Kol Ami Mechina Leadership Gap Year in Israel

Name: Kol Ami Mechina Leadership Gap Year in Israel
Brand: Kol Ami
SKU: 230632
Rating: 4.73 (49 reviews)

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4.73 Rating

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Location

Israel
- Jerusalem

Length

26 - 52 weeks

Program Tags

Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Language Immersion Religious Volunteer Abroad

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Program Details

Activities

Backpacking City Exploring Hiking

Timeframe

Academic Year

Housing

Guesthouse

Primary Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Starting Price

10000

Price Details

6 month program total cost including:
Accommodation
Meals
Group activities
Tours
Health insurance
24/7 staff

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Park Fees Tour Guide Transportation Wifi

What's Not Included

SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Jan 24, 2019

Last Reviewed: Oct 24, 2021

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4 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Our participants come from different backgrounds - religious, secular, and everything in between. During the program, develop deep friendships, while exploring Israel, volunteering, learning, and living together as a community. Classes focus on the concept of Jewish Peoplehood, a topic that involves discussions and personal thinking.

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Video and Photos

Discuss the most sensitive and meaningful topics

Kol Ami has 5 beautiful campuses from Carmiel in the North to Kiryam Anavim by Jerusalem

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Program Highlights

At least half the participants are Israeli
Participants from 20 countries
Pre-IDF training including Krav Maga
Touring Israel off the beaten path
Participants self manage the program

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Program Reviews

4.73 Rating

based on 49 reviews

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Rating Spread Gap Year

5 rating 73.47%
4 rating 26.53%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Housing 4.45
Support 4.35
Fun 4.8
Value 4.8
Safety 4.7

Good for Adventure travelers

Showing 49 - 49 of 49 reviews

This unique gap year experience allowed me the opportunity to learn more about Israel, myself, my Jewish roots, world wide culture, and the capability that I have to form deep and meaningful relationships. Since Kol Ami is an Israeli Mechina, I was able to form friendships with both native Israelis and students form all around the world. If you are looking for an unforgettable experience in Israel, Kol Ami is for you!

What would you improve about this program?

With any new experience comes its challenges, and though living in a foreign country for year was difficult, it built me into the person I am today.

Questions & Answers

What are the differences between each of the branches?

As of now we have five different locations in Israel. Three near Jerusalem, and two up North. We find that each branch provides a different type of living style since they are each on different campuses and in different locations in Israel. All campuses have common spaces, communal rooms and showers, and a Kol Ami designated area within the Kibbutz or Village. Though each living style is a little...

By Anonymous on March 8, 2019

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I finished school at July and was going to start the army in March so I had a lot of time to spare, so instead of just working and chilling like most teens my age, I decided to go to a half-year Mechina. Since I’m a fluent English speaker and have a strong connection to diaspora Jews when I heard about the Kol Ami program, I knew it was the one for me.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The program sent us a list before the Mechina started of what we needed to bring; we had beds and mattresses already there. They also organized our Rav-Kav (public transportation card) and had a 3 prep days before the Mechina to clean and organize the Mechina, as well as bond before the program properly starts.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I’d recommend bringing snacks to make sitting in the Zula (our hang out spot) more fun, bringing good pillows and cute decorations for your bedroom. Also. a mirror is crucial, so you should really bring one!

Other than that, make sure you have enough clothes for 12 days at a time, plenty of sports clothes, and a reusable bottle of water.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The average day starts at 6am if there’s a morning workout, or 7am if there isn’t. We have Boker Tov, which is a fun morning activity a participant makes, and then we have different lessons, volunteering and committee/project times.

At night after dinner, we have Family Time, which is with the Madrichim, and is a conclusion of the day and a fun activity. The days are long and intense, but very productive.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was really scared of not enjoying community life aspect of Mechina.

It takes time to get used to living with 30 other people, but eventually it works. We fight and things don’t work out perfectly most of the time, but you learn how to deal with people and adjust to your environment, which is an incredible skill to have for life.

How hard is the Hebrew/English adjustment?

It’s not easy - some Israelis have a hard time with the English and some overseas Jews have a hard time with the Hebrew. The first 3 months are entirely in English, which makes the overseas participants more comfortable socially and improves the Israelis' English. After 3 months, the program switches to Hebrew and then it’s the same, but opposite.

About Kol Ami

Kol Ami is a life changing leadership program operated by the Jewish Agency for both Israelis and Jews from around the world. We strive to forge a deep, meaningful, and lasting connection amongst the next generation of Jews. Our participants come from different backgrounds - religious, secular, and everything in between. During the program, develop...