An introduction to your year, your group, your experiences, and your country. We will preparing ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead of us, and getting to know everyone who will be involved in your year. This short seminar is a bonding experience which starts the year on a high, and sets the fast pace by which we mean to continue.

 

The Kibbutz option provides you with an inside perspective on an alternative Israeli lifestyle. Bnei Akiva participants are Viewed as valuable contributors to the kibbutz and experience many aspects of kibbutz life.

During kibbutz, you'll live together in kibbutz housing and meals are generally eaten in the communal dining room with kibbutz members. Working alongside kibbutz members, you may share duties in the field, gardens, factories, kitchen, dining hall or childcare facilities. You'll be offered placements according to the work requirements of the kibbutz.
The group will also become involved in kibbutz social and communal activities such as Shabbat and holiday celebrations. You'll also be "adopted" by an Israeli kibbutz family, enabling you to have a closer view of what kibbutz life means for the children and adults who reside there permanently.

Your work on the kibbutz will be supplemented by an Ulpan Ivrit (Hebrew language course) which will be a part of your daily schedule.

In the midst of the year, you will have a special opportunity to travel to Poland and explore the rich Jewish heritage that once existed there, and to learn about the tragic events of the Holocaust that destroyed them. The trip to Poland is prepared for meticulously by the educational staff of the program to ensure that the experience is a meaningful and transformative one. The trip is led by a professional tour guide, support staff and madrichim.

For two months on the program, you will be studying in two separate locations for boys and girls. The boys will be studying at yeshivat Torah Betzion located in Kattamon, Jerusalem, while the girls will be studying at Migdal oz located in Gush Etzion. There will be separate program organized for the Bnei Akiva group. The boys and the girls will have the opportunity to experience Yeshiva style studies while learning in the Beit Midrash. The programs will be supplemented with outings organized by the educational staff.

» View Yeshiva Schedule
» View Midrasha Schedule

Applicants can choose between participating in Marva or Magen David Adom.

Sarel

Tafnit North America Academic track students volunteer in Sarel for two weeks. The students are based in army bases and work alongside or under the direction of soldiers and perform duties such as packing food rations or medical kits, changing spare parts, gardening, painting, or cleaning. The Tafnit students work for about 8 hours per day, Sunday through Thursday (the Israeli work week). In the evenings, there are various activities and educational presentations on various topics such as the Hebrew language, Israel’s history, Jewish holidays and traditions, and social and political issues in Israel. In addition, we take the group on site-seeing trips or tiyulim during their time on Sarel.

The “chevre” get to wear army uniforms and while making a real contribution to the State of Israel, experience what soldiers life is in Israel.

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Magen David Adom

The participants can select to spend a period completing a Magen David Adom First Aid Course, and then volunteering at an MDA station.

The MDA program begins with a 60-hour first-aid training course; an intense eight days of learning that covers material ranging from bandaging a simple wound through CPR and mass casualty incidents. The six weeks that follow are dedicated to experiencing Israel in the very real sense. While riding the ambulances through the city where you are placed, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the Israeli population with its wide diversity of people, its many colors, religions and beliefs. You will be working with Israelis in an Israeli environment, perfecting your Hebrew and making wonderful new friends. All while saving lives.

Training Course
The training course, which takes place during the first week of the program, is compulsory in order to volunteer for MDA. The course is very intense and classes will run from early in the morning until late at night. Successful completion of the course certifies the participant as a “Certified First Responder” through MDA Israel. The course will take place “in house” in a youth hostel or absorption centre. Housing and three meals a day are provided during the course to allow you to focus on your studies.

The course is given in English, however Hebrew vocabulary words will be given, and participants may be tested on those words. Slides and other training material may be presented in Hebrew and then explained in English, in order to enforce the Hebrew vocabulary. According to MDA regulations, students are required to participate in all classes during the training course unusual circumstances may be considered by the course director.
Participants may be quizzed daily on the material learned up until that period. On the last day of the program participants will be given a certification exam on all of the material covered in the training course. The exam consists of a written test and a practical test. Participants must pass both tests in order to be eligible to volunteer for MDA. The exam is compulsory and any student who does not pass the exam will not be allowed to volunteer for MDA.

Placements
Each MDA station can accommodate only a certain number of volunteers. The bigger stations such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa can take 10-12 overseas volunteers, while the smaller stations can accommodate only 2-5. The reason for this limitation is that only two-three volunteers and a driver can staff the ambulance. While large stations may have 8-10 ambulances per shift, smaller stations tend to have 2-3 ambulances on call per shift. The overseas volunteers join Israeli volunteers that work regularly at the station.

While we understand that you may wish to be placed in a certain city, one that you are acquainted with, or have family in, it is important to keep in mind that the main reason you have come on the program is to help MDA and the Israeli people. If you are placed in a station that is already full, you will not be accomplishing that goal.

Work at MDA Stations

Participants are required to do five 8-hour shifts a week while on the program. Participants will be assigned to morning (7:00-15:00) and night (23:00-7:00) shifts. Afternoon (15:00-23:00) shifts are available to overseas volunteers in some stations, but in most, these are shifts specifically for Israeli high schoolers. The 16 shifts are assigned by the station Volunteer Coordinator according to the stations needs with consideration of the volunteer’s requests. On the ambulance you will be supervised by a medic (the driver).

Insurance & Medical Requirements
Before coming on the program participants must have had Hepititus A & B vaccinations. The first two vaccinations are given a month apart and the third is given 6 months later. You must receive all three; however, you may begin volunteering for MDA after receiving the first two. (Do not forget to receive the third one on time). It is advised to take the vaccination abroad before coming on the program. The participant must bear the cost for these vaccinations (about 300 shekels each).

 

Tafnit North America offers a unique academic experience at the Ariel University Center (AUC).

Tafnit North America – Academic Track combines the best Israel components with a semester at a top Israeli Academic Institute. The AUC Department for Foreign Students offers an intensive and diverse semester of study that will get you started with your academic life. Students will live in the new campus dormitories experiencing authentic Israeli student life, they will be able to choose from a variety of courses relating to Israeli Politics, Society and Modern History. With the possibility of completing up to 6 courses, students will be able to reach a total of 24 credits, transferable to their first year of studies. Our students will have the opportunity to spend their free time at the Ariel state-of-the-art country club. The semester also includes amazing trips and Shabbatonim organized by the Bnei Akiva staff on campus. Periodically, Students will join together with the Leadership Track students, as well as all the international participants of the World Bnei Akiva Year Programs.

» The AUC Website

» Watch a movie about AUC

» View a sample of the daily schedule at AUC

Finishing the year as we started, we tour the places that you most want to visit.

We wrap up the year with your comments, and end with a fantastic final group Shabbat and party.

 

Every part of the program is filled with amazing Tiyulim (trips). Our goal is that the participants will familiarize themselves with all the major areas of the land of Israel. The connection to the land must be made by walking in it and by seeing it as well as by studying about it. Our students will walk where our patriarchs walked, follow in the footsteps of King David and retrace the battles of Joshua. They will marvel at the waterfalls of the Golan, the solitude of the Negev desert and the colorful coral reefs of the Red Sea. They will interact with the Land of Israel through their feet, hearts and minds.

The year also includes incredible and inspiring Shabbatonim organized by the Bnei Akiva staff. Periodically, Students will join together with the Leadership Track students, as well as all the international participants of the World Bnei Akiva Year Programs.

The students will be supervised on site by their madrichim and by the professional staff of the program which they are on. Tafnit North America is a part of the World Bnei Akiva Hachshara year programs department. Therefore, our students will benefit both educationaly and logisticaly from the entire Hachsha staff. The connection with the parents is done via email. Furthermore, parents receive a detailed bi-weekly update of the past weeks activity which includes pictures.