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The GAP YEAR
We explore the options available to
young people looking to spend some
constructive time in Israel I BY DINAH SHAPIRO
“MTA is Bnei Akiva’s leadership programme. MTA is for any post-matriculant
looking for an enriching year. It is a year
spent in Yeshiva and Midrasha, which
gives the chanichim an opportunity to
grow spiritually and understand their Jewish heritage in a deeper and more meaningful way. When the Yeshiva and Midrasha break up, World Bnei Akiva runs leadership and hadracha training programmes
and gives the chanichim an opportunity to
experience the country at large, and also
includes a trip to Poland.” – Rav Daniel Kaplan, Rav Shaliach of Bnei Akiva
“I was very blessed to have had an incredible year of spiritual growth while developing a love of Eretz Yisrael at Midreshet
Harova.” – Ashira Myers
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LIMMUD
“Limmud is another programme
where we develop the future leadership in
Bnei Akiva. Limmud is for any post-matriculant looking for an enriching year.
Instead of spending a full year in Yeshiva
and Midrasha, it is a much more experiential programme. It includes the
chanichim spending time in Yeshiva and
Midrasha, kibbutz, army, Mada, Machon,
as well as volunteering in Israeli society
and a trip to Poland.” – Rav Daniel Kaplan
“The name of our programme sums up
my year in Israel perfectly; not only did I
learn about myself, our religion, history,
land and people, but I got to experience
it through meeting many different people, learning in Midrasha and on Machon, hiking Shvil Yisrael, working on
kibbutz, doing Marva (army programme)
and volunteering. Limmud was a truly
life-changing experience.” – Beth Horwitz
ISSUE 72
“Shnat is Habonim Dror Southern
Africa’s gap year leadership programme
for members who have just finished
school. It is almost without fail referred to
as ‘the best year of my life’ by past participants, all of whom return having grown
immensely as people and as leaders.” –
Ilan Price, Mazkir Klali (Secretary General)
2014, Habonim Dror Southern Africa
“Shnat is a time to learn about yourself –
your strengths and your weaknesses. It is a
time to explore your relationship with Israel, South Africa and Habonim.” – Kelly Brook
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BETAR-WINGATE
“Betar-Wingate is a five-month fitness and health programme that contains an extensive study and training
course to get certified as a personal
trainer and gym instructor. The programme is suitable for both pre-college
and post-college students, ages 18-30.
At the end of the programme, participants of Betar-Wingate will receive a
Personal Trainer and a Gym Instructor
certificate, which is a nationally recognised and regulated certification. The
course is located 10 minutes from Netanya.” – Daniel Cohen, recruitment and
marketing manager of Betar-Wingate
“There was no better place in the world to
become an international fitness instructor. Israel showed me that anything is
possible if you put your mind to it.”
– Doron Gavronsky
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YESHIVAT KEREM
B’YAVNEH SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE
“Kerem B`Yavneh’s Southern Hemisphere programme is a one-year pro-
gramme, from January until December,
for post-high school students. Students
can opt to stay for another year. The programme includes South Africans, as well
as a few Brazilian and Australian students. Kerem B’Yavneh is located near
Ashdod. A group of between five and six
South African students have been arriving in Kerem B’Yavneh in January for the
last few years. They arrive four months
into the ‘school year’; with the help of
the staff, they are able to be integrated
very quickly into the classes.” – Rabbi Ari
Katz, director of Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh
“KBY is a place of solid Torah with no nonsense or politics on the side.” – Benji Shear
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TOMER DEVORAH
“Our curriculum consists of a wide
range of fundamental topics that form
the backbone of Torah knowledge for any
Jewish woman. In addition, there are
two levels of electives offered (http://
www.masaisrael.org/programs/tomerdevorah). The duration of Tomer Devorah is an academic year from September
until June, and it is for post-high school
students. Tomer Devorah is a seminary
in Jerusalem that will help you to achieve
your goals.” – Pnina Diner
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AARDVARK ISRAEL
“Aardvark provides participants
(aged between 17-21) with a semi-structured setting but emphasises independence and development of personal
growth through real-life fun Israeli experiences. Aardvark participants have the
option to do a five-month Semester Programme or the full nine-month programme. The core curriculum is the same
and participants are intermixed; the only
PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER
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58 JEWISH LIFE
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SHNAT
MTA