UVA Jewish Studies is now accepting proposals for the Samuel and Evelyn Linden Scholarship in Jewish Studies for the Study of Peace and Social Justice in the Middle East.

The Samuel and Evelyn Linden Scholarship allows both undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Virginia to engage in advanced research, study, fieldwork, and project organization to help understand and promote dialogue, peace, and justice among Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinians. The mission of the scholarship is to nourish scholarly excellence combined with citizenship, social responsibility, and work towards intercultural understanding.

Successful applications will propose a course of study, a research project, or a creative program that is at home both inside and outside of academia, involves real-life communities, and exposes the applicant to rigorous learning as well as to human encounter. Scholarships, which range from $3,000–$3,500, may be used towards study and research in any field, encouraging a wide range of methods and approaches.

Applicants to the Linden Scholarship should submit a current CV or resume, a written proposal of no more than three pages explaining their project and its expected relevance for Jewish-Arab-Palestinian relations, and at least one letter of recommendation from an academic advisor who can speak to the scholarly merit of the project and the student’s ability to carry it out. The proposal should include:

1. the scholarly and civic contribution of the proposed project, clearly stating its methods and goals.
2. how the proposed project fulfills the mission of the Linden Scholarship.
3. a realistic scope and timeline for meeting the project’s goals.
4. the expected contribution of the project to the student’s academic and personal development.

Applications and letters of recommendation are due April 15, 2025, and should be emailed to the Jewish Studies Program at jewishstudiesprogram@virginia.edu.

Scholarships may be used for any part of the summer 2025 or the academic year 2025–26. Recipients will be expected to present their research at a special reception open to both academic and non-academic communities.