A Mechina Kdam-Tzvait ( he, מכינה קדם צבאית; "pre-military preparatory", plural Mechinot) is an autonomous unit of specialized educational institutions valuing
non-formal education
Non-formal learning includes various structured learning situations which do not either have the level of curriculum, syllabus, accreditation and certification associated with 'formal learning', but have more structure than that associated with ...
and pre-military training in
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
. Funded and supported by the
Ministry of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
and
Ministry of Defense
{{unsourced, date=February 2021
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
, as well as by the
Israeli Defense Forces
Israeli may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the State of Israel
* Israelis, citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel
* Modern Hebrew, a language
* ''Israeli'' (newspaper), published from 2006 to 2008
* Guni Israeli ...
. As for 2017, there are 46 mechinot whose mission is to prepare for the conscientious service in the army, and to educate leaders of local communities that could affect society and state. Educational program blocks mostly include:
Judaism
Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...
and Jewish identity,
Zionism
Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after ''Zion'') is a Nationalism, nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is ...
, development of leadership skills, volunteering, and elements of military training. Most mechina programs last one academic year.
Students
Training in mechinot is based on values of Zionism,
democracy
Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose gov ...
,
pluralism and
tolerance. In most cases, tuition is largely provided with state funding and
scholarships
A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need.
Scholarshi ...
.
Alumni
Almost 90% of Mechina graduates hold high posts in the
IDF
IDF or idf may refer to:
Defence forces
* Irish Defence Forces
* Israel Defense Forces
*Iceland Defense Force, of the US Armed Forces, 1951-2006
* Indian Defence Force, a part-time force, 1917
Organizations
* Israeli Diving Federation
* Interac ...
, according to the Mechina Law, which was adopted by the
Knesset
The Knesset ( he, הַכְּנֶסֶת ; "gathering" or "assembly") is the unicameral legislature of Israel. As the supreme state body, the Knesset is sovereign and thus has complete control of the entirety of the Israeli government (with ...
in 2008. This is often work in combat and special units that directly deal with hostilities.
25% of officer graduates and 10% of graduates of the prestigious pilots course at the
Israeli Air Force Flight Academy
The Israeli Air Force Flight Academy trains aircrew to operate Israeli Air Force aircraft, qualifying fighter, helicopter and transport pilots as well as combat and transport navigators.
The IAF flight course is considered one of the most pres ...
are previous Mechina graduates. Commanders of
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...
s and divisions give preference to graduates of mechinas, as the year of training, personal development and volunteering prepares them to become mature leaders who are ready to take responsibility, lead by example, and solve difficult situations that demand a high morale and serious experience with human
dilemma
A dilemma ( grc-gre, δίλημμα "double proposition") is a problem offering two possibilities, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or preferable. The possibilities are termed the ''horns'' of the dilemma, a clichéd usage, but disti ...
s.
Pre-army mechinot
There are four types of pre-army mechinot:
*
Religious
Religion is usually defined as a social system, social-cultural system of designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morality, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sacred site, sanctified places, prophecy, prophecie ...
*
Secular
Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin ''saeculum'', "worldly" or "of a generation"), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. Anything that does not have an explicit reference to religion, either negativ ...
* Joint religious and secular
* International programs
Religious pre-army mechina
A religious mechina is intended for graduates of a
yeshiva
A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are s ...
high school or a
religious high school, and prepares them for their service in the
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
. Focus is placed on preparing them for the encounter with secular society in the army by studying "
''Machshava''" - Jewish thought, beliefs, and outlooks. Students also prepare physically for their service period, and receive leadership training from active-duty officers.
The first religious mechina, ''Bnei David'', was founded in 1988 in
Eli
Eli most commonly refers to:
* Eli (name), a given name, nickname and surname
* Eli (biblical figure)
Eli or ELI may also refer to:
Film
* ''Eli'' (2015 film), a Tamil film
* ''Eli'' (2019 film), an American horror film
Music
* ''Eli'' (Jan ...
, a Jewish settlement in the
West Bank
The West Bank ( ar, الضفة الغربية, translit=aḍ-Ḍiffah al-Ġarbiyyah; he, הגדה המערבית, translit=HaGadah HaMaʽaravit, also referred to by some Israelis as ) is a landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...
.
Other religious mechinot:
*
Ateret Cohanim
Ateret Cohanim ( he, עמותת עטרת כהנים ''lit.'', "Crown of the Priests"), also Ateret Yerushalayim, is an Israeli Jewish organization with a yeshiva located in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It supports the creati ...
in (
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem (, ; , ) is the sector of Jerusalem that was held by Jordan during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, as opposed to the western sector of the city, West Jerusalem, which was held by Israel.
