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.
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.
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.
What you’ll 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.
Who’s it for?
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.
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.”
Have Questions?
Program FAQs
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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 WorldIt includes two in-person weekend retreats (November and April/May) and virtual Zoom speaker sessions every first and third Wednesday of the month at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.
Presenters and syllabus still being finalized
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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.
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The JLeaders Academy tuition includes two full weekend retreats (includes accommodations, food and meeting space), one all-day hybrid Sunday retreat, online assessments, nine 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
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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.
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Tuition for the 2026-27 Academy starts at $995, 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 $895
Double Room for both Retreats* $1,155
Private Room for both Retreats* $1,415
Regular Tuition 3 or 4 Person Room for both Retreats $995
Double Room for both Retreats* $1,255
Private Room for both Retreats* $1,515
* The additional fee for double and private guest rooms covers our increased cost from the retreat center.
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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/bUCePujR7t7yDgQq6
Logistics
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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, a Sunday retreat (in-person and virtual), and nine virtual (Zoom) sessions. Virtual sessions are typically held every other Wednesday evening from 6 to 7:30 pm PT.
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The first JLeaders Academy retreat will take place end of November/beginning of December at URJ Camp Newman in Northern California.
Exact dates will be confirmed shortly!
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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.
