In partnership with Kol Ami, Gal.il is a six-month MASA gap-year program in Israel, based in Kibbutz Afikim, located in the Jordan Valley near the Sea of Galilee. The program brings together Israeli and Jewish international participants, offering an authentic Israeli experience that includes travel throughout the country, volunteering, learning, and personal growth.
Designed to integrate participants into Israeli culture, the program strengthens connections to the land of Israel and Jewish/Zionist identity while encouraging exploration of diverse perspectives on Jewish leadership. Conducted fully in English, with increasing Hebrew content according to participants’ level, Gal.il provides a meaningful and well-rounded gap-year experience—combining community life, travel, study, and service opportunities.
The Upper Galilee Leadership Academy (Mechinat Galil Elyon) was founded in 1998 with the spirit of democracy and pioneering and the mission of shaping identity and cultivating young leaders with values. Who are able to influence and are committed to the Jewish people and the Israeli society. The Academy enforces taking responsibility and leading while being caring and sensitive to one’s surroundings for a better future.
Galil Elyon fosters a strong connection to Israeli, Jewish, and Zionist heritage. Our leaders search for the greater impact that they can have within the Israeli society.
The Mechina has 5 groups throughout the Galilee (including a six-month program for youth from all over the world). There are a total of 300 participants a year and 2,500 alumni.
Faced with endless opportunities to better yourself and others, the participant learns to value leadership. Through group problems, new experiences, and constant responsibility, the Mechina achieves this.
Learning new ideas and skills through the variety of trips, presenters, and seminars in the mechina, including lectures made by fellow participants.
Creating meaningful experiences by volunteering in different places inside the kibbutz and outside; learning kindness, how to help others and create a better future for people all around Israel.
To know the land itself, the rich history that it has experienced and to give back to the land that the Mechina calls home.
Through many aspects such as Judaism, Leadership, personal values, and day to day experiences, exploring your own identity is a natural process of the Mechina, but is also emphasized.
Forging a stable alliance with the kibbutz the Mechina is situated in, and to further share the experience of a kibbutz life, with all of it’s communal values and togetherness.
