JLeaders Academy

Impactful leadership development illuminated by Jewish wisdom.

For young professionals ready for a deeper leadership experience.

Join the 2027 Academy Cohort

You are building a life with more responsibility, more decisions, and more influence. The Academy gives you the space, structure, and peer community to think seriously about who you are becoming and how you want to lead.

Through retreats, live learning, expert-led sessions, and honest cohort conversation, you will explore the questions that shape real leadership: character, communication, responsibility, identity, relationships, values, and purpose.

This is not a networking group. It is not a lecture series. It is a serious growth experience for people who are ready to participate fully.

The JLeaders Academy is a cohort-based leadership program for young adults who want to become more intentional leaders — in their careers, communities, relationships, and lives.

The 2027 Academy at a Glance

November 2026 - May 2027

Hybrid, 2 immersive Shabbaton weekend retreats, 8 live Zoom learning sessions, National cohort of emerging Jewish leaders

Retreat Dates

  1. November 20–22, 2026

  2. Early May 2027

9 Virtual Sessions
Every other week, alternating between:

  • Sundays | 9:00–11:00 AM PT

  • Wednesdays | 5:30–7:00 PM PT

Application Deadline

October 2, 2026

Academy tuition

Early bird: $1000 before September 14

Full tuition: $1180

The tuition includes the full Academy experience, including two Shabbaton weekend retreats (housing, food & meeting center), and eight Zoom sessions.

Join The Academy

What you’ll experience:

A serious cohort

Build relationships with peers also asking big questions about leadership, identity, and purpose.

Retreats

Step away from daily life to reflect, connect, and engage in deeper conversations.

Live learning

Learn from experienced leaders, educators, facilitators, and practitioners across sectors.

Peer reflection

Process leadership questions with people who bring different experiences, perspectives, and ambitions.

Jewish wisdom

Use Jewish texts, values, and ideas as a lens for thinking about character, responsibility, community, and the kind of life you want to build.

By the end of the Academy, you should have:

More clarity about your values, leadership style, and next steps.

More confidence in how you communicate, make decisions, and take responsibility.

Stronger relationships with peers nationally who know you beyond your resume.

A deeper understanding of how Jewish wisdom can inform your leadership.

A clearer sense of the kind of leader — and person — you want to become.

What you’ll build:

The Academy may be right for you if:

You are a Jewish young adult in your 20s or 30s.

You are ambitious, reflective, and open to challenge.

You care about becoming stronger as a leader, professional, and person.

You want thoughtful peers who will push your thinking and support your growth.

You are open to exploring Jewish wisdom as a lens for leadership, meaning, and responsibility.

You’re ready to show up with curiosity, humility, and commitment.

Who’s it for?

JLeaders Academy 2027

Application Timeline

August 2026

Early Bird Applications

Applications open.

October 2, 2026

Applications Deadline

Applications close for submission.

September - October 2026

Program Interviews

Interviews conducted on a rolling basis.

October 16 2026

Admission Decisions

Admission decisions will be sent to all applicants.

November 20–22, 2026

Academy Kickoff Retreat

The 2027 Academy cohort officially kicks off.

Join the 2027 Academy cohort today!

Start Your Application

What past participants say:

“The J Leaders Academy reinforced the importance of aligning what I believe with what I do.”

“This was one of the first places that I felt like I could fully be myself—ambitious, Jewish, thoughtful, all at once.”

“The Academy helped me become more grounded in who I am and how I want to lead.”

“I loved everything that I learned about leadership skill development, but what I appreciate most were the connections I made with the other fellows.”

“Intellectually serious. Emotionally human.”

Program FAQs

  • The JLeaders Academy is designed in three cascading phases:

    Fall – Personal Empowerment
    Winter – Building & Leading High Performance Teams
    Spring – Being a Force for Good in an Organization & the World

    It includes two in-person weekend retreats (November and May) and virtual Zoom speaker sessions are held every other week, alternating between Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings to better accommodate participants' schedules.

    Presenters and syllabus still being finalized.

  • JLeaders understands that there are times when fellows are not able to attend every session. That said, if you know that you will not be able to attend a weekend retreat or more than 2 virtual sessions, we respectfully request that you not apply, and allow someone else to take that space.

  • The JLeaders Academy tuition includes two full weekend retreats (includes accommodations, food and meeting space), online assessments, eight virtual sessions, some fun JLeaders’ branded swag and more. The actual cost for JLeaders to run the Academy is over $4,000 per fellow.

Applying to JLeaders Academy

  • Applicants should:

    • Be young adults in their 20s and 30s

    • Be committed to actively engage and participate in the entire program

    • Possess a desire for self-reflection and self-improvement

    • Demonstrate interest in exploring and learning more about Jewish values and wisdom

    • Desire to be a part of a growing and active Jewish young adult community

    • Be ambitions and prioritize constant self-improvement

    • Apply online

    Finalists will be interviewed by representatives of the JLeaders Academy leadership team. Interviews will allow JLeaders to better understand your qualifications and interest, and equally important, provides candidates the chance to ask questions and learn more about the program.

  • Tuition for the 2026-27 Academy starts at $1180, based on sleeping room selection for the retreats.

    This tuition rate provides a sleeping room for 3 or 4 people at both retreats. Double and private rooms are available for an additional fee (to cover the added cost). Please request your first and second choice. Due to limitations of available sleeping room configurations, not all requests can be met, but we’ll do our best to accommodate you. Tuition payment will be requested upon acceptance into the Academy.

    Early Bird Tuition 3 or 4 Person Room for both Retreats $1,000

    Double Room for both Retreats* $1,260

    Private Room for both Retreats* $1,520

    Regular Tuition 3 or 4 Person Room for both Retreats $1,180

    Double Room for both Retreats* $1,440

    Private Room for both Retreats* $1,700

    * The additional fee for double and private guest rooms covers our increased cost from the retreat center.

  • The cost of the JLeaders Academy is heavily subsidized thanks to the generous support of our many generous donors. The true cost of the Academy is $4,000 per fellow. Our tuition is approx 20% of the program cost.

    Even so, we recognize that this subsidized rate may not be affordable for everyone. The JLeaders board of directors is committed to ensuring that the Academy is accessible to all qualified prospective fellows, regardless of their economic circumstances.

    Financial aid is provided as a grant to fellows for a 3 to 4 person shared room at both retreats. Financial aid does not cover 100% of the tuition. JLeaders awards financial aid on the basis of demonstrated need and the availability of funds.

    Financial aid decisions are made independently from program acceptance decisions and does not affect a candidate’s chances for acceptance.

    The financial aid application form can be found at: https://forms.gle/5fx9A7QBC2SG64cu9

Logistics

  • The JLeaders Leadership Academy is a 6 month hybrid learning program that combines face-to-face and virtual learning. The 2026-27 JLeaders Academy includes two Shabbaton weekend retreats and eight virtual (Zoom) sessions. Virtual sessions are held every other week, alternating between Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings to better accommodate participants' schedules.

  • The first JLeaders Academy retreat will take place on November 20-22 at URJ Camp Newman in Northern California.

  • The weekend retreats are an integral part of the Academy program.

    The first retreat will be held at the beautiful URJ Camp Newman located in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County

    The second retreat will be at Urban Adamah in Berkeley, CA.

    Weekend retreats will start with a Friday night Shabbat opening reception and dinner and go through Sunday lunch.

Join the 2027 Academy cohort today!

Add my name

Have Questions?