Program Reviews

I am in the middle of the Mechina at Amir branch. And so far this is without a doubt one of the most meaningful and best experiences I have had in my life.
We experience everything at the same time, successes, falls, challenges, victories, all in a very short time, those makes you develop as a person and feel every day that you are doing something special for yourself and for your friends in the mechina.
We are not at the end yet and I already know that the friends I met here will continue with me for life.
Highly recommend joining the mechina!!!

so this year i haven’t fully learned yet because i’ve only been here for 2 months but so far it is fun. there is a lot of hard times with the group. but it’s also not fully what people expected. they came here with a relaxed mind but we get nonstop work. so it’s a really hard work. it’s not just a normal gap year to do nothing. you will work really hard and get a lot of stuff done but i will say i don’t regret my choice no matter how hard it is. and i’m hoping there will be a positive outcome and that i will be satisfied with my choice

I am currently a participant of the 2021-2022 Kol Ami and galil Elyon program. This is a new branch where they mixed two mechinot. We live in kibbutz Amir in the upper Galilee, which is a beautiful area. I believe I made the best decision in doing a gap year in Israel. I am planning on returning to the United States for college next year, and I really think this program has allowed me to grow and take a pause from constant studies. This program is intense, and do not look to come here just to have fun. Our schedule starts from 6 or 7 am until 10 pm.

I'm finishing up the '20-'21 Kol Ami gap year group and I would say that this is exactly the experience I needed before I go to college next year. Corona definitely had an impact on the program and yet I can say with confidence that the whole group is leaving Mechina having learned countless skills for their future, with so many amazing new friends and incredible experiences. I learned this year how much I want to travel the world. I was able to meet people from Norway, Holland, England, Italy, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and Israel and form deep meaningful connections with them all. I've learned so much about the world and gotten to have so many cool experiences that you can't get on a generic gap year program. I plan on staying in Israel to intern or volunteer for a few months before returning to the US.

Coming to Kol Ami, I was looking to enrich myself in the culture of Israel, learn about myself as a Jew and as a person, and meet people from around the world. I was able to do all these things but so much more as well! When I say I've come out with so much more I mean I've learned things I never expected to learn here. When living in such a close setting with 30 people, problems arise that the group needs to work through and you learn about yourself by observing how you react to those situations and the role you play in resolving them. This is just one of the many examples through which I learned more about myself in the end.

As a whole, this program is for anyone who needs a breather between high school and their next step but also wants a meaningful experience that they'll grow from. This is the only time you'll have a chance to spend a year just learning about yourself and improving, and this program is literally designed to help you do just that.

I came to Mechina with a lot of passion to grow as a person, to be more responsible, independent and learn more about the myself and the Jewish world overseaes. I learned and gained more than I have ever imagioned, Jewish values , met people from all over. I came through a significant prossess that Kol Ami gave me. Can't lie,there were hard times.But once you are finished it is the best feeling in the whole world.
It made me also more ready for being in the IDF.
Army preperation week,Navigation week ,Xpert day - hard and you are going through a lot but such a meaningful experiences. That really everyone is able to do.Also getting to know new people all over the world and different parts our society-Charaidi shabat,Israeli society week etc.
Recommed everyone who is looking for an experience of a lifetime!!

When looking for a gap year program, I wanted a well rounded experience. Kol Ami is a perfect combination of trips, volunteering, learning how to live in a group environment, and so much more. This program has done amazing things for me- it has given me lifelong friends, many in Israel as well as scattered all over the world, newfound confidence, and a better sense of who I am and what I stand for. I know that all the skills I’ve learned this year will be very helpful to me when I enter college and that the memories I have made this year will stay with me for the rest of my life.

As an Israeli citizen I know growing up that after 12th grade I am going to the army. Throughout 12th grade my parents convinced me that I need to take a gap year so I can learn how to be independent. During the process of finding the perfect program for my self I found Kol Ami. A program that combines international and Israeli teens on a gap year.
During the program I met people from Australia who spend with us 3 months, Bonded with them ate with them and talked to them after schedule. Not many people get to know people from around the world during there gap year and having the opportunity to do so was amazing. The bond you get with people around the world is so unique. It's gives you the opportunity to meet people from around the world and eventually when you go visit these places you have people who you know who can show you around.
This experience was one of a kind and you can only get it here in Kol Ami.

Mechinat kol ami has a lot to offer. We have classes on peoplehood, zionism, kodesh studies, and more. In addition, we have a lot of activities - hikes, peulot (like in bnei akiva), army prep, navigations, seminars, debates and so much more. The mechina is a very social place, and through interactions with the group and responsibilities I got to discover who I am and grow as a person. The meeting between Israelis and chulnikim is extremely interesting and we learn so much about each other and form incredible bonds. The classes, while mostly are very interesting, didnt really challenge my mind. Overall - very recommended program for people who want to learn about jews from all over the world, want to grow have an interesting israeli experience and have a really fun time with great friends.

This experience changed my life.
Going to Kol Ami was by far the best decision I could have made. I had a six month gap between high school and the army and was debating what to do. When I talked to a few people and heard of Kol Ami I was excited, it sounded like a great way to spend half a year before the army.
In my time at Kol Ami I grow in maturity, socially, responsibility and I grew overall as a person.
The Kol Ami experience is one I recommend greatly. I believe it’s an amazing experience that everyone who has the possibility should do.

I’m an israeli who lived in America for 6 years. I came back to draft in the army and wanted a program that would prepare me for it. This mechina really helped with that. We’ve done many army prep things like south challenge and navigation week that really simulated the army experience. And for someone who isn’t drafting, it’s a great way to see what the army fuss is all about.

Aside from that, this program attracts amazing people and I’ve made friends for life.