Kol Ami Mechina Leadership Gap Year in Israel

I applied to Kol Ami because a friend recommended to me about it. I must say I was very sceptic about doing a gap year before drafting to the Israeli army but something about the connection between jews around the world really attracted me.
The beginning of Mechina was really tough, we need to wake up early every morning and the schedule is very busy. BUT, we are now 5 months into the program and I can say with a full heart that coming to Kol Ami was one of the best decision I made.
Beimg in Kol Ami is not easy, but the profit from it really makes it worth.
While being here I’ve met friends from all over the world and made A LOT of meaningful and amazing experiences.
Kol Ami also really helped me to connect to the jewish world which I wasn’t that connected to before.
Over all, Kol Ami really changed my life and I’m very happy for being a part of this family.

Kol Ami is an incredible experience. I was able to really experience living in Israel and becoming a part of Israeli society, living with a group of Israelis my age. This program is perfect for those who want a gap year, but are afraid of wasting time in a non-serious program. Mechinat kol Ami is intense, and it will mature and change you. You learn to take responsibility for yourself, and for your group/community. You will have many eye opening experiences that you would otherwise be very have including: a week meeting and speaking with different Jewish communities in Israel, a week in the West Bank talking to all groups to gain a much deeper understanding of the conflict, a week of challenging hiking in the desert with navigation and limited supplies. You will also learn krav maga and have interesting lectures that your group will pick and find. You will have midnight masaot and a lot of fun. It won't always be fun, there will be times where mechinat will be very challenging for you, but these challenges and difficult moments are some of the most important building moments in your experience. The depth of your experience is also in a large part up to the effort you put in, many people do exercise on the side, in addition to our 4 weekly intense exercise activities. I personally also worked very hard on my Hebrew, practicing it at every opportunity with my Israeli friends and went from sort of understanding some conversation to being almost fluent. Kol Ami is a truly life changing experience, I say this as one who was hesitant to do it at first, don't pass it up.

I came to this program by myself from Canada not knowing anyone or Hebrew. I can proudly say that the people in my mechina are my family in israel and I never imagined myself bonding so strongly with them.
The trips are really what I look forward to we’ve done so many cool things that most Israelis don’t even get the chance to do. Not knowing Hebrew has been my biggest struggle but everyone has really been supportive of it and I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to do it without their help. . . . . . . . .

Joining Kol Ami was one of the best decisions I made- from the classes to the participants, trips to volunteering and everything, I had and am having the best experience I could between high school and the army.
Being able to meet so many people from different places, seeing all the different and divine places that Israel has to offer and opening my mind to new ideas has changed my way of thinking.
I've met friends for life, been in situations I didn't think I'd ever encounter before and had an absolutely amazing experience.
The staff is great and they support us throughout the entire experience.

These past six months have been challenging, meaningful, and impactful. The amount of personal and group growth that occurs throughout the program is extremely noticeable even only after the first few weeks. The integration of both Israelis and chulnikim (Jews from overseas) is probably the most amazing aspect of the program. Although there is major culture shock in the first few days you get adjusted really quickly and end up slowly becoming apart of it. Having Australians with us for the first half contributed immensely to the enjoyment of the Mechina. Even though it is heartbreaking when they leave having such a deep connection with Jews from another part of the world is an amazing thing. The other participants and staff are all very supportive and motivating. The program can be intense and I highly recommended that only people who are okay with constant activity with little down time come to the program (Do not recommend for people who want lots of free time and sleep). Some of the things to look forward to are navigation week, Judea and Samaria week, and all of the volunteering. Mechina is whatever you put into it so if you give a lot to it you’ll get a lot out of it. Overall, I wish everyone could have the experience I am so grateful to have had and hope that many more choose come and have it too.

It’s a unique and amazing experience .🤗
it’s hard to explain it’s the sort of things that u need to be in them in order to understand,👩🏻‍🏫👨🏽‍🏫
u study here many things as politics, you are exposed to all the streams of Judaism as well as different viewpoints from different communities in Israel, Philadelphia, about the Army ( and of course u are doing 🏋️‍♀️), in the Mechina u understand how every minute is important.🤓
As an Israeli girl I understood the views of diaspora Jews as well as their cultures and traditions.🌎
As u can see we are doing many things in the Mechina and we don’t have much of a time to sleep because you have to make use of your time as wisely as possible.
In my opinion everyone should come to do Mechina hope to see u next year 🙃

Mechina was an incredible, crazy, challenging, interesting and overall amazing experience. I learned so much about jewish peoplehood and values, zionism and politics, army prep, psychology, jews from the diaspora and the differences between israelis and diaspora jews and a lot more subjects.
I met new friends from all across israel and the world which i feel really connected to.
I traveled in israel in places iv’e never been before.
Also, i had the chance to live with 30 people for a six months, sharing bedroom with 3 other girls, living by myself, responsible for my own life, and getting more and more mature and independent.
I learned a lot about myself, i found out stuff about myself that I didn’t know were existed. (values, strength and more)
Mechina really gives you the chance to focus on yourself and improve yourself.
I am really happy for my choice to come to kol ami and be part of it, and i 100% recommend this program!!
(P.s- The branch in Carmiel is the best!!)

My mechina experience has been beyond amazing.
I’ve learned how to take responsibility for myself and my surroundings, faced challenges and made lots of new friends.
Mechina has taught me how to live outside home, wake up early, take care of my needs (food, cleaning, etc) and I feel like that has made me a mature person who is ready for the army.
I feel like mechina has given me some things that I would have never achieved without it (like the ability to navigate, learning how to set a schedule for a group of people and more) and I’m so grateful for having that special opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and evolve as an individual.
coming to mechina is definitely one of the best decisions i’ve ever made and i’d recommend it to anyone wanting to gain new amazing skills and friends for life ☺️💗