The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) announced that Zev Nagel and Alejandro Okret have been awarded the organization’s prestigious 2010-11 Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship (RIG) in International Jewish Communal Service. This highly-coveted fellowship enables participants to engage in intensive grassroots service and program activity in a number of the more than 70 countries where JDC operates.

In his first placement, Okret will head to Israel to work on issues related to food security, including the regulation of food banks and harvesting of agricultural produce. Nagel will travel to Hungary to work on programs related to young European Jewish leaders and to provide help with conflict resolution training for local institutions.

Applications are now open for the best young Jewish thinkers and doers – writers, artists, policy shapers, business innovators, and community builders – to help influence the future of Jewish life and the world through the RIG Fellowship. Submit letters of intent by December 30, 2010 for the 2011-12 fellowship. Complete applications are due by January 15, 2011.