Jerusalem was envisaged as a separat ...
)
*
AMIT
Amit is a male given name of Indian or Hebrew origin.
In Hindi, Amit ( hi, अमित, means "infinite" or "boundless", bn, অমিত) originates from the Sanskrit word ' (अमित:), ' (अमित:) essentially is the negation of ' ...
Rosh Pina in
Rosh Pinna
Rosh Pina or Rosh Pinna ( he, רֹאשׁ פִּנָּה, lit. ''Cornerstone'') is a local council in the Korazim Plateau in the Upper Galilee on the eastern slopes of Mount Kna'an in the Northern District of Israel. It was established as Gei ...
* Arzei HaLevanon in
Ma'ale Efraim
Ma'ale Efrayim ( he, מַעֲלֵה אֶפְרַיִם, lit. ''Ascent of Ephraim'') is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, organized as a secular settlement and a local council, located along the eastern slopes of the Samarian mountains in th ...
(West Bank)
* Carmey Hayil in
Beit Rimon
Beit Rimon ( he, בֵּית רִמּוֹן, ''lit.'' House of the Pomegranate) is a kibbutz located in the Lower Galilee Regional Council in Israel. It consists of a core kibbutz and a residential expansion. It is located in the Lower Galilee o ...
* Hemdat Yehuda in
Hemdat
Hemdat ( he, חֶמְדָּת) is a community Israeli settlement in the West Bank located near the Palestinian hamlet of Khirbet Makhoul,Reuters and Gili Cohen'European diplomats: Israeli army manhandled us, seized Palestinian aid,'at Haaretz, ...
(West Bank)
*
Elisha
Elisha ( ; or "God is my salvation", Greek: , ''Elis îos'' or , ''Elisaié,'' Latin: ''Eliseus'') was, according to the Hebrew Bible, a prophet and a wonder-worker. His name is commonly transliterated into English as Elisha via Hebrew, Eli ...
in
Halamish
Halamish ( he, חַלָּמִישׁ. ''lit.'' Flint), also known as Neveh Tzuf ( he, נְוֵה צוּף, links=no, ''lit.'' Oasis of Nectar), is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, located in the southwestern Samarian hills to the north ...
(West Bank)
* Eretz HaTzvi in
Peduel
Peduel ( he, פְּדוּאֵל) is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located about 10 km from the State of Palestine, Palestinian city of Burqin, Palestine, Burqin, 25 km east of Tel Aviv and adjacent to Alei Zahav, Beit Aryeh-Ofarim ...
(West Bank)
*
Katzrin
Katzrin ( he, קַצְרִין; also Qatzrin, ar, قصرين, qaṣrīn) is an Israeli settlement organized as a local council in the Golan Heights. Known as the "capital of the Golan", it is the second-largest locality there after Majdal Sh ...
in
Katzrin
Katzrin ( he, קַצְרִין; also Qatzrin, ar, قصرين, qaṣrīn) is an Israeli settlement organized as a local council in the Golan Heights. Known as the "capital of the Golan", it is the second-largest locality there after Majdal Sh ...
(Golan Heights)
[Children and Youth at Risk](_blank)
The Pratt Foundation, Israel
*
Kiryat Malachi
Kiryat Malakhi ( he, קִרְיַת מַלְאָכִי, also Qiryat Malakhi or Kiryat Malachi) is a city in the Southern District of Israel, from Ashkelon. In it had a population of . Its jurisdiction is 4,632 dunams (~4.6 km2).
Histor ...
in
Kiryat Malachi
Kiryat Malakhi ( he, קִרְיַת מַלְאָכִי, also Qiryat Malakhi or Kiryat Malachi) is a city in the Southern District of Israel, from Ashkelon. In it had a population of . Its jurisdiction is 4,632 dunams (~4.6 km2).
Histor ...
* Keshet Yehuda Pre Military Academy in Keshet (Golan Heights)
* Magen Shaul in
Nokdim (West Bank)
*
Maskiot in
Shadmot Mehola (West Bank)
* Otzem AKA Atzmona after their
previous location, currently located in
Nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
.
* Yatir in
Beit Yatir
Beit Yatir ( he, בית יתיר), officially Metzadot Yehuda ( he, מְצָדוֹת יְהוּדָה), is an Israeli settlement in the southern Hebron Hills of the West Bank, organized as a religious-Zionist Orthodox moshav. Located on a hill, 9 ...
