Program Reviews

Great program. Overall the program was great. Other than some flaws with support for kids that decide they want to draft in the army it is a bit hard but those are things they are working on every year and getting better at it. Overall it was amazing and I would recommend!!!!

I'm an Israeli that before drafting to the army decided that he wants a little more time to learn about things that usually we, Israelis, don't really think or learn about.
For me, opportunities is the best way to describe kol ami in a word.
In 6 month I have had opportunities to meet so many different people:
Jews from England, USA, Chile, South Africa, Australia; Israelis from all around the country; Germans; Palestinian who uses to be part of Hamas; 1 on 1 conversations with Ultra-Orthodox Jews; and much much more.
I also had the opportunity to learn things that I was never taught:
Jewdaism, leadership skills, how to talk against anti-israeli propoganda, politics, economy...
Im very happy that I joined kol ami, and it definitely changed my life, and I feel at a much better starting point then before. Unlike different programs, this place really gets you out of your bubble.
Its amazing how people from different countries, mentality, and beliefs can all live in the same place for 6 month and survive to tell. Of course there are difficulties, but we overcome them together.
If you want to challenge yourself and have a really meaningful experience, this is the place for you.
GL :)

Describing Kol Ami on a scale of 1-10 doesn’t do the program justice. The fun, challenging, educational, and crazy half year I’ve had included life long connections, interesting classes that taught me raw life skills, and best of all, strengthened my leadership abilities tremendously. There are many times that the program was challenging and made me doubt why I am here, but those moments were some of the main reasons why I feel like this is the best program for me, or anyone for that matter. Waking up early, working on our group dynamic, planning activities, and days that end late all are factors that were at first very difficult for me. After some time, it became easier and even natural for me to do these things and as the group dynamic improved I felt more and more like I belonged here. The main reason I highly recommend this program is because I look at anerixan gap year programs that my friends are on this year and see the amount of free time they have along with the less intense environment and used to get jealous, but quickly understood that I am always occupied, entertained, and learning here which is something that makes me so happy. I have met and made close connections with Israelis his year, have learned about myself and enjoyed being challegened the way I did. Again, I highly recommend this program. I have gained so much here with no regrets.

I am from London, United Kingdom. Mechina has been a very different experience to most Gap Year programmes. Although it has been challenging as a chulnik from abroad, I feel like I have immersed into Israeli culture, and have fully engaged with Israelis by living with them for 6 months.

Every programme has its ups and downs, but what I would say about mechina is that you go through downs together as a group. Because of the intense environment and social scene, you become a whole, experiencing and growing together.

If you're looking for a programme of psychical, social and academic challenges, this is the one for you. Be prepared to be creative with activities, learn in lots of lessons and grow through leadership skills.

The programme mixes between religious and secular, however if you are not used to being with people who keep nothing then I would suggest that you should apply to the Migdal Oz (Bnei Akiva) campus.

Our day to day schedule consists of lessons, committee time and activities. The programme is based on committees; where you organise and run what goes on. The committees include: Shabbat committee, content committee, trip committee, public relations committee and IDF committee. You are in charge of your experience, dependent on whether it is appropriate, and you can choose what happens in the mechina.

Kol Ami provides a chance to connect with people from all over the world, bonding over similarities and having interesting discussions over differences. From volunteering, to tiyulim, to survival challenges and exercise classes; there is so much to enjoy with Kol Ami.

If you're looking for a challenge then this is the place for you!!


Non of my friends did a gap year but I decided to do one, and I chose Kol Ami because it’s diversity, so much different people from all around Israel and all around the world. I met people that became my best friends and we became so close.
Another thing that is so good in Kol Ami is that I challenged myself with a lot of outdoor activities such as: navigation Week, Army-prep week, South challenge. There were the best weeks in mechina.
Also the regular weeks are amazing and I learned so much new things in mechina in classes of economy, philosophy, judaism, leadership skills etc.
So, my tip SIGN IN!

I always wanted to go on a gap year program and it took me forever to find a program that would suit me. However, I then came across Kol Ami which has definitely given me experiences of a lifetime. From the regular weeks on the mechina with full intense schedules, responsibility, and creativity, to the crazy, fun, and adventurous weeks out of the mechina like navigation week and south challenge. Mechina is really a place to grow, and develop yourself on a gap year. Make sure you come with an open mind and willing to give your full potential to the group 🏋🏽‍♀️⛹🏼‍♀️🥇🎤🎼🏔🍕🍦🍩.

I’m from the US and I came to Kol Ami to expand my knowledge on Israel and the way Jews live around the world. I can confidently say that I’ve learned more than I expected and I’ve come out more ready to start the next step in my life. The experiences I’ve shared in Kol Ami will stay with me for the rest of my life and the friends I’ve made are forever. The biggest challenge was working together as a group because we are all so different and everyone holds different values. It was still a lot more of a special experience because I have more experience working with people who are different from me and learning how to collectively deal with our problems, like coming late to class and not cleaning up after ourselves. I cherish all the experiences I’ve had in Kol Ami and it is really special to live with people and work together with everything we do.

For a long time I knew I wanted to do some program before I go to the army, I was looking into both shnat sherut and mechina, Kol Ami really stood out to me because of the contant it offers and because it was shorter than most of the other programs. I’m so happy that I got to learn so many new stuff In the mechina, subjects that I wouldn’t necessarily come across very easily somewhere else. Kol Ami is really a chance for you to choose to learn for yourself while meeting lots of new friends from all over the world. Going to mechina was one of the best decisions I’ve made and I don’t regret it for a second. I love my friends, the kibbutz and the fact that I really did learn a lot, not only from the classes but mostly from the ppl in the mechina with me. Developing independence and close friendships, learning how to cope with always being with ppl, having a group that shares its highs and lows and adding another very big experience to your life:)

I really wanted to do something before I joined the army to have a more unique experience. I ended up hearing about Kol Ami and it sounded like a great opportunity. After some doubts , I got to a kibbutz , named Kiriyat Anavim for the first day of Mechina!!
Till now it's been an amazing and crazy journey. There have been some really challenging and tough experiences - for example South challenge , 5 days in the desert with all of our equipment on our backs , navigating in groups of 4 through the desert ,it was a huge physical challenge, as well as a mental challenge, but finishing it was one of the most satisfying things I've experienced. I got to learn and get to know so many different parts of the Israel society, of the Jewish people and of the land of Israel. Some of the things I've learned have been really eye-opening. I think one of the most important things I've acquired in Mechina is the thirst to study and learn more , and I have regained the curiosity to love learning (that I unfortunately didn't really have during school.) All in all - It's kind of hard to describe this wonderful experience in words , but the main thing I can say is that I recommend this program to anyone who wants to develop themselves and create new friendships with people from all over the world.

At the right timing I heard about Kol Ami . I was in need of a destruction in my life in a combination of a fun educational program. The people here are the exact definition for the most friendly and homie partners I could’ve potentially made. After moving 2 years in the UK , starting to live again with Israelis and Jews from all around the world in such a pastoral social kibbutz very close to the heart beating JERUSALEM makes me extremely satisfied . There is no weekend that I don’t look forward coming back.
Every week here focuses on a different topic; politics, sports, religion, social issues, nature etc. Our instructors and lecturers are passionately inspiring. If you are willing to go on a non basic typical program with just plenty of Americans then Kol Ami is your ultimate choice !