The goal of the Wexner Israel Fellowship (תכנית העמיתים של קרן וקסנר) is to provide Israel’s next generation of public leaders with superlative training in public management and leadership development, thus enhancing the quality of democracy and the institutional vitality of Israel’s public sector.
Since 1989, the Wexner Foundation has been committed to the promotion of excellence and leadership in Israel’s public sectors.
The application process is closed at this time.
If you’d like to be notified when the application for 2021-22 opens, please click here.
Each year, up to 10 outstanding public sector directors and leaders from Israel work toward their Master in Public Administration degree at Harvard Kennedy School. These mid-career students – Wexner Israel Fellows – commit to returning to Israel and remaining in the public sector for at least three years after completing the program.
Upon completing the program, graduates join the Wexner alumni community, where they continue to learn, develop and apply their newly acquired tools to even greater benefit for Israel’s society.
The Wexner Foundation seeks to promote diversity by actively encouraging public sector professionals from all walks of Israel’s society – men and women, Jews and non-Jews, residents of the periphery and those of central Israel, and more – to apply for this unique leadership program.
WIF Alum Dr. Maurit Beeri, Class 20
The Wexner Israel Fellowship is a gift that goes on giving… Experiencing the richness and depth of HKS training was just the beginning; spending some time and studying alongside colleagues from around the globe opened my eyes to a dimension of opportunities I had not expected. I can easily say that being a part of The Wexner Foundation and its programs definitely made me a better leader and a much deeper thinker.
Director General, Alyn Hospital
The Wexner Israel Fellowship takes place at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership (CPL) with some 200 students from around the globe who take part in the MC-MPA. HKS attracts faculty on the cutting edge of their fields, houses 13 research centers and regularly hosts high profile speakers.
In addition to HKS coursework, participants take part in a robust co-curricular program grounded in servant leadership and experiential learning designed to deepen self-awareness, cross-cultural competence and social responsibility. Fellows also explore models of leadership and peoplehood in the American Jewish community. Wexner fellows attend a weekly seminar and special events held by The Wexner Foundation throughout the school year.
Additionally, Fellows will meet with senior US government officials and become acquainted with the local Jewish and North American communities, from all shades of Judaism.
Download an informational brochure about the Wexner Israel Fellowship here.
The Wexner Israel Fellows are managed by Keren Zefania and supported by Program Coordinator Sharon Zini. Dana Savoray-Hadar coordinates WIF Alumni and Elisha Gechter manages the Fellows at Harvard.
If you think this fellowship is for you please fill in an Eligibility Form on the Wexner Foundation website once the application process is open.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their Eligibility Form as early as possible to leave sufficient time to invest in the full Application.
Submitting an Application Form (AF) is the next step in the process and is only possible once you have filled in the EF and have received an e-mail from The Wexner Foundation confirming your eligibility and permitting you to proceed to the application.
After you fill in the EF and if you meet the eligibility requirements, you will receive an email from The Wexner Foundation requesting to submit a full Application with the following documents:
The Wexner Foundation invites suitable candidates who have been accepted to HKS to interview in front of the selection committee. The selection committee gathers each year in March. Interviews will be held both in Hebrew and in English, by two separate panels of the committee.
Applicants are requested to save the interview dates, as there will be no opportunity to interview at other times.
Applicants are notified of the admission committee’s decision within 7 days of their interview.
Any Questions?
Please contact Keren Zefania, WIF Program Manager.
WIF Alum Major General (reserve) Johanan Locker, Class 8
The Wexner Israel Fellowship is an important contribution for the future of Israel and its strength. I am proud to be an alumnus.
Chairman, Israel Chemicals Limited (ICL); Former Military Secretary General to the Prime Minister
The Wexner Israel Fellowship is open to applicants who:
Diversity and Inclusion are a core value of The Wexner Foundation. We strive to select cohorts that represent the broadest possible representation within Israel’s civil service.
Note:
Applicants to the Harvard Kennedy School are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by passing the TOEFEL exam with a grade of 100 or above or the IELTS exam with a grade of 7 or above. Applicants are advised to take the exam at the earliest date possible.
Registration for Class 32 opens
First Online information session.
Open house sessions are an opportunity for candidates to hear more about the program and ask questions about the process.
Second Online information session.
Open house sessions are an opportunity for candidates to hear more about the program and ask questions about the process.
Third Online information session.
Open house sessions are an opportunity for candidates to hear more about the program and ask questions about the process.
Deadline for submitting the Eligibility Form (EF)
Deadline for submission of HKS Application
Deadline for submission of TWF (The Wexner Foundation) Application
Finalists Interviews**
**Candidates/Fellows participation in the program is conditioned to taking part in these events.
Announcement of Class 32 Fellows
Orientation day, Part 1 for Class 32 Fellows**
**Candidates/Fellows participation in the program is conditioned to taking part in these events.
Orientation day, Part 2 for Class 32 Fellows**
**Candidates/Fellows participation in the program is conditioned to taking part in these events.
Orientation day, Part 3 and farewell ceremony for Class 32 Fellows**
**Candidates/Fellows participation in the program is conditioned to taking part in these events.
HKS Classes begin
The WIF scholarship includes the following:
For useful information on Harvard applications and financial matters:
Harvard International Office
HKS-Applying for Financial Assistance
We recommend checking the cost of living in Cambridge, Massachusetts ahead of time, particularly if you are not entitled to paid leave by your employer, in which case we strongly recommend establishing additional financing resources for the year. The Wexner Foundation permits WIF fellows to receive a living allowance from other sources, providing the allowance is not designated to cover tuition.
Upon graduating, the participants join the Foundations’ alumni communities in Israel and the U.S. for further shared learning and significant activities for the public and society in Israel.
The alumni community and senior leaders network include over 500 members, most of them serving in senior key positions in Israel’s public service: Director Generals of government ministries, senior officers in the IDF, judges, hospital directors, municipality and third sector NGO’s director generals, etc.
The alumni community activities include annual institutes, networking and tutorial groups, Forums gatherings for peer consultation, summits with U.S. alumni and work teams to promote professional cross-boundary collaborations, Adaptive Leadership workshops, Accelerator workshops and more.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their Eligibility Form (EF) as early as possible once the application process is open. This is important in order to leave enough time to work on your essays and complete your full Application Form. It is also recommended that candidates register for the TOEFL/ IELTS test as early as possible.
Yes, you can.
HKS allows applicants to take the required standardized tests up to the application deadline. For further information on this topic and others, please look at HKS’s Admissions Blog.
Please contact the HKS admission’s office directly by email with your question. If you are exempt by Harvard from taking the TOEFL/IELTS tests, please let The Foundation know as soon as possible.
Please be in direct contact with the human resources department in your office regarding this question.
Candidates who re-apply will need to fill out the forms once again, though they may base their answers on the material they have already submitted to the Foundation. We require this because forms may change from year to year.
Members of the same family can apply for the Fellowship, however, the Fellowship is awarded to no more than one family member per current academic year.
Only when referring to a professional military career. Mandatory service, including additional service as an officer (קבע ראשון לקצינים ו/או נגדים), will not be considered as experience in the public sector.