Mechina Gap Year

The Mechina Gap Year is :

1. A coed, pluralistic mechina: Mechinat Hannaton welcomes all young Jewish men and women, whether religious, secular, Conservative (Masorti), or Reform. 
2. A diverse mechina: Our students hail from the country’s center and the periphery; they are graduates of youth movements, boarding schools, and youth villages. We invest considerable time and effort in recruiting students from populations who are under-represented in pre-army programs.
3. An inclusive mechina: Every year students with special needs participate in our gap year program. We are the first mechina to prioritize inclusion for individuals with special needs, and we still lead in this respect.

Our country faces a complex sectoral split, and we aspire to a different reality via our student body. Students learn to live under one roof with their complete opposites, and they take this broader perspective with them to the IDF, back to their slice of Israeli society, and beyond. 

Mechinat Hannaton maintains balance between two central Jewish values, which Bialik defined in 1917 through his influential article, Halacha and Aggaah. Bialik presents halacha, Jewish law, and aggadah, non-legal strands of Jewish thought, as a false dichotomy, and we agree.

To lead people, walk behind them -Lao Tzu

Mechinat Hannaton emphasizes leadership through social responsibility. We engage our students in deep learning while dedicating time to social entrepreneurship, activism, and social action. Participants quickly learn that their balance is to be consistent study and curiosity that leads to action, and back to study. 

During their gap year, each participant gains a deeper understanding of themselves and their individuality. It is a journey where they are free to express themselves while perfecting the leadership skills we envision they will use in their future. 

Students also take responsibility for significant portions of their mechina year; they organize trips, lead group discussions, and boost the group's morale.