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Global Leadership Fellowship 2026
The flagship leadership program of the World Union for Progressive Judaism
The WUPJ Global Leadership Fellowship (GLF) is a flagship international program for emerging leaders in Progressive Jewish communities who are ready to expand their impact and engage with a global movement.
This transformative fellowship connects local leadership with global Progressive Judaism, fostering cross-cultural learning, collaboration, and leadership development rooted in Jewish values.
Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open.
About the Fellowship
The Global Leadership Fellowship is designed for leaders who understand that Progressive Jewish leadership today must operate both locally and globally.
Through shared learning, mentoring, and hands-on leadership development, fellows strengthen their ability to navigate complexity, build ethical and inclusive communities, and translate Jewish values into meaningful action.
The GLF creates a space where leaders from diverse cultural, linguistic, and political contexts come together to learn from one another — and to bring global insight back to their communities.
Program Structure
The Fellowship combines learning, practice, and reflection through a multi-layered experience:
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Monthly webinars
Beginning in July 2026, focusing on leadership models, Progressive Jewish values, and global challenges. -
Immersive seminar in Israel
9 days in Israel | October 30 – November 7, 2026
In-person learning, dialogue, and community engagement. -
Personal leadership project
Each fellow develops and implements a project responding to a real need in their local community. -
Mentoring (6 months)
Ongoing guidance from experienced leaders to support growth and impact.
Who Is the Fellowship For?
This program is for emerging leaders in Progressive Jewish communities who are ready to deepen their leadership and engage globally.
We are looking for candidates who demonstrate:
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Proven leadership experience in Progressive Jewish communities
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A desire to grow and elevate their leadership on a global scale
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Commitment to the mission and values of the WUPJ
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Willingness to represent Progressive Judaism in local and international spaces
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Curiosity, adaptability, and openness to diverse perspectives
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A deep connection to Jewish tradition through prayer, Torah study, and learning
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A strong sense of Shlichut (mission) and Anava (humility), understanding leadership as service
If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply.
Why Join the Global Leadership Fellowship?
At the WUPJ, we believe in a glocal approach — strengthening local communities through global connection.
The GLF offers a unique opportunity to:
Learn from peers across continents
Gain global perspective while remaining rooted locally
Develop ethical, relational, and value-driven leadership
Become part of a global Progressive Jewish leadership network
Apply or Nominate
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Applications are now open
👉 Apply now -
Nominate a candidate
👉 Nominate someone
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Digital Leadership Fellowship for Progressive Judaism Program
The world is changing – and so is the way we connect, fight for justice, and keep our traditions alive. We are looking for digital leaders who want to use their voices and creativity to strengthen the values of Progressive Judaism and make a real impact on society.
If you believe in defending human rights, celebrate diversity within and beyond the Jewish community, and want to keep Jewish traditions alive and relevant today, this program is for you.
What Will You Experience and Learn?
- 5-day immersion in Israel: Engage with experts, explore contemporary challenges, and discover transformative initiatives.
- Leadership training: Enhance your skills in communication, advocacy, and digital influence.
- Global connections: Join an international network of Jewish activists.
- Impact project: The chance to create your own initiative with the guidance of a personal mentor to strengthen Progressive Judaism and social justice in the digital world.
Why Join?
Judaism has always evolved with the generations who live it. Now, more than ever, we need new voices, new ideas, and new ways to connect. If you want to be a changemaker, this is your opportunity.
📢 Limited spots available! Apply now and be part of this transformation.
To apply, click here.
To nominate, click here.
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LOCAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
We can help your community!
Local & Regional Leadership Development Initiatives (LLDI)
Grants for Leadership Development in 2026
Is your community preparing to grow and expand its impact in 2026? We can help.
We’re excited to announce grants for Local and Regional Leadership Development Initiatives (LLDI) for 2026. These grants are designed to support and strengthen leadership across Progressive Jewish communities worldwide.
About the LLDI Grants
LLDI grants aim to nurture leadership in all its forms, including:
Governance
Education
Youth and young adults
Families
Spiritual leadership
Music
Activism
Community building
Israel engagement
The program supports initiatives that help communities grow, innovate, and deepen their impact, while remaining rooted in Progressive Jewish values.
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking:
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Innovative and collaborative programs that foster leadership within WUPJ regions, communities, and organizations
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Initiatives that reflect the WUPJ mission, values, and commitment to global impact
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Projects that include:
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Translation of Judaica and/or leadership development materials into the local language
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Cultural adaptation of leadership content to meet local community needs
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Application Timeline
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Applications open for 2026
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Apply by: 15 January 2026
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Notification of outcomes: by 15 February 2026
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Registration has now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied.
