Internships

Judaic Studies Department offers two types of internships: 

Community Internships - for Credit

2 or 4 Credit Internships are available with multiple community organizations.
Internships carry the "O" Gen Ed.
4 Credit Internship requires approximately 6 hours on-site with 6 hours additional work
2 Credit Internship requires approximately 3 hours on-site, 3 hours additional work.

Academic requirements might include:

  • Reading list
  • Weekly journal
  • Term paper or project
  • Students will meet as a group every two weeks to present on their not-for-profit, issue facing the organization and specific project goals and details.
  • Students who are interested in an internship should contact the Chair or Director of Undergraduate Studies for details and application information.

Students who wish to participate in an internship and who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that they will be asked about their prior criminal history. This may impede your ability to participate in certain internships. Students who have concerns about such matters, or are looking for additional information, are advised to contact the dean's office of their intended academic program.

Other Internships are available and can be arranged, depending on student interests.
As always, check BUBrain for the latest updates and the Harpur Bulletin for course descriptions and details. BUBrain is the official listing and has the latest updates.

Please contact Prof. Karp or Prof. Rabineau with any questions.

Summer Internships - Funded

In order to offer funded Summer Internships specifically for Binghamton students, we currently partner with:

  • BBYO (Washington, D.C.)
  • Jewish Women's Archive (Boston)
  • Joint Distribution Committee Archives (NYC)
  • Museum at Eldridge Street (NYC) .

Application Process:

To apply for an internship, send Dr. Rabineau (rabineau@binghamton.edu) a PDF file consisting of a . . .
• letter of application
• résumé
• name and contact information of one professional reference
• two brief writing samples (or links to those)
Merge all items into one PDF file. The deadline for applying is February 3, 2025. Each file will be checked for completeness and be forwarded to our institutional partners.

Requirements:
Non-graduating seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen eligible with minimum GPA: 3.3
Preference given to Judaic Studies majors and minors
Funding Amount: $5,000

Deadline for application is February 3, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Students who wish to participate in an internship and who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that they will be asked about their prior criminal history. This may impede your ability to participate in certain internships. Students who have concerns about such matters, or are looking for additional information, are advised to contact the dean's office of their intended academic program.

B’nai B’rith Youth Organization - BBYO (Washington, D.C.)

We're a global network of passionate professionals excited to make a difference in the lives of Jewish teens. We are the Jewish community's largest and fastest growing pluralistic platform for reaching and inspiring Jewish teens during the school year with 600 teen-led local chapters and over 100 weekend retreats along with a plethora of summer experiences including Israel visits, global travel programs, and leadership camps. We work as a strong and inclusive team, and every day is different by design. We are fast-paced, high energy, and results-driven.


As a Jewish Enrichment Intern, your remote responsibilities will include supporting the BBYO HR and Talent team with summer camp logistics as well as work on special projects regarding recruitment, the BBYO Genesis Fellowship, and more. June-August (8 weeks, flexible on date). This is a remote internship.

Joint Distribution Committee Archives (New York, NY)

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is a global Jewish humanitarian assistance organization established in 1914. The JDC Archives, one of the world’s leading repositories for the study of modern Jewish history and of American humanitarian intervention, seeks an intern to work in Summer 2025 on exciting projects relating to its audiovisual and photo collections.

The more than 3,000 audiovisual holdings in the JDC Archives range from early silent films depicting JDC's work with Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union to footage from the post-WWII period to more contemporary videos of JDC’s humanitarian work in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Israel, and Latin America.

The intern’s responsibilities will include viewing archival videos from the 1980s to 1990s to provide or enhance descriptive information for audiovisual materials, cataloguing related items in the Archives’ inventory and the database, and conducting research to enhance the description and contextual references, such as world events, geographic locations, and notable individuals. The secondary project will include cataloguing of photographs and research identifying relevant information about JDC's photographers.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate clear and effective communication skills and keen attention to detail. They will have an interest in audiovisual materials and a strong background in Jewish Studies, geography, and/or history.

To learn more about the JDC Archives, visit our website and find us on Facebook! 

