The E. David Fischman Scholarship

 

In 1949, Polish-born Edward David Fischman arrived in St. Paul to begin life all over again — alone. The 40-year-old Holocaust survivor lost most of his family — including his wife and only child — in the war. A hardware manufacturing business owner and musician in Warsaw, Fischman settled in St. Paul’s Selby-Dale area. He lived a modest life there, belying the substantial fortune he would acquire during the next few decades through real estate investments. When Fischman died in 1995, he left an extraordinary legacy with a resounding impact on the future of Israel.

 

In his will, he created the E. David Fischman Scholarship Fund, which provides full tuition to enable Israeli graduate students to attend America’s best universities to obtain doctorates in political science, law, or economics.

 

“He wanted to offer Israel's best and brightest an opportunity for a quality education, on the condition that they return and help transform Israeli society,” explains Rabbi Morris Allen of Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights, which Fischman joined late in his life. “He had a great love of Israel, and he understood its importance for Judaism the world over.”

 

The St. Paul Jewish Federation administers the scholarship fund, which has granted 97 scholarships since its inception. With the high cost of tuition, often as much as $75,000 a year, this prestigious prize is sought by an increasing numbers of applicants.

 

The E. David Fischman Scholarship, administered through the St. Paul Jewish Federation, provides full tuition and most general fees (excluding medical and housing) for graduate degrees through completion of a doctorate degree in political science, law or economics at a top university in the U.S., such as (but not limited to) Harvard, Yale, Stanford, or Columbia, to Israelis who have served in the IDF.  The scholarship is awarded annually to a limited number of qualified applicants. Upon completion of their studies, Fischman Scholarship recipients are obliged to return to Israel and occupy a position in their profession in civic or political life for a minimum of five years.

Application process for the 2024-2025 academic year is tentatively scheduled to open on December 1, 2023. Application deadline: February 1, 2024

 

Click here to read the full updated guidelines and limitations of the scholarship.  Students must read these guidelines before applying. If you have any questions, please contact fischman@stpaulfed.org. 

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