The Legacy Heritage Internship for Young Scientists (LHIYS) is a year-long experience which commences with a rigorous six-week summer program. The program is designed to introduce brilliant high school juniors/rising seniors with demonstrated scientific aptitude and community achievement to a hands-on experience with Israeli scientists in combination with extensive educational touring through the State of Israel and dynamic and engaging Jewish learning. The goal of LHIYS is to propel the participants along the path of scientific studies, to educate about Israel’s place in the modern world and to encourage the future generation to become active leaders in their Jewish communities.

Interns are selected for the program based on three criteria: outstanding work in science, leadership and/or involvement in Jewish communal life and potential for growth in their personal identification with Judaism. This program is unique in that it values the academic growth of the participants equally to their personal growth in the Jewish world.

This comprehensive program brings students to the Belmonte Laboratories of Hebrew University for guided research and laboratory experience under the mentorship of doctoral candidates and eminent professors at Hebrew University.  Participants will discover the processes of scientific research through hands-on investigation, regular scientific lectures and seminars and visits to scientific venues at Hebrew University throughout Israel.

Personal growth will come from experiential learning and significant dialogue among peers and professionals. Walking through Jerusalem and re-enacting its history; hiking through the Negev and role-playing Israeli pioneers coping with the rigors the desert demands; listening to the poetry of Israel's laureates and empathizing with their emotions; engaging music to enhance the mystical experience of a space, and so forth will give participants a love for Israel that can be gained no other way. This learning aims to further awaken the Jewish soul, to teach tolerance and respect and to strengthen participants' connection to Judaism and Israel.

Through the summer experience of the Legacy Heritage Internships, participants will become passionate supporters of Israel; helping to secure her future for generations to come. Through interesting lectures from highly regarded historians, interactive workshops with educators, and training sessions with experts in Israeli politics, Interns will learn how to represent and advocate for Israel in their community, on campus and in the business world.

Upon returning from Israel during the school year, Interns will be expected to participate in a variety of educational and informational activities focusing primarily on science as well as Israel advocacy during the school year. Interns will be required to develop and implement a 40 hour community service project designed to focus on Israel and attend a winter shabbaton/retreat. Participants will also read and write articles for a monthly newsletter, keep up-to-date on new scientific developments, Israel affairs and maintain on-going communication with all of the Legacy Heritage Interns. Participants will also submit the research work conducted in Israel to various local, national and international science competitions. Ongoing contact with program staff including research mentors will be an important part of this process.

LHIYS is intended for the teenager who has experienced Judaism on varying levels - for example, in a Day School or in a supplementary Hebrew School, at a Jewish camp or at a Passover Seder. In addition, participants are expected to have experience in developing or participating in a social action project in their own community

Locale
This program will be conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in the dormitories of the Authority for Community and Youth (ACY) and at the laboratories of the Belmonte Center which are all located on the Givat Ram campus.

Enrollment
Our 2008 application period has passed. Please check back in the fall of 2008 for an update about our 2009 program.  You may email LHIYS@LHFL.net to be notified of the new application period.  The group will tentatively travel from June 29th to August 10th, 2009.

Evaluation
Applications will be evaluated by the staff of Legacy Heritage Programming LLC, selected consultants, and faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.