(West Bank)
*
Yemin Orde
Yemin Orde () (Lit: "Orde Memorial") is a youth village near Haifa, Israel named for Orde Wingate.
History
Yemin Orde Youth Village was established in 1953 by the British Friends of Youth Aliyah. The name was given to commemorate British Major Gen ...
in
Hatzor HaGlilit
Hatzor HaGlilit ( he, חָצוֹר הַגְּלִילִית lit. "Hatzor of Galilee") is a town in the Korazim Plateau in northern Israel near Rosh Pinna and Safed. It is named for the nearby biblical site of Tel Hazor. In it had a population o ...
Secular pre-army mechina
A secular mechina focuses on preparing high school graduates for citizenship as well as
IDF
IDF or idf may refer to:
Defence forces
* Irish Defence Forces
* Israel Defense Forces
*Iceland Defense Force, of the US Armed Forces, 1951-2006
* Indian Defence Force, a part-time force, 1917
Organizations
* Israeli Diving Federation
* Interac ...
service. The program of studies covers leadership, principles, and practice of democracy, volunteer service to the community, ideological and individual identity,
Zionism
Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after ''Zion'') is a Nationalism, nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is ...
, Jewish history and heritage, philosophy, and more. While "secular" in matters of
religious observance
Religious Observance includes all overt kinds of religious behavior. Research in this area shows the extent and patterning of religious activities in various populations and makes it possible to test theories about the causes of religious behavior ...
, the program of study includes
Judaism
Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...
with a focus on ethics and tradition.
The first secular mechina was Nahshon, founded in 1997 in
Nili
NILI was a Jewish espionage network which assisted the United Kingdom in its fight against the Ottoman Empire in Palestine between 1915 and 1917, during World War I. NILI is an acronym which stands for the Hebrew phrase "Netzah Yisrael Lo Yesha ...
in the West Bank.
Other secular mechinot:
*
Aderet at
Moshav Aderet
*
Meitzar (Golan Heights)
*
Ma'ayan Baruch
* Mechinat BINA in
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...
*
Mechinat Rabin
The Rabin Pre-Military Academy (full name: המכינה הקדם-צבאית להכשרת מנהיגות חברתית ע"ש יצחק רבין; ''HaMekhina HaKdam-Tzva'it LeHakhsharat Manhigut Hevratit Al Shem Yitzhak Rabin''—The Pre-army Preparat ...
in
Kiryat Tiv'on
Kiryat Tiv'on ( he, קִרְיַת טִבְעוֹן, also Qiryat Tiv'on) is a town in the Haifa District of Israel, in the hills between the Zvulun (Zebulon) and Jezreel valleys. Kiryat Tiv'on is situated southeast of Haifa, on the main road t ...
* Mechinat Hanegev
* Mechina
Tavor* Minsharim Kalu at
Ma'agan Michael
Ma'agan Michael ( he, מַעֲגַן מִיכָאֵל, ''lit.'' Michael's Anchorage) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located on the Mediterranean Sea coast between Haifa and Hadera, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof HaCarmel Regional Counci ...
* Mechinat Be'er Ora
* Mechinat Erez Be'er Sheva
* Mechinat Iftach at Kibbutz
Ravid
Joint religious and secular pre-army mechina
The joint religious and secular Mechinot were founded to help bridge the widening gaps in Israeli society. As such, they focus on teaching a range of subjects to a mixed student body, including Zionism, leadership, Judaism, political science, philosophy, alongside intensive community and societal involvement and volunteering.
Joint religious and secular mechinot:
* Th
Hannaton Mechinaat Kibbutz Hannaton (Masorti/Conservative)
* Beit Yisrael at Kibbutz Beit Yisrael in
Gilo
Gilo ( he, גִּלֹה) is an Israeli settlement in south-western East Jerusalem, with a population of 30,000, mostly Jewish inhabitants. Although it is located within the Jerusalem Municipality, it is widely considered a settlement, because a ...
(East Jerusalem)
* Ein Prat (co-ed) in
Kfar Adumim
Kfar Adumim ( he, כְּפַר אֲדֻמִּים. ''lit.'' Village of The Red) is a mixed religious-secular Israeli settlement in the West Bank. It is located in the Judean Desert, on the southern bank of Wadi Qelt, about 2 miles northeast of t ...
(West Bank)
* Gal (a new mechina) in
Akko
Acre ( ), known locally as Akko ( he, עַכּוֹ, ''ʻAkō'') or Akka ( ar, عكّا, ''ʻAkkā''), is a city in the coastal plain region of the Northern District of Israel.
