Leadership program expands locally
Jewish leadership group launches first Australia-only Tel Aviv program as Melbourne and Sydney presence expands.
A Jewish leadership organisation that places university students in prestigious internships across New York and Washington has announced it will run its first Australia-exclusive trip to Tel Aviv, as it deepens its local presence with a new Melbourne presence and growing operations in Sydney.
The Forum for Jewish Leadership (FJL), which originated in the UK and operates across Europe, Canada and the United States, completed an Australia cohort trip to New York and Washington in February and will launch a six-week Tel Aviv program in December.
FJL Australian director Gila Weiner said the Israel trip marked a significant milestone for local participants, who had previously only been able to join programs run for British or Canadian cohorts.
“This is an Australia-specific trip that we’re dedicating to them, and it aligns with their university,” she said.
The program places students aged 20 to 30 in internships across law, finance, architecture, politics and startups, with evening sessions featuring speakers from industry and the Jewish community. Melbourne director and educator Eddie Lichtig said past participants had sat in on the Harvey Weinstein trial as part of their placements.
Unlike similar programmes, FJL emphasises ongoing mentoring after students return home. Weiner said she meets with at least four students weekly, covering career development, Jewish identity and personal mentoring. The organisation also hosts Shabbat dinners, assists with CVs and job applications, and connects alumni with local Jewish communal organisations.
“We’re not just a three-week or six-week experience that becomes a distant memory,” Weiner said.
Both directors said the expansion of FJL’s Australian operations had been shaped in part by the aftermath of October 7.
“Students are leaning into Jewish experiences,” Weiner said. “A lot of them have said, ‘I need to understand more about who I am. I want Israel advocacy. I want to be a proud ambassador.'”
FJL’s Australian operation is currently funded by FJL Global, with plans to build a self-sufficient local branch as its alumni network grows.