Why Brandeis?
As a medium-sized private research university with global reach, we are dedicated to first-rate undergraduate education while making groundbreaking discoveries. Our 235-acre campus is located in Waltham, a hub for higher education and innovation. Our faculty are leaders in their fields, and as passionate about teaching and mentorship as they are about pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Our students are motivated, compassionate, curious, and open to exploring new and challenging experiences. At Brandeis, you will discover a community rooted in purpose, guided by our founding values, poised to lead in education and research in the 21st century.
The Brandeis Precollege Experience
Genesis at Brandeis is Brandeis Precollege's residential summer program. At Genesis, you'll connect with other motivated teens from around the globe, learn with Brandeis faculty and staff, and explore the Brandeis campus during a life-changing summer of learning and experiential programming with a vibrant Jewish community of friends.
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With the help of dedicated community educators and teaching assistants, you’ll explore the unique assets of Brandeis University – its world-class institutes and centers that focus on Jewish learning – while deepening your understanding of Judaism through spiritual practice, mini-courses, community-building activities, social action opportunities, guest workshops and much more.
Explore new perspectives; develop and strengthen your voice; pursue your interests within a dynamic community; and discover how Jewish wisdom, study and practice can inform the way you work towards a more just world. You’ll make lifelong friends, connect with amazing Jewish thought leaders, and experience life on the extraordinary Brandeis campus.
Learn more about Genesis
Genesis 2024 will take place from July 7 to July 28 on the Brandeis University campus in Waltham, MA.
- Scholarship deadline: April 1, 2024
- Application deadline: May 1, 2024
Judaism, Gender, Justice and Allyship
Instructor: Rabbi Mike Moskowitz
In this innovative and academically rigorous course, students will explore the ways in which Judaism, gender and justice intersect, overlap and sometimes come into conflict with each other. Using the excellent resources at Brandeis, a variety of traditional and modern Jewish sources, and the latest in gender theory and research, students will consider how to make the world a more just and equitable place for people of all genders, and how allyship can significantly motivate and engage us for good. Each student will also develop a capstone initiative on a particular topic of interest, with the intent to take their work beyond the summer and into their home communities. Join bright, curious and creative students from all over the world while diving into a fascinating area of study.
Justice Brandeis, Bread and Roses and Beyond: American Social Movements and the Jews
Instructor: Aaron Marans
Louis Brandeis, our University’s namesake, was the first American Jew to serve as a Supreme Court Justice and played a pivotal role in shaping American legal and social policy. Following in his footsteps, American Jews have served as leaders and community organizers in many of America’s most significant social movements, from the Labor Movement to Civil Rights and beyond. This thought-provoking course will explore the legacy of Justice Brandeis and how the American Jewish community’s engagement in the struggle for equality and freedom continues to influence American life today.
Becoming Themselves: Transformations in the Bible
Instructor: Rabba Wendy Amsellem
Our ancient Biblical ancestors went through some challenging, overwhelming, inspiring and revolutionary changes as they made their way through life. Their struggles and successes have woven themselves into the fabric of Jewish learning and life for millenia, and now it’s your chance to see them through your own eyes. In this thoughtful and introspective course, you’ll consider the lives of several unique and complex Biblical characters and how they evolved over their lifespan and truly became who they were meant to be. All texts are in English and no previous Jewish text experience is required.
While Brandeis University’s Undergraduate Admissions does not favor those who participate in Brandeis Precollege programs in its admissions decisions, it does consider all extracurricular and summertime activities in students’ applications — including academically challenging programs like our Precollege programs, paid employment, internships, volunteerism and more.