The city occupies an important location, sitting in a natural harb ...
* HaEmek (co-ed) in Kibbutz
Kfar Ruppin
Kfar Ruppin ( he, כְּפַר רוּפִּין, ''lit.'' Ruppin Village) is a kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley, about southeast of Beit She'an in northern Israel. A member of the Kibbutz Movement, it falls under the jurisdiction of Valley o ...
, est. 2006
Beit Shean
on Nefesh B'Nefesh website, accessed 2019-12-3
* Jaffa (Reform) in Tel Aviv-Yafo
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...
* Amichai (co-ed) in Kibbutz Kramim
* Nachshon (co-ed) has three campuses in the Northern Negev
The Negev or Negeb (; he, הַנֶּגֶב, hanNegév; ar, ٱلنَّقَب, an-Naqab) is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba (pop. ), in the north. At its southe ...
International mechinas
Many mechinas accept Jewish students from abroad who are looking for an immersive gap year
A gap year, also known as a sabbatical year, is typically a year-long break before or after college/university during which students engage in various educational and developmental activities, such as travel or some type of regular work. Gap yea ...
experience in Israel with Israelis. There are at least three English speaking mechinas that are designed specifically to serve the needs of its international students. Mechinat "Kol Ami" is operated by the Jewish Agency and "Artzi" is an independent mechina that specializes in drama and the arts.
International religious students
Mechinat Keshet Yehuda
specializes in helping religious men ages 17–21 from English speaking countries prepare for the IDF by integrating them into the Israeli student body and providing ''ulpan'' (Hebrew classes) and Torah learning in English. The program has been successfully helping young men from overseas for over 15 years. Most come with little or no Hebrew, without family or friends. By the end of the program, they are IDF ready, a high level of Hebrew proficiency and a great network of new friends. Keshet even has an adoption program to help the boys feel they have family in Israel too.
College preparatory programs
Several frameworks operate in Israel to prepare for entrance to institutions of higher (post-secondary) education those students who otherwise lack the necessary academic qualifications. These are geared for various populations.
Academic mechinot
These are operated by Israeli universities, for students with an Israeli high school education.
Mechinat olim
A ''mechinat olim'' ( he, מכינת עולים; immigrants' preparatory) is designed specifically for prospective, new, or recent immigrants intending to study in an Israeli institution of higher education. The programs are generally conducted for one year, and all courses are taught in Hebrew. The program has two basic goals:
* to raise the student's level of Hebrew, including those who started with no prior knowledge of the language, suitable for enrolling in post-secondary academic coursework
* acquainting the student with academic material as taught in the Hebrew language, including subjects from the Israeli curriculum such as civics and Jewish history
Mechinot olim offers different content-based tracks of study (i.e. life science, humanities, social sciences, or physical science). The Technion will only accept students from its own mechina.
Remedial courses preparatory to higher education
In addition to the above, there are private (i. e., commercial) educational institutions in Israel offering remedial courses for students after high school who wish to complete or upgrade their scores in their subject matriculations or prepare for the psychometric examinations required for entrance to college or university.
See also
*Service Year The Pre-Army Service Year ( he, שנת שירות, ''Shnat Sherut''), abbreviated Shin-Shin ( he, ש"ש), is a one-year voluntary service program for Israeli high school graduates prior to their service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Contrar ...
*Education in Israel
The education system in Israel consists of three tiers: primary education (grades 1–6, approximately ages 6–12), middle school (grades 7–9, approximately ages 12–15) and high school (grades 10–12, approximately ages 15–19). Compulsory ...
References
External links
Joint Council of Mechinot
Mechinot at the Ministry of Education (Hebrew)
Pre-army
Jewish Agency for Israel, Two Army Mechinot
* Rochelle Furstenberg
Israeli Life: Idealism From Below
Hadassah Magazine, October 2008 Vol. 90 No. 2
Academic
the Mechina
of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; he, הַאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה הַעִבְרִית בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם) is a public research university based in Jerusalem, Israel. Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Dr. Chaim Weiz ...
the Mechina
of the Technion
Olim
the Mechina for immigrants
of the Technion
the Mechina
of Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University (TAU) ( he, אוּנִיבֶרְסִיטַת תֵּל אָבִיב, ''Universitat Tel Aviv'') is a public research university in Tel Aviv, Israel. With over 30,000 students, it is the largest university in the country. Locate ...
{{Jewish education
Jewish educational institutions
Hebrew words and phrases
Israel Defense Forces