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Musical Leadership Fellowship
The Musical Leadership Fellowship is a significantly subsidized fellowship offering an exclusive opportunity for Jewish songleaders to deepen both their musical and leadership skills.
The fellowship includes flights, accommodation, meals, and training at the Hava Nashira Jewish Songleaders Conference, and provides direct mentorship from some of the leading Jewish songleaders in the world.
What the Fellowship Includes
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A significantly subsidized fellowship
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Monthly webinars in songleading training and leadership
(March–December) -
Participation in the Hava Nashira Jewish Songleader Conference, held in person at OSRUI Camp in Wisconsin, United States, including a community site visit
(May 17–24) -
Personal mentoring with experienced Jewish songleaders
(June–December)
Mentorship & Learning Experience
Fellows receive ongoing mentorship and training designed to strengthen their skills in songleading and leadership, while building meaningful connections within a global network of Jewish music leaders.
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Registration has now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied.
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WHAT IS THE GLOBAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT?
The Global Center for Education and Leadership Development of the WUPJ serves as a hub for Jewish education and leadership development for people all over the world in all stages of life.
- Global Center for Education and Leadership Development
- Local Leadership Development Initiatives
- Shlichut Hub
- Global Leadership Fellowship
- Virtual Education Content
It seeks out, connects, and supports educators, clergy, community professionals, and lay leaders who want to broaden their knowledge and take on new responsibilities in sustaining their communities, educational institutions, regions, and our global organization as well as serving as a platform for new initiatives and models of Jewish life. The Center operates through the lens of Progressive Jewish values, principles, and spiritual practice, both steeped in tradition and envisioning the future of Judaism in the world.
The Center works in strategic alliances with other academic organizations and NGOs within and outside the Progressive Movement.
The Center is based in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of the Jewish people and the capital of Israel, the vibrant heart of Jewish culture and identity that both inspires and challenges. That being said, the WUPJ’s network spreads over all populated continents, endowing the Center with the ability to hold activities anywhere in the world.
Local Leadership Development Initiatives
The WUPJ offers support for the leadership development of WUPJ regions, communities, organizations and educational institutions. We define leadership in the widest sense and include all types of leadership – such as governance, education, youth, young adults, families, spiritual, music, activism, community, Israel and the environment. We are especially interested in innovative ideas and collaborative initiatives. Initiatives include an international component of physical or virtual facilitation by WUPJ leadership and staff. Programs can stands alone or be part of a larger program.
Any organization that is a constituent of the WUPJ may apply. Organizations can be but are not limited to the regional organization, affiliated congregations, day schools, Netzer and Tamar sniffim, rabbinic councils, etc. In general, the more collaborators in a program, the better.
We encourage you to contact WUPJ staff for consultation and to request an application.
Shlichut Hub
Shlichut is best translated as emissary or mission. Leadership is a calling, and many of us feel called to the mission of serving communities across the world as part of our global family.
A successful Shlichut is the result of a good match made between the shaliach/shelicha and the community and the rabbi. A good match will consist of the following:
- The shaliach/shelicha’s skills and character match the community’s needs.
- The community’s style and environment match the shaliach/shelicha requirements or expressed needs.
- The shaliach/shelicha and the community discuss their expectations in advance and set times for evaluation of the relationship throughout the
- All parties share reliable and relevant information – open communication.
The WUPJ facilitates matching between shaliach/shelicha and community, preparation of shaliach/shelicha and community for the shlichut, ongoing support during the visit and evaluation of the experience.
Shlichut for Israelis
The WUPJ supports traditional shlichut opportunities in cooperation with the Jewish Agency and the WZO – youth movement, community, education and shin-shin (gap year age) programs sending Israelis to communities in the Diaspora.
Shlichut for Clergy
We work to match rabbis, cantors and other spiritual leaders to communities around the world. We generally match for three types of service:
- Short-term visit for holidays such as the High Holidays and Pesach
- Long-term visit for 3 months to a year (i.e. interim rabbi)
- Long-term placement for 3 years or more with the possibility of permanent residence
- Long-term placement of frequent visits (once a month, once every few months)
Global Leadership Fellowship
The Global Leadership Fellowship (GLF) is designed to develop and enhance Progressive Jewish leadership skills by combining theoretical learning with practical application. The program enables participants to explore the theory of Global Progressive Jewish leadership and move towards action through the implementation of personal projects and embracing “global” leadership – bringing the global conversation to local activism and local needs to the global action. The fellowship combines webinars, a seminar in Israel, and personal mentoring.
Virtual Education Content
We call on all Jews who identify with Reform/Progressive values to examine these values and conduct roundtable discussions in your communities – to engage in intellectual discourse, contribute to shaping Reform/Progressive Judaism, and to meet like-minded leaders. View past discussions and presentations here.
Read the WUPJ Mission and Values.