Resnick Fellowship at the National Library of Israel – Call for Applications
Overview
The Resnick Fellowship at the National Library of Israel brings leading scholars from around the world to Jerusalem for an intensive research residency grounded in the Library’s five core collections: Israel, Judaica, Islam and the Middle East, General Humanities, and Israeli and Jewish Music. Fellows also have access to the extensive holdings of the Central Archives for the Jewish People (CAJP), housed at the Library. Each year, a small cohort of Fellows is selected through a highly competitive international process.
Designed as both a research opportunity and an intellectual encounter, the Resnick Fellowship provides scholars with sustained time, expert support, and direct engagement with rare manuscripts, archives, music, and other primary sources that cannot be accessed elsewhere. Each Fellow works closely with a dedicated personal librarian and an academic host, enabling new discoveries and fostering meaningful scholarly exchange.
The program supports two tracks—Senior Scholars and Emerging Scholars—reflecting the Library’s commitment both to established leaders in the field and to the next generation of researchers. Together, Resnick Fellows contribute to a shared intellectual environment that extends beyond the individual project.
By bringing scholars into close dialogue with collections, experts, and one another, the Resnick Fellowship exemplifies the National Library of Israel’s role as a global center for research, culture, and ideas.
Fellowship Components
Resnick Fellows are provided with the time, resources, and intellectual support necessary to pursue original, collection-based research at the highest level.
Research Residency
Fellows spend one to two months in residence at the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, enabling sustained, focused research in direct engagement with the Library’s collections.
Personalized Scholarly Support
Each fellow is paired with a dedicated personal librarian and an academic host, offering expert guidance, facilitating access to materials, and supporting connections within the Israeli academic community.
Access to Unique Collections
Fellows engage directly with the Library’s world-class holdings that include manuscripts, rare books, archives, maps, and musical and oral recordings. Fellowship proposals must demonstrate a clear and substantive use of these collections.
Digitization and Research Resources
A dedicated digitization allowance supports the reproduction of research materials, enabling work to continue beyond the residency, contributing to long-term scholarly outcomes.
Scholarly Exchange and Public Engagement
Resnick Fellows take part in the intellectual life of the Library, engaging with graduate students and the broader scholarly community through seminars and public or scholarly forums.
Eligibility and Application Process
The Resnick Fellowship is awarded through a competitive international selection process to scholars whose work demonstrates intellectual distinction and a strong engagement with primary sources.
Eligibility
The Fellowship supports two categories of applicants:
• Senior Scholars: Established academics holding a tenured or equivalent position, with a record of significant scholarly achievement.
• Emerging Scholars: Postdoctoral researchers and early-career scholars who have recently completed their PhD and show exceptional promise in their field.
Applicants from all countries are welcome; residents of Israel are not eligible.
Application Requirements
Applicants are asked to submit using on online form on the NLI website:
Resnick Fellowships Application
- Curriculum vitae
- Research proposal (detailing the project and its use of NLI and CAHJP collections)
- Brief personal statement
- Two confidential letters of recommendation (submitted separately)
All materials should be submitted through the online application system by June 30, 2026.
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by an international selection committee. Evaluation is based on academic excellence, the originality and feasibility of the proposed research, and the extent to which the project engages the Library’s collections.
For an overview of the Resnick program, please see: The Resnick Fellowship Program at the National Library of Israel
For further information, please contact Reuven Kruger, Resnick Fellowships Coordinator, at resnickfellows@nli.org.il