Apply for the 2025-2026 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship
The application deadline is Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. Sign up here to receive updates about the program. Contact Assistant Legislative Director Jacob Greenblatt with any questions.
About the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship
The Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Program is a year-long fellowship for recent college graduates or young professionals who are interested in Judaism, social justice, and public policy. Being an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant (LA) at the Religious Action Center (RAC) of Reform Judaism means playing a pivotal role in carrying out the Reform Movement’s social justice work: legislative advocacy and public policy, campaigns and organizing, communications, and leadership development programming.
The salary for the 2025-2026 cohort is $50,000. The program will run from August 19, 2025 to August 7, 2026.
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment within the Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship and the RAC, reflecting the varied communities we represent. As part of this commitment, we encourage applications from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds, including but not limited to People of Color, individuals with disabilities, those from marginalized socioeconomic backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those at the intersection of these and other marginalized identities. No specific academic or Jewish background is required to be a legislative assistant, and applicants do not need to be affiliated with the Reform Movement. Learn more about the fellowship's focus on racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Learn more about the fellowship's focus on racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
All work occurs across lines of difference, recognizing that building transformative relationships is core to achieving a world in which Judaism enables all people to experience peace and wholeness (shalom), justice and equity (tzedek), and belonging and joy (shayachut and simcha).
LAs' work includes:
- Federal Advocacy and Communications: LAs ensure that the voice of the Reform Movement's 825 congregations, 2,000 rabbis, and 1.8 million Reform Jews are heard in the halls of Congress, by the White House, and among organizational partners in Washington DC. LAs serve as the lead staff member on designated policy issues, playing a key role in developing strategy, drafting materials, mobilizing rapid response, and driving our work forward. One LA, the Linda Rae Sher Legislative Assistant, will work specifically on abortion, reproductive rights, and women's rights. LAs mobilize Reform Jewish leaders (including clergy, adult lay leaders, and teens), partners, and others adjacent to the Reform Movement at the grassroots level to leverage their power in service of our policy priorities. LAs play a key role in creating, posting, and disseminating action alerts, social media, blog posts, press releases, and other communications and materials to decision-makers, the media, congregational leaders, and stakeholders. Finally, LAs support the work of the Commission on Social Action, which serves as the social justice policy-making body for the Reform Movement.
- Conferences and Programming: LAs develop and implement programming for the RAC's L'Taken Social Justice Seminars for high school students, which occur in Washington, DC over four weekends throughout the winter - and will support expansion of L'Taken to adult and Canadian audiences. LAs also support RAC and URJ programs to identify, train, and mobilize youth justice leaders, including the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship, Teen Jews of Color Fellowship, Teen Israel Organizing Fellowship, NFTY justice programming, and more. LAs will also attend and staff other RAC and URJ in-person gatherings and events throughout the year.
- Campaigns and Organizing: LAs support the RAC's nine state organizing projects and national campaign(s) focused on strengthening democracy and overcoming hate in the United States and Israel. They mobilize Reform Jewish leaders and support outreach and engagement with individuals new to the Reform Movement's justice work to achieve victories on the local, state, provincial, and federal level.
ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION
To learn more about the 2025-2026 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Program, register for an optional information session! This is an informal opportunity to learn more about the application process, ask questions, and meet current RAC staff members.
- Monday, February 10 at 4-5pm ET: Register Here
- Thursday, February 13 at 6-7pm ET: Register Here
- Tuesday, February 18 at 6-7pm ET: Register Here
- Thursday, February 27 at 3-4pm ET: Register Here
Information sessions will not be recorded. If you are unable to attend and want to schedule a separate time to learn more about the program, please contact Assistant Legislative Director Jacob Greenblatt.
WHAT ARE CURRENT AND FORMER LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS SAYING ABOUT THE PROGRAM?
Following the fellowship year, many Eisendrath Legislative Assistants attend graduate school or pursue careers in advocacy, Jewish life, academia, law, public policy, and more. Hear directly from current and former LAs about how the program has impacted their lives and careers.
"The LA position has given me the opportunity to dive deep into the federal policy world, while also learning about the unique ways in which we can organize in the faith-based space. I have been able to sit at the same table as experts in my issue areas and engage in active, hands-on learning, which has been an invaluable experience. This is truly such an amazing first job to have!" - Ellen Garfinkle (she/her), 2023-2024 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant
"I started the LA fellowship a couple years after college to transition from being a public school teacher to working in policy and advocacy. This role prepared me to critically consider the ways in which different spheres of influence come together. Being an LA was like taking a crash-course in legislative advocacy, coalition partnership, and community organizing-all in areas I deeply care about." - CJ Sánchez (they/them), 2023-2024 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant
"I am grateful for my time as an LA at the RAC, which provided me hands-on, professional experience within legislative advocacy, community organizing, and policy reform, and helped prepare me for my new leadership roles as Policy and Advocacy Director for National Religious Partnership for the Environment and Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. I learned how to run and participate in effective meetings with House and Senate offices, represent Reform Jewish values at meaningful events, and take lead on engaging the Jewish community in support of just legislation. As a Hispanic, Latino Jew of Color, I am grateful to have brought a new perspective to this role and to have supported work that reflects not only my personal values, but provides greater education, opportunity, and possibilities for others." - Israel Harris (he/him), Advocacy Director for Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) and Policy Director for National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE), 2021-2023 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant
"The Legislative Assistant Fellowship at the RAC is like no other early-career experience. I had the opportunity to interface with top leaders and contribute in a direct, meaningful way to the policies within my portfolio areas. I formed valuable relationships and learned how to turn a passion for Judaism and justice into concrete action. I credit this experience with setting me on my career path as a rabbi, community organizer, and now Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism!" - Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her), Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism
"Working as an LA at the RAC was exactly the first job I needed. The work helped me learn the ropes of DC advocacy and public policy, as well as develop the skill set to be successful working on Capitol Hill and beyond. I learned from wonderful mentors at the RAC and its partner organizations. Above all, the opportunity to advocate on behalf of the Jewish community in pursuit of repairing the world was an extraordinary opportunity early in my career, and I would do it again in a heartbeat." - Charlie Arnowitz, Policy Advisor to Governor Jared Polis (CO), 2013-2014 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant