Mechinot
Israeli pre-military academies (mechinot): gap-year programmes, many religious, that prepare young people for IDF service
Mechinot (singular mechina) are Israeli pre-military academies: gap-year programmes taken before conscription that prepare young people for service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In 2008 the Knesset passed a law guaranteeing their state funding, to be split between the Defence and Education Ministries. At that time there were 34 mechinot, of which 25 were recognised; 13 of these were religious "yeshiva" academies and the rest secular or mixed.[1]
The first mechina, Bnei David, was set up in the settlement of Eli in the occupied West Bank (1987 according to Israel National News, 1988 according to Bnei David).[1][2] The first non-religious mechina, Nachshon, opened in 1997.[1]
Link to IDF service
In 2013 the IDF published figures showing that 79.5% of mechina graduates enlisted in combat units, compared with 44% of soldiers in general, and that more than 18% became officers, twice the general rate. The Mechina Council then covered 42 programmes.[3] Former education minister Limor Livnat said in 2008 that "The best IDF officers and commanders come from the mechinot".[1]
Mechinot with UK funding or promotion
| Mechina | Location | UK charity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bnei David | Eli (occupied West Bank) | Friends of Bnei David | £10,093 spent 2010–2014[4] |
| Keshet Yehuda | Moshav Keshet (occupied Syrian Golan) | Tel Hai Fund Ltd. | £40,287 in compiled grants[5][6] |
| Mechina Olamit | Kibbutz Migdal Oz, Gush Etzion (occupied West Bank) | Bnei Akiva UK (promotion) | Promoted in the 2025 catalogue[7] |
| Benaia mechina | Ma'ale Adumim (occupied West Bank) | Friends of Amit Women - UK (network link) | Part of the AMIT network; no payment found[8] |
| Otzem (mechina) | Naveh, western Negev | Tamid | £1,000 in 2024/25 (name match)[9] |
| Mechinat Meitarim Lachish | Lachish region and Gaza-border kibbutzim | JNF Charitable Trust; JCA Charitable Foundation | JNF grants totalling £121,000 (2012–2020); JCA US$10,000 (2023)[10][11] |
| Tzimaon | Israel | Shoresh Charitable Trust (Dr Ruth Borchard Gift) | 4,000 in 2014/15 (currency not certain)[12] |
| Hatzor mechina | Hatzor [TO CHECK] | Youth Aliyah – Child Rescue | £20,000 annual pledge (2013/14)[13] |
The JNF Charitable Trust also funded other pre-army programmes, including Derech Eretz and Haluzit, totalling about £1.09 million in 2012–2020.[10] Occupied-territory locations are stated by reference to UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (West Bank, including East Jerusalem) and Resolution 497 (Golan).[14][6]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hillel Fendel, Knesset Passes Funding Law for Pre-Military Academies, 72-0 Israel National News, 31 July 2008, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Bnei David, בני דוד (home page) bneidavid.org, accessed 21 October 2026 (Bnei David-side).
- ↑ Maayana Miskin, Twice as Many Officers from Premilitary Academies Israel National News, 26 May 2013, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Charity Commission Website Charity Overview. Accessed 7 July 2015.
- ↑ Charity Commission, Tel Hai Fund Limited (266913): accounts and annual returns Register of Charities; latest accounts downloaded 16 October 2026 ("PDF p." = page of the PDF file).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 United Nations Security Council, Resolution 497 (1981), 17 December 1981 (Israel's decision to impose its laws on the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is "null and void").
- ↑ Bnei Akiva UK, Hachshara, Kadima, Torani, Mechina catalogue 2025 (PDF, Bnei Akiva-side), viewed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ AMIT, Outstanding Schools amitchildren.org, viewed 20 October 2026 (AMIT-side: the network's own list; "The AMIT Network includes 92 schools located in 29 cities throughout Israel"; the page footer reads "AMIT Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 13-5631502").
- ↑ Charity Commission, Tamid (1133194): accounts and annual returns Register of Charities; latest accounts downloaded 16 October 2026 ("PDF p." = page of the PDF file).
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Charity Commission, JNF Charitable Trust (225910): accounts and annual returns Register of Charities; latest accounts downloaded 14 October 2026 ("PDF p." = page of the PDF file).
- ↑ Charity Commission, JCA Charitable Foundation (207031): accounts and annual returns Register of Charities; latest accounts downloaded 14 October 2026 ("PDF p." = page of the PDF file).
- ↑ Shoresh Charitable Trust (Dr Ruth Borchard Gift) accounts, year ended 2015-03-31 UK Government Web Archive (capture of 20200105).
- ↑ Youth Aliyah – Child Rescue accounts, year ended 2014-03-31 UK Government Web Archive (capture of 20200108).
- ↑ United Nations Security Council, Resolution 2334 (2016), 23 December 2016 (Israeli settlements in "the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem" have "no legal validity").