Brandeis Stories

By Julian Cardillo ’14
July 24, 2025

Every summer, Brandeis University becomes a vibrant hub for pluralistic Jewish learning through Genesis, a three-week precollege program that brings together high school students from across the globe in an immersive academic and community experience that blends rigorous coursework with joyful, experiential Jewish life.

Launched in 1997 with a Righteous Persons Foundation grant from Academy Award winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, H’86, Genesis is designed for academically curious, Jewishly-engaged teens — Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, secular and everything in between (including non-Jewish) — to explore big questions, deepen their Jewish identity and build friendships that transcend borders and denominations.

"Very few spaces exist where teens can come together in a pluralistic Jewish environment to learn, debate and grow," says director Laura Hyman, a veteran Jewish educator. "Genesis is a hidden gem."

Each student selects one of three academic courses that explore contemporary topics through a Jewish lens.

This year’s offerings included courses on Bible and interpretation, gender and justice in Judaism, and the legacy of American Jewish involvement in social movements. Classroom learning is complemented by electives, field trips to Boston-area Jewish organizations, and student-led Shabbat experiences. These hands-on components foster creativity, leadership and a deeper sense of Jewish community.

"It’s a kind of pop-up community," says Hyman. "Each summer, students who’ve never met before come together from around the world — we’ve had students from all over, including Israel, Rwanda, Peru, Hungary, Italy, Turkey, Germany and across the U.S. — to experience Jewish life and learning in a way that’s collaborative, challenging and incredibly rewarding."

This summer, Genesis welcomed 37 students from 14 states and four countries. Participants lived in Brandeis residence halls, dined together in the campus dining halls, and gained a meaningful taste of college life. Admissions tours and info sessions are part of the program, and many Genesis staff members are current or former Brandeis students themselves.

Riley Miner ’25, a Genesis alumna and former Hillel president at Brandeis, returned to the program in recent summers as both a teaching assistant and staff member. Now serving as the program’s administrative coordinator, Miner calls Genesis a “gateway into Jewish academic study."

“Genesis helped me realize how powerful Jewish education could be,” she says. "That summer made me want to attend Brandeis. It was the first place I felt part of a pluralistic Jewish community where I could opt in and out freely — and still feel fully included."

That early experience shaped Miner’s path. She’s now preparing for a role in Jewish education and leadership at a congregation in Richmond, Virginia.

In the past five years, over 25 Genesis alumni have matriculated at Brandeis, and several have gone on to lead the university’s Hillel student board. Globally, the program has 1,500 alumni.

"It’s quite literally a pipeline into Jewish leadership," Miner says.

Genesis also emphasizes accessibility. Roughly 50% of students receive financial aid, and scholarships are available through various foundations and federations — including support for students from Russian-speaking families and first-time Jewish camp participants.

As synagogue affiliation rates decline and Jewish communities evolve, Genesis provides a much-needed space for teens to explore their identity in a supportive, inclusive environment, says Hyman.

“We’re helping to build the future of Jewish life,” she adds. “One summer at a time.”