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A mechina kdam-tzvait (Hebrew: מכינה קדם צבאית; "pre-military preparatory", plural מכינות mechinot) is an autonomous unit of specialized educational institutions valuing non-formal education and pre-military training in Israel. They are funded and supported by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Defense, as well as by the Israel Defense Forces. As of 2017, there were 46 mechinot, whose mission is to prepare for conscientious service in the army and to educate leaders of local communities that have the ability to affect society and state. Educational program blocks mostly include Judaism and Jewish identity, Zionism, development of leadership skills, volunteering, and elements of military training. Most mechina programs last one academic year.
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Training in mechinot is based on values of Zionism, democracy, pluralism, and tolerance. In most cases, tuition is largely provided with state funding and scholarships.
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Almost 90% of mechina graduates hold high posts in the IDF, according to the Mechina Law, which was adopted by the Knesset in 2008. This is often work in combat and special units that directly deal with hostilities.
25% of officer graduates and 10% of graduates of the pilot course at the Israeli Air Force Flight Academy are previous mechina graduates. Commanders of battalions and divisions give preference to graduates of mechinot, as the year of training, personal development, and volunteering prepares them to become mature leaders who are ready to take responsibility, lead by example, and solve difficult situations that demand a high morale and serious experience with human dilemmas.
There are four types of pre-army mechinot:
Religious
A religious mechina is intended for graduates of a yeshiva high school or a religious high school and prepares them for their service in the Israel Defense Forces. Focus is placed on preparation for interfacing with secular society in the army by studying Machshava—Jewish thought, beliefs, and outlooks.[citation needed] Students also prepare physically for their service period and receive leadership training from active-duty officers.
The first religious mechina, Bnei David,[1] was founded in 1988 in Eli, a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.[citation needed]
Other religious mechinot:
- Ateret Cohanim in (East Jerusalem)[2]
- Arzei HaLevanon in Ma'ale Efraim (West Bank)[3]
- Carmey Hayil in Beit Rimon[4]
- Hemdat Yehuda in Hemdat (West Bank)[5]
- Elisha in Halamish (West Bank)[6]
- Katzrin in Katzrin (Golan Heights)[7]
- Kiryat Malachi in Kiryat Malachi[7]
- Keshet Yehuda Pre Military Academy in Keshet (Golan Heights)[8]
- Magen Shaul in Nokdim (West Bank)[9]
- Maskiot in Shadmot Mehola (West Bank)[10]
- Yatir in Beit Yatir (West Bank)[11]
- Yemin Orde in Hatzor HaGlilit
Secular
A secular mechina focuses on preparing high school graduates for citizenship as well as IDF service. The program of studies covers leadership, principles and practice of democracy, volunteer service to the community, ideological and individual identity, Zionism, Jewish history and heritage, philosophy, and more. While "secular" in matters of religious observance, the program of study includes Judaism, with a focus on ethics and tradition.[citation needed]
The first secular mechina was Nahshon, founded in 1997 in Nili,[12] in the West Bank.
Other secular mechinot:
- Aderet at Moshav Aderet[7]
- Mechinat Rabin in Kiryat Tiv'on[13]
Joint religious and secular
Joint religious and secular mechinot were founded to help bridge widening gaps in Israeli society. As such, they focus on teaching a range of subjects to a mixed student body, including Zionism, leadership, Judaism, political science, and philosophy, alongside intensive community and societal involvement and volunteering.
Joint religious and secular mechinot:
- The Hannaton Mechina at Kibbutz Hannaton (Masorti/Conservative)
- Beit Yisrael at Kibbutz Beit Yisrael in Gilo (East Jerusalem)[14]
- Ein Prat (co-ed) in Kfar Adumim (West Bank)[15]
- HaEmek (co-ed) in Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin[16]
International mechinot
Many mechinot accept Jewish students from abroad who are looking for an immersive gap year experience in Israel. There are at least three English-speaking mechinot that are designed specifically to serve the needs of international students.
International religious students
Mechinat Keshet Yehuda specializes in helping religious men, ages 17–21, from English-speaking countries, prepare for the IDF by integrating them into the Israeli student body and providing ulpan (Hebrew classes) and Torah learning.
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Several frameworks operate in Israel to prepare students who otherwise lack the necessary academic qualifications for entrance to post-secondary education.
Academic mechinot
These are operated by Israeli universities, for students with an Israeli high school education.
Mechinat olim
A mechinat olim (Hebrew: מכינת עולים; immigrants' preparatory) is designed specifically for prospective, new, or recent immigrants intending to study in an Israeli institution of higher education. The programs are generally conducted for one year, and all courses are taught in Hebrew. The program has two basic goals:
- to raise the student's level of Hebrew, including those who started with no prior knowledge of the language, suitable for enrolling in post-secondary academic coursework
- acquainting the student with academic material as taught in the Hebrew language, including subjects from the Israeli curriculum, such as civics and Jewish history
Mechinot olim offer different content-based tracks of study (i.e., life science, humanities, social sciences, or physical science). The Technion will only accept students from its own mechina.
Remedial courses preparatory to higher education
In addition to the above, there are private (i.e., commercial) educational institutions in Israel offering remedial courses for students after high school who wish to complete or upgrade their scores in their subject matriculations or prepare for the psychometric examinations required for entrance to college or university.
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