Photos and quotes from Genesis alumni discussing the impact Genesis has played on their lives.
Learn More About Genesis
Genesis was established in 1997 with a generous grant from Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation. It was designed as a summer program combining Jewish studies, academics, the arts, as well as what it means to participate in a diverse community. Genesis has continued to be Brandeis University's summer experience for motivated high school students.
Genesis participants enroll in one of four experiential college-level courses:
- Innovation and Revolution: The Relationship Between Technology and Society
- Journalism, Judaism, and Ethics
- Judaism and Justice
- World Religions: Encountering Diversity
The entire Genesis community comes together regularly to build community and learn experientially. Participants collaborate to create options for the entire community to celebrate Shabbat. Genesis is supportive of all of the ways in which Shabbat and Judaism are observed.
On this website, you will find descriptions of program elements, as well as the words and reflections of alumni and educators. A Genesis summer is more than the sum of all the exciting parts. If you are intrigued by what Genesis offers, we encourage you to apply and take your exploration to new levels. Every summer, and even every day, at Genesis is a new experience, because so much of the learning emerges from the particular combinations of teens who come together from different parts of the world, with different interests and experiences of Judaism.
You have something to share with Genesis, something that will be missing without your presence. In return, we can promise a learning experience like no other - a once-in-a-lifetime month of discoveries, insights, friendship and fun.
View a short video about Genesis
Read about the year-round administrative and educational staff