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 the kibbutz component, 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.

Marva

This is the general schedule for the Marva program. The order of the weeks and the free weekends change from course to course. On free weekends participants will be released by noon on Friday, and will be required to report back to the program on Sunday morning.

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION – This week will be spent in the home base of Sde Boker becoming familiar with army discipline and codes, learning first aid and topography and basic information about the IDF. In addition, you will undergo weapons training during which you will learn how to use an M-16 rifle. At the end of the week you will experience your first shooting range and first march/hike. Shabbat is spent on base.

WEEK 2: FIELD TRAINING – This week will be spent outside of the base in field conditions (no bathrooms or showers!). Participants will learn how to be a soldier in the field through lessons on topics such as camouflage, ambushes, training exercises and survival training in both day and night. Shabbat is free.

WEEK 3: NAVIGATION AND GALILLEE/GOLAN – During this week Marva stays at a base in the north. Participants have the opportunity to implement what they have learned in topography lessons through day and night navigation in small groups. In addition there will be tours in the north of Israel. Shabbat is spent on base.
WEEK 4: NEGEV – There will be a variety of activities in the Negev area including a visit to an infantry base, and intense walking and biking tours in the area. At the end of the week Marva climbs Masada at sunrise.

WEEK 5: SPORTS – This week is spent on an army base that is part of the Wingate Institute near Netanya. There, participants undergo intensive physical training including fitness, obstacle courses, self-defense and more.

WEEK 6: WOMEN/INFANTRY – During this week the men and women will be separated for the first and only time in the program. Women: The week will be spent visiting several army bases and learning about the opportunities for the female soldier in the IDF.

Men: The week will be spent doing infantry training at a base in the South. Training includes learning to use heavy weaponry as well as group exercises. Shabbat is free.

WEEK 7: JERUSALEM – This week is spent learning about the three different religions in Jerusalem, and exploring the old and new city. The weekend is spent on base.

WEEK 8: SUMMARY – This week is dedicated to ending lessons and discussions and a military graduation ceremony.

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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).

 

The World Bnei Akiva Leadership Institute is committed to training, inspiring and enriching the Jewish leaders of tomorrow. Providing a broad range of stimulating classes, combined with exciting seminar days exploring Israeli society, students are nurtured into making defining life decisions. The Institute provides educational programming for all World Bnei Akiva Year Programs and tailors the programs to the needs and backgrounds of each group. Every group spending time in the Leadership Institute will also design and coordinate a social action project whilst they are in Israel. Bnei Akiva continues to provide much of the Jewish leadership around the World, and the Leadership Institute aims to consolidate this success with emphasis on the following fields:

• Modern Jewish Challenges – Religious Jewish studies centred around cutting-edge discussions including the environment, human rights and post-modernism
• Modern Israel Studies – In addition to courses providing detailed background on Modern Israel students enjoy a Dynamic Ulpan Ivrit, Mini-seminars examining Israeli society, Opportunities to meet with the social shapers of our generation from across the Jewish spectrum.
• Tiyulim – Exciting and exhilarating tiyullim to the North and South of Israel
• Leadership Development – From Israel Advocacy to councilor training and even web design, everyone finds their niche in the leadership development program. This program is tailored to the individual skills of the participants.
• Social Action projects – program design and implementation in the areas where Israel needs it the most. Students will learn about social issues in Israel and then design a project that will make a difference
• Ariel University studies - Students will be able to take up to 2 courses. If students will take advantage of all courses they will be able to reach a total of 16 credits (12 yearly credits + 4 credits during their time in Ariel University Center).

View Machon Schedule

A development town is a city in Israel that does not yet conform to the norm of developed towns. The city’s original inhabitants primarily from North Africa are joined by veteran Israelis as well as immigrants from all over the world.

Volunteering in the city is one of the main focuses of the program. It combines all of Bnei Akiva’s principles of Torah Va’Avodah, and the group really gets down to modern pioneering Zionism.

There are a variety of volunteering possibilities. Due to the language differences, many of the activities focus on helping teach English. Learning English is a valuable skill that is becoming more and more relevant in Israel today. Besides working in the schools (elementary and high school) and afternoon enrichment clubs, there are opportunities to volunteer at Elderly Day Care Centres, and at the library in the Community Centre. For those volunteers with special skills we may be able to accommodate specific requests.
The volunteer work makes an enormous impact on the surrounding community. The volunteering is organized in conjunction with a local organization which focuses on volunteering programs across the community with many Israeli youth working in the same framework. The options of volunteering vary according to the participants’ choices and their suitability to the task.

In this period there is also Torah learning. One morning a week is set aside for Beit Midrash and there are two evening shiurim a week, as well as other pe’ulot and educational activities.
Living in a rented house or flat, the group takes responsibility for their daily living: cleaning, cooking etc. They are given a weekly budget and are responsible for most of their daily needs.

To date we have volunteered for the past three years in the city of Lod. We are currently assessing our achievements there and are investigating other cities as well.

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 Academic 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.