Shnat

About the program

Shnat Hachshara is a yearlong educational and leadership gap year program in Israel for school leavers. Six of our Zionist youth movements of Australia run independent programs for their chanichim, which combine various Jewish learning experiences: leadership training, touring, hiking, Hebrew ulpan, kibbutz experiences, community service etc.

Shnat Hachshara refers to a year of preparation. In the early days of the establishment of the State of Israel, this referred to preparation for the challenges of Aliyah including learning the required farming skills to be able to physically build the land of Israel. Shnat Hachshara today prepares the participants as future leaders in the Australian community and as potential future olim. The programs predominantly focus on leadership, ideological and educational development; in order that chanichim are ready to take on the world, their respective Jewish communities and more specifically their youth movements, as competent, educated and passionate leaders. The programs expose the participants to the real Israel, they have the opportunity to engage in hands on volunteering, explore the complex issues of the country with the support of excellent leaders and hear from high calibre speakers.

The shnat year begins with the AZYC Opening Seminar, which brings together participants from all six Zionist Youth Movements. The seminar is a 4 day-long program encompassing touring, hiking, inter-movement bonding and activities which focus on being a part of a movement, Zionism, and the experience of being away from home for a year.

Furthermore, the AZYC works in conjunction with Machon L’Madrichei Chutz La’aretz (The Institute for Leaders from Abroad) which currently runs the opening intensive educational component for 5 of the 6 movements (Netzer offers alternative educational programs as well as the Machon). The Machon has been a core component in Australian shnat programs for decades and is highly reputable for its high level of leadership development and educational programs which focus on Israel, Zionism, Judaism, Hebrew and youth movement understanding. The program also offers a range of hikes, touring opportunities and volunteering experiences in a pluralistic, inter-movement environment, located in Jerusalem. The Machon has been instrumental in creating community leaders that have gone on to serve Australia and Israel in numerous ways.

The AZYC closes all the movements’ shnat programs with the AZYC Closing Seminar.

The programs currently offered by the Zionist movements

Betar

  • Machon
  • Development town volunteering
  • Betar Seminars – Sar-el, Ayalim
  • Maarva
  • Poland (provisional)

Betar | Adam Schonker
[email protected]

Bnei Akiva

  • MTA:
  • 9 months learning in a religious seminary
  • Poland
  • Sarel
  • Volunteering (girls)
  • Bnei Akiva Seminars: Zionism, Hadracha, Shoah, Footsteps
  • Limmud
  • Machon Dati
  • Religious Seminary
  • Kibbutz
  • Maarva or MDA
  • Poland
  • Volunteering

Bnei Akiva | Ari Fisher
[email protected]

Habonim Dror

  • Two week intensive Ulpan and Hadracha Course (Derech)
  • Three and a half Month Yesod Program
  • Summer Kaveret
  • Poland
  • Kibbutz
  • Autumn Kaveret

Habonim Dror | Shai Pik
[email protected]

Hashomer Hatzair

  • Educational Component
  • Volunteering Component
  • Kibbutz
  • Hashomer Hatzair seminars and activities

Hashomer Hatzair | Aya Tamir-Regev
[email protected]

Hineni

  • Machon
  • Mechina
  • Internships in Tel Aviv
  • Kibbutz
  • Volunteering
  • Traveling in the South

Hineni | Sadie Boroda
[email protected] | 0435858368

Netzer

  • Machon/Etgar
  • Volunteering Period: includes options of overseas netzer youth camps/MDA/Maarva/Bedouin camps etc.
  • Kibbutz
  • Netzer seminars

Netzer | Mikaela Webb
[email protected]

Shnat graduates after returning from Israel are part of their movement for at least two years and help run their movements, run camps and involved in the Jewish community.

All