy and met with figures working at the heart of government, foreign policy and national security.

Summer Leadership Programmes in Tel Aviv


This summer, 75 students from Canada, the US and the UK joined FJL in Israel across our three tracks of the FJL Leadership Programme in Tel Aviv. Alongside their internships, participants travelled around Israel, learned from outstanding speakers and educators, volunteered and spent Shabbat in communities across the country.

Throughout the summer, students had the opportunity to learn from leading figures in business, public life and the Jewish world. Some highlights included Col. Richard Kemp, who spoke about Israel’s place on the international stage, and Trevor Asserson, founder of Asserson Law Offices, who discussed the way Israel is covered in the international media. Isaac Heller, founder and President of AI accounting company Trullion, shared his experience of building and growing a company. Avital Eusgeld (FJL DC '13), FJL alumna and founder of personal-branding agency HiPitched, spoke about entrepreneurship and career-building.

Sundays were spent across Israel, with each week bringing a different mix of trips, speakers, volunteering and learning. In the south, participants visited Sderot, Tekuma and the Nova Festival Memorial, bearing witness to the events and aftermath of October 7. Following a visit to Yad Vashem, students heard Holocaust survivor and educator Rena Quint share her story and had the opportunity to ask her questions. Each cohort also took part in a dedicated Scholars’ Day, a day of Jewish learning at leading Torah institutions and with prominent Torah teachers. Participants volunteered with Leket Israel, helping support Israeli farmers, visited Magen David Adom, and spent time at Beit Issie Shapiro, a leading Israeli organization working to advance opportunities and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Another highlight for the US and UK groups was an overnight in Tekoa in the Judean Desert. After dinner, students spent the night around a bonfire with music, stories, conversation and stargazing, before waking for sunrise and a guided learning and meditation session.



Shabbatons were some of the most meaningful and energetic moments of the summer, filled with singing, dancing, learning and discussion. Groups spent Shabbat in the communities of Ramat Shilo, Ramot, Chashmonaim, Beit Shemesh, Efrat and Yad Binyamin. The US and UK cohorts also joined together in Ra’anana for FJL’s largest Shabbaton to date, with close to 50 participants, staff and guests.

By the end of the summer, participants had done far more than complete an internship. They had been challenged by new ideas, met inspiring leaders, and built friendships across countries and cohorts. We know that these experiences will continue to shape the way they think about leadership and the impact they will have on the world around them.

FJL Give Back Volunteer Trip

This July, participants from Australia, the UK, Canada and the United States came together for a week of unforgettable volunteering experiences across Israel. Throughout the week, participants took part in a wide range of meaningful volunteer initiatives, from building a garden in the Druze village of Majdal Shams to agricultural work on the outskirts of Beit Shemesh and Gush Etzion, as well as volunteering on an army base and hosting a BBQ for soldiers.

We were also proud to partner with Beit Issie Shapiro, where participants spent time participating in an arts and crafts activity with children with disabilities. Alongside volunteering, the group had the privilege of meeting October 7 survivors Ronit and Pnina, who generously shared their deeply personal stories and how they've turned their pain into action.

The week wrapped up with a Shabbaton, hosted in the community of Ra’anana. It was a powerful week of giving back, connecting with Israel and each other, and witnessing firsthand the resilience and strength of communities across the country. We are so proud of the impact our participants had and the international community that came together to make it happen.

Bringing together alumni from as far back as 2011 alongside our newest Summer 2026 cohorts, the evening was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old FJL friends, make new connections and celebrate the shared experiences and values that unite our growing alumni community.

The evening was led by FJL UK Directors Rabbi Jonny and Elisheva Newman, and we were delighted to be joined by FJL CEO Ben Thwaites, who shared highlights from an extraordinary Summer 2026 and spoke about FJL’s exciting vision for growth in the years ahead. Our guest speaker, Rabbi Aubrey Hersh, then inspired us with a thought-provoking and meaningful perspective on approaching Rosh Hashana.

Most of all, the evening captured what makes the FJL community so special: relationships that begin on our programmes but continue long after the summer has ended.

As one alumnus put it:

“The evening was truly special. Amazing company and a proper reminder of why the FJL community means so much. It’s not just a summer programme, it’s an organisation that keeps giving, and I’m grateful to be part of it. And that BBQ was seriously next level!”

Canadian Alumni Reunion

During the final days of summer, more than 45 alumni from the past five years of FJL Canada cohorts came together to reconnect, recharge and find inspiration ahead of Rosh Hashana. The evening was graciously hosted in Toronto by the Mausberg family, with three FJL alumni in the family: Shira (Canada-TLV ’26), Jacob (Next Chapter ’26) and Judah (Canada-TLV ’24, Madrich ’25). Alumni enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting members of our most recent cohort, who had just returned from another wonderful summer in Tel Aviv.

Guest speaker and businessman Marc Halpern delivered a session on setting priorities for the year ahead. His presentation sparked lively conversation and follow-up discussions that continued late into the night.

Everyone left looking forward to what’s next for FJL Canada, including the big Shabbat reunion at the end of November.

FJL Alumni in Israel

As more FJL alumni and staff have made Aliyah, and more Israelis have joined our programmes, we have seen a growing FJL community take shape in Israel. We are excited to be building the Israel Alumni community to bring alumni together for events and reunions throughout the year.

As part of this initiative, ahead of the High Holidays, Rabbi Effie Kleinberg gave two shiurim (classes) in Tel Aviv, with around 30 people joining each one. Alongside FJL alumni from different cohorts, it was great to see so many friends come along who had not previously been involved with FJL.

A big thank you to Adam Marks (Remote ’20, Madrich ’25, Next Chapter ’26) and Emma Atlas (Canada-TLV ’22, Next Chapter ’26) for helping to organise the evenings.

We are excited to offer more opportunities for FJL parents to join our programmes and experience FJL for themselves. 

Our Journey to Poland this January is open to parents, friends and alumni.



We are also planning a summer volunteer experience in Israel that will be open to parents. More details coming soon.

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