The year-long Mechina is a 10-month gap year program in Israel that is built from a diverse mix of theoretical learning, external educational campuses, field series, meetings with different populations, lecturers, and more. In this gap year program, participants gain the ability to influence the fate of our society and country by being exposes to a wide range of diverse and sometimes opposing opinions.
The Mechina gives participants an opportunity of a one-year pause from the crazy race of life. During this year, it guides them through personality-development, strengthen knowledge of Israel and Judaism, and gain personal abilities that will help through the rest of their lives.
In partnership with Kol Ami, Gal.il is a six-month MASA gap year program in Israel, located in Kibbutz Amir that aims to connect Israeli and Jewish international participants. Kibbutz Amir is located in Upper Galilee, by the Jordan River and in sight of the foothills of Mount Hermon. The program offers an authentic Israeli experience, including trips around the country, an identity formation journey, learning, volunteering and much more.
The program is designed to integrate international and Israeli participants into the Israeli culture and provide an opportunity to deepen their connection to the land of Israel and their Jewish/Zionist identities. As a result, a variety of perspectives regarding what it means to be a Jewish leader are presented and explored. The program is fully in English, and transitions towards more Hebrew content, depending on the participants’ Hebrew level. This program provides a meaningful gap year experience, filled with volunteer work, traveling, learning about Israel and other world topics, and opportunity for self and group improvement.
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.
