Three young progressive leaders arrived in Israel last month for the start of the 2024-25 NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship. Nona Golan, Elisheva Malomet, and Dikla-Taylor-Sheinman will spend the next nine months interning at an NIF grantee that fits their interests.
Nona will spend her time at the Adva Center, which produces critical analyses of public policy from the perspective of equality and social justice. Elisheva will intern at Bimkom—Planners for Planning Rights, which strengthens democracy and human rights in the field of planning and housing policies in Israel and Area C of the West Bank. And Dikla will go to +972 Magazine, where she will write, edit, and translate articles for the online outlet. Additionally, all of them will study Israeli and Palestinian movements for social change, meet with veteran activists, attend educational tours, and participate in NIF-supported convenings.
Last year, NIF suspended the Social Justice Fellowship amidst the danger and uncertainty of the escalating war. This year, NIF staff understood that there was a strong desire–even a need–to get young activists back on the ground in Israel to help boost the urgent work of the Israeli left and develop a rising generation of leaders.
The Social Justice Fellowship Selection Committee chose Nona, Elisheva and Dikla from a large, competitive pool of fellowship applicants. “I am incredibly impressed by the determination that Nona, Elisheva, and Dikla are showing by choosing to be on this fellowship during the ongoing war in order to support progressive Israeli and Palestinian social change organizations,” said Zak Witus, NIF’s young leadership and education manager, said. “We are in a watershed moment in the history of the Middle East, and our fellows’ will carry this precious experience with them for the rest of their lives.”
Check out the fellows’ full bios on the NIF website.
Are you or do you know a young person interested in spending a year in Israel fighting for social justice? The application for SJF 2025-26 is now open!