Penn State Hillel Opportunities:

First Impressions Team (FIT)

The First Impressions Team (FIT) Internship is the front-facing role at Penn State Hillel. FIT interns staff the front desk, welcome visitors, answer questions about events and programming, and help keep the space organized and inviting. This role is a great fit for students who lead with warmth and take pride in making others feel at home. Interested? Reach out to Rotem at [email protected]

Data Team

The Data Team Internship supports the operational backbone of Penn State Hillel by keeping community information accurate, current, and actionable. Interns manage database records, track event attendance, and process student engagement data to help Hillel reach its community more effectively. This role is ideal for detail-oriented students with an interest in nonprofit operations and data management.  Interested? Reach out to Robyn at [email protected]

Ruach Fellowship

The Ruach Fellowship is a year-long leadership experience for students passionate about Jewish spiritual and ritual life at Penn State. Fellows take an active role in leading Shabbat services, facilitating holiday programming, and building a religious community that honors the diverse traditions and backgrounds of students at University Park. Applications open at the beginning of the fall semester!  Interested? Reach out to [email protected]

Wellness Fellows

Wellness Fellows power the Falon’s Chicken Soup Hotline, a Penn State Hillel initiative dedicated to showing up for students when they need it most. Fellows prepare homemade soup and coordinate deliveries to students across University Park who are sick or simply in need of some care. It’s a hands-on, community-driven role centered on one of the most meaningful things we can do: look out for one another. Applications open year round! Contact Jeanine at [email protected]

Service Engagement Internship (SEI)

The Service Engagement Internship (SEI) — powered by Repair the World and Hillel International — supports student interns at Hillels around the world to engage their peers in service, civic engagement, and social justice work. As a paid, stipend-based year-long position, SEI interns host volunteering opportunities and social justice events at Hillel and in the wider community. Applications open July 1st to September 25th!  Interested? Reach out to Jeanine at [email protected]

BICEP

The Building Israel Connections Engagement Project (BICEP) is a year-long fellowship for student leaders within the Penn State fraternity and sorority community. Fellows develop and execute a campus-wide strategy centered on Israel education and cultural programming, working to build meaningful dialogue and collaboration between Greek chapters and the broader University Park community. Open to full-time students with at least two semesters remaining. Interested? Contact Jeanine at [email protected]

Fellowship Ambassadors of Birthright

Fellowship Ambassadors of Birthright (FAB) is a year-long cohort experience for students committed to connecting their peers with the Birthright Israel program. Fellows serve as on-campus recruiters and event planners, organizing programming each semester to raise awareness about the trip and supporting students throughout their experience before and after they go. Fellows are recruited from the Greek community. Interested? Reach out to Jeanine at [email protected]

Marketing Internship

The Marketing Internship is a creative and strategic role responsible for shaping how Penn State Hillel shows up online and across campus. Interns develop and execute social media content, design promotional materials, and help communicate Hillel’s programs and mission clearly and compellingly to the wider campus community. This role is a great fit for students with an interest in brand strategy, content creation, or digital media.  Interested? Reach out to Madylin at [email protected]

Development Internship

The Development Internship is a hands-on opportunity for students interested in the fundraising and donor relations side of Penn State Hillel. Interns connect directly with alumni, parents, and supporters through personalized outreach, sharing firsthand student perspectives that demonstrate the real impact of philanthropic giving. The role offers meaningful experience in nonprofit development, communications, and campaign strategy.  Interested? Reach out to Madylin at [email protected]

Greek Team

The Greek Team brings together Jewish students from across Penn State’s fraternity and sorority community to build connections through Shabbat, holiday programming, and Jewish life events. The team works to unite the Jewish Greek community and create a meaningful point of connection between Greek life and Hillel. Interested in getting involved? Contact Rabbi Rob at [email protected]

Campus Engagement Fellows

Campus Engagement Fellows are student leaders who build Jewish life at Penn State from the outside in — through one-on-one conversations, peer connections, and student-run Jewish initiatives across campus. Fellows tap into their own social networks to bring friends and communities into Jewish spaces, and are given both a stipend and a budget to make it happen. It’s a paid, year-long opportunity for students who are creative, self-motivated, and genuinely excited about growing Jewish community at Penn State.  Interested? Reach out to [email protected]

Local/Regional/National Opportunities:

Check back later for regional and national opportunities — we update this section as new programs become available!

Penn State Department of Jewish Studies:

Interested in Jewish Studies coursework? Browse current course offerings through the Penn State Department of Jewish Studies.

Cohort Learning Programs

Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF)

JLF is a 10-week conversational seminar for students looking to explore Judaism and life’s bigger questions on their own terms. Each cohort brings together a small group of peers for honest, experiential discussions guided by mentors invested in their growth — both inside and beyond the program. Applications open year-round for the next semester at https://pennstatehillel.org/jlf/ Contact Rabbi Rob at [email protected] for questions.

Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) 2.0

JLF 2.0 is an advanced cohort for students who have completed JLF and are ready to go further. Fellows deepen their own Jewish learning while taking a more active role in facilitating discussions and fostering a culture of curiosity across the program. The experience is grounded in applying Jewish ideas to leadership and community life at Penn State. Applications open year-round for the next semester at https://pennstatehillel.org/jlf/ Contact Rabbi Rob at [email protected] for questions.

Shabbat Hosting Lab (SHL)

The Shabbat Hosting Lab is a learning cohort for students who want to bring Shabbat into their own spaces. Fellows build the knowledge and practical skills to host student-led Shabbat dinners, turning apartments and dorm rooms into welcoming environments for ritual, community, and connection. Ongoing mentorship and resources are provided throughout the process.  Applications open year-round for the next semester at https://pennstatehillel.org/shl/ Contact Rabbi Rob at [email protected] for questions.

Men to Mensches

Men to Mensches is a learning cohort built for the Penn State fraternity community. Facilitators from across the Greek system come together to study Jewish texts that speak to the real experiences of fraternity life, then bring those conversations back to their individual chapters to share with brothers, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. The cohort is structured to create space for honest reflection and stronger connections within each chapter. Applications open at the beginning of the fall semester! Questions? Contact Rabbi Rob at [email protected]