Yeshiva University has announced the launch of the Gruen Fellows Program, a new initiative aimed at supporting Jewish day school education in North America. The program is funded by a $37 million endowment from the Gruen family and will provide selected high schools with annual fellowship support for one student in each grade who demonstrates academic achievement, Torah values, and leadership potential.
The Gruen Fellows Program is designed around two main goals: making Jewish day school more affordable for families and enhancing Torah learning experiences for high school students. Students chosen as Gruen Fellows will receive financial scholarships throughout their four years of high school. In addition to financial aid, fellows will have access to national programming and an eight-course curriculum developed by YU Global. They will also join a national cohort that encourages connection and shared growth among peers across the country.
Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, described the program as “more than a fellowship—it is a movement to support Jewish families, strengthen Jewish schools and develop the next generation of leaders grounded in Torah values.” He added, “We are deeply grateful to the Gruens for their vision and generosity. This initiative will create a long-lasting impact across communities.”
Participating schools nominate one incoming ninth-grade student each year to become a Gruen Fellow. These schools also become part of the Yeshiva University Network, gaining access to exclusive university programming and resources intended to strengthen their missions and connect them with other institutions.
Debbie Gruen, daughter of Ronald and Ethel Gruen—the philanthropists behind the endowment—said her parents were motivated by concerns about declining enrollment at Jewish high schools. “My parents believed deeply in making Jewish education accessible and easing the financial burden on families, and were particularly concerned about the enrollment drop happening at the high school level,” she said. “They wanted as many students as possible to continue to benefit from a meaningful Jewish education.”
Rabbi Ari Rockoff leads the program as YU’s David Mitzner Community Dean for Values and Leadership. He stated, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our schools, empower our students, and deepen our collective commitment to Torah and leadership. Together, we’re creating a national movement of young leaders who will shape the future of Jewish life.”
The program honors Ronald Gruen—a Holocaust-era immigrant from Czernovitz, Austria—and Ethel Gruen of New York for their contributions to founding Jewish educational institutions in Dallas and supporting Torah learning nationwide.
Applications for interested schools open in March 2026. More information can be found at www.yu.edu/gruen.