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED

You will gain: 

  • Familiarity with archival concepts
  • Familiarity with archival research techniques 
  • Familiarity with aspects of Jewish world history in the 20th century 


REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Faculty recommendation from Binghamton University Judaic Studies
  • Current or previous coursework in Jewish Studies and/or Jewish History
  • Strong interest in archives, librarianship, or Jewish history
  • Ability to bend, reach, and lift up to 30 lbs. occasionally, up to 10 lbs. regularly
  • Ability to read words and numbers
  • Ability to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment
  • Ability to communicate in person or over the telephone


PREFERRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to work on one’s own and as part of a team
  • Ability to ask clarifying questions, troubleshoot, and solve problems
  • Proficiency with common computer applications (MS Office Suite, etc.) 


LOCATION:

Typically, the intern will work at JDC’s climate-controlled offsite facility in Long Island City where some of the collection is stored and New York headquarters in midtown Manhattan. Remote work is a possibility. 


ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

  • Employment Type: Part Time
  • Hours: 12-20 hours a week, between the hours of 8:45AM – 4:45PM. Schedule dependent on intern availability.
  • Location: New York, NY
  • Reports to: Film and Photo Archivist 
  • Job Function/Department: Archives
  • Expected/Preferred start date: To be determined - typically open as semester or summer programs

Jewish Women's Archive (Brookline, MA)

The Rennert Jewish Women’s History Internship

Note: This Internship may be remote, or locally at the JWA offices in the Boston area.

The Jewish Women’s Archive (JWA) is a national organization dedicated to collecting and promoting the extraordinary stories of Jewish women and gender-expansive people. JWA explores the past as a framework for understanding the issues important to women today; inspires young people with remarkable role models; and uses Jewish women’s stories to excite people to see themselves as agents of change. Today, JWA is the world’s largest collection of information on Jewish women. Each year, millions of people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, from more than 230 countries, engage with and rely on JWA’s resources. JWA hosts public programs; trains the thought leaders of tomorrow through the Rising Voices Fellowship; sparks conversation with its blog, podcast, and social media presence; and is a leading voice in feminist and Jewish spheres. 


The ideal internship candidates will be motivated and enthusiastic and have a strong interest in Jewish Studies, feminism, and public history. Summer interns are expected to work a minimum of 16 hours per week, and will support a variety of projects, such as:

  • Assisting with ongoing revision of the Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women by updating entries and adding multimedia illustrations.
  • Working with JWA’s extensive collections of oral histories by transcribing or reviewing oral history transcripts and cataloging, describing, and organizing oral history records.
  • Adding entries to the “This Week in History” feature.
  • Contributing to JWA’s robust social media presence.
  • Assisting in the marketing of JWA’s events and programs.

Experience & Qualifications

  • Strong writing skills
  • Detail-oriented
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Excellent computer skills
  • Keen interest in the history of Jewish women and feminism
  • Background in history, gender studies, or Jewish Studies; interest in public history a plus

Opportunities

  • Gain unique insight into the inner workings of a nationally recognized non-profit
  • Gain increased understanding of the editorial process
  • Learn about the rich history of Jewish women
  • Connect to an influential network of professional women and community partners
  • Receive professional advice and guidance from JWA’s talented staff
    Build marketable professional skill

Museum at Eldridge Street

Museum at Eldridge Street Education & Public Programs intern for summer 2025

This is an onsite internship ideal for individuals interested in the museum field, childhood education, family learning, history, Jewish studies, art history, anthropology, social history, historic preservation, and architecture. Interns will have the opportunity to work in a variety of departments, including public programs, education, visitor experience, exhibitions, and more. 

The Museum at Eldridge Street is a non-sectarian Museum housed in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, a magnificent National Historic Landmark built in 1887. Exhibitions, tours, cultural events, and educational programs tell the story of Jewish immigrant life at the turn of the last century, explore architecture and historic preservation, inspire reflection on cultural continuity, and foster inter-group collaboration and exchange.

The Museum is interested in a full-time, reliable intern who is a strong writer, can help research content, and is great at talking to people in a hospitality/customer service capacity. Interns should plan to work in person.

Please contact Prof. Rabineau with any questions.

Previous Internships Opportunities

PJ Library Internship
Name of organization: The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton

Details of project: The Jewish Federation of Binghamton offers a program called the PJ Library to children from 6 months to 8 years of age. The program sends a book of Jewish content each month to the home of those children who have enrolled. The intern will create and run two to three creative events/programs for the Spring semester. As part of planning these programs, the intern will contact all the people who are involved in PJ Library. Programs can be held at the JCC or any of the local synagogue.