Judaic Studies Department offers two types of internships:
Community Internships - for Credit
2 or 4 Credit Internships are available with multiple community organizations.
Internships carry the "O" Gen Ed.
4 Credit Internship requires approximately 6 hours on-site with 6 hours additional
work
2 Credit Internship requires approximately 3 hours on-site, 3 hours additional work.
Academic requirements might include:
- Reading list
- Weekly journal
- Term paper or project
- Students will meet as a group every two weeks to present on their not-for-profit, issue facing the organization and specific project goals and details.
- Students who are interested in an internship should contact the Chair or Director of Undergraduate Studies for details and application information.
Students who wish to participate in an internship and who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that they will be asked about their prior criminal history. This may impede your ability to participate in certain internships. Students who have concerns about such matters, or are looking for additional information, are advised to contact the dean's office of their intended academic program.
Internships include:
- Early childhood education internship at Hillel academy
- Journalism internship at the reporter group
- Jewish History Museum planning and initial research
Please note that all in-person internships will require abiding by strict guidelines required by SUNY.
Journalism Internship
- Name of organization: The Reporter Group
- On-site Supervisor: Rabbi Rachel Esserman
- Details of project: The intern will learn how to write articles about Jewish campus life and the local community. The intern will also have the opportunity to try writing different types of articles such as op-ed, interviews, etc. The intern will work with Executive Editor, Rabbi Rachel Esserman, to learn these skills.
Early Childhood Education Internship and Teaching Assistant
Name of organization: Hillel Academy
On-site Supervisor: Mrs. Sarah Macdougal
Details of project: Work Ganeinu educational program as a teaching intern and assistant working with our youngest
students (4 years old). Ganeinu introduces students to customs and ceremonies, including
Hebrew language, story-time, Challah making, songs and dance.
This Internship may be enrolled by multiple students.
The 3-4 year old group learns through play mostly. Story time. Challah making. English/Hebrew letter learning through puzzles, painting etc .. 8:30-11:45
Jewish History Museum of the Southern Tier
Name of organization: Congregation Temple Concord
On-site Supervisor: Lisa Blackwell
Details of project: The intern will work with Committee members in the planning and
early stages of developing a museum of Jewish life in the Southern Tier.
The Southern Tier Jewish History Museum at Kilmer Mansion mission is to
inspire people from every background to connect with and preserve the history and
culture of the Jewish community in Binghamton and throughout the Southern Tier. We
accomplish this mission by:
• Collecting and preserving historical artifacts and archival materials that tell
the story of the Southern Tier’s Jewish heritage
• Providing high-quality, educational, and enjoyable exhibits and programs for
school students and the general public
• Placing the history of the Jewish people of Binghamton and the Southern
Tier into a regional, national, and international context
Other Internships are available and can be arranged, depending on student interests.
As always, check BUBrain for the latest updates and the Harpur Bulletin for course
descriptions and details. BUBrain is the official listing and has the latest updates.
Please contact Prof. Karp or Prof. Burch with any questions.
Summer Internships - Funded
In order to offer funded Summer Internships specifically for Binghamton students, we currently partner with:
- BBYO (Washington, D.C.)
- Jewish Women's Archive (Boston)
- Joint Distribution Committee Archives (NYC)
- Museum at Eldridge Street (NYC) .
Application Process:
To apply for an internship, send Dr. Burch (bburch@binghamton.edu) a PDF file consisting
of a . . .
• letter of application
• résumé
• name and contact information of one professional reference
• two brief writing samples (or links to those)
Merge all items into one PDF file. The deadline for applying is . I will then check
each file for completeness and forward the applications to our institutional partners.
Requirements:
Non-graduating seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen eligible with minimum GPA:
3.3
Preference given to Judaic Studies majors and minors
Funding Amount: $5,000
Deadline for application is February 11, 2024 at 11:59 PM.
| Students who wish to participate in an internship and who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that they will be asked about their prior criminal history. This may impede your ability to participate in certain internships. Students who have concerns about such matters, or are looking for additional information, are advised to contact the dean's office of their intended academic program. |
B’nai B’rith Youth Organization - BBYO (Washington, D.C.)
We're a global network of passionate professionals excited to make a difference in
the lives of Jewish teens. We are the Jewish community's largest and fastest growing
pluralistic platform for reaching and inspiring Jewish teens during the school year
with 600 teen-led local chapters and over 100 weekend retreats along with a plethora
of summer experiences including Israel visits, global travel programs, and leadership
camps. We work as a strong and inclusive team, and every day is different by design.
We are fast-paced, high energy, and results-driven.
As a Jewish Enrichment Intern, your responsibilities will include…
• supporting the team in developing innovative experiences with high quality, Jewish
content that engages high school teens socially, culturally, communally, and intellectually
• inspiring teens to embrace their Jewish journey
• promoting and exemplifying BBYO’s pluralistic commitment
• serving as a resource, providing guidance for teens in their preparation for programs
and activities.
Joint Distribution Committee Archives (New York, NY)
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is a global Jewish humanitarian assistance organization established in 1914. The JDC Archives, one of the world’s leading repositories for the study of modern Jewish history and of American humanitarian intervention, seeks an intern to work in Summer 2024 on exciting projects relating to its audiovisual and photo collections.
The more than 3,000 audiovisual holdings in the JDC Archives range from early silent films depicting JDC's work with Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union to footage from the post-WWII period to more contemporary videos of JDC’s humanitarian work in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Israel, and Latin America.
The intern’s responsibilities will include viewing archival videos from the 1980s to 1990s to provide or enhance descriptive information for audiovisual materials, cataloguing related items in the Archives’ inventory and the database, and conducting research to enhance the description and contextual references, such as world events, geographic locations, and notable individuals. The secondary project will include cataloguing of photographs and research identifying relevant information about JDC's photographers.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate clear and effective communication skills and keen attention to detail. They will have an interest in audiovisual materials and a strong background in Jewish Studies, geography, and/or history. To learn more about the JDC Archives, visit our website and find us on Facebook!
Jewish Women's Archive (Brookline, MA)
The Rennert Jewish Women’s History Internship
NOTE: THIS INTERNSHIP IS IN THE BOSTON AREA.
The Jewish Women’s Archive (JWA) is a national organization dedicated to collecting and promoting the extraordinary
stories of Jewish women and gender-expansive people. JWA explores the past as a framework
for understanding the issues important to women today; inspires young people with
remarkable role models; and uses Jewish women’s stories to excite people to see themselves
as agents of change. Today, JWA is the world’s largest collection of information on
Jewish women. Each year, millions of people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds,
from more than 230 countries, engage
with and rely on JWA’s resources. JWA hosts https://jwa.org/events; trains the thought leaders of tomorrow through the Rising Voices Fellowship; sparks conversation with its blog, podcast, and social media presence; and is a leading voice in feminist and Jewish spheres.
The ideal internship candidates will be motivated and enthusiastic and have a strong
interest in Jewish Studies, feminism, and public history. Summer interns are expected
to work a minimum of 16 hours per week, and will support a variety of projects, such
as:
• Assisting with ongoing revision of the Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women by updating entries and adding multimedia illustrations.
• Working with JWA’s extensive collections of oral histories by transcribing or reviewing
oral history transcripts and cataloging, describing, and organizing oral history records.
• Adding entries to the “This Week in History” feature.
• Contributing to JWA’s robust social media presence.
• Assisting in the marketing of JWA’s events and programs.
Experience & Qualifications:
• Strong writing skills
• Detail-oriented
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent computer skills
• Keen interest in the history of Jewish women and feminism
• Background in history, gender studies, or Jewish Studies; interest in public history
a plus.
Opportunities:
• Gain unique insight into the inner workings of a nationally recognized non-profit
• Gain increased understanding of the editorial process
• Learn about the rich history of Jewish women
• Connect to an influential network of professional women and community partners
• Receive professional advice and guidance from JWA’s talented staff
• Build marketable professional skill.
Museum at Eldridge Street
The Programs and Visitor Experience Intern will work closely with the Museum’s Director of Public Engagement and Director of Programs and Visitor Experience to learn a wide array of museum management skills. This internship will likely be a hybrid of on-site and remote work. On-site interns will work closely with staff to welcome guests in a safe and organized way and provide assistance to visitors in the building. When not engaging with visitors, interns will work with staff members to help plan, promote, and implement virtual programs; research visitor engagement strategies; assist with communications and public engagement and other projects as they arise. Interns learn basic museum management skills, including managing admissions, opening, closing, and more—as well as deeper skills related to strategy and capacity building at nonprofits.
The Museum at Eldridge Street is a non-sectarian Museum housed in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, a magnificent National Historic Landmark built in 1887. Exhibitions, tours, cultural events, and educational programs tell the story of Jewish immigrant life at the turn of the last century, explore architecture and historic preservation, inspire reflection on cultural continuity, and foster inter-group collaboration and exchange.
The Museum is interested in a full-time, reliable intern who is a strong writer, can help research content, and is great at talking to people in a hospitality/customer service capacity. Interns should plan to work in person.
Please contact Prof. Burch with any questions.
Previous Internships Opportunities
PJ Library Internship
Name of organization: The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton
Details of project: The Jewish Federation of Binghamton offers a program called the
PJ Library to children from 6 months to 8 years of age. The program sends a book of
Jewish content each month to the home of those children who have enrolled. The intern
will create and run two to three creative events/programs for the Spring semester.
As part of planning these programs, the intern will contact all the people who are
involved in PJ Library. Programs can be held at the JCC or any of the local synagogue
Video of Madison Jackson's Exhibition at the Hannukah House Museum, November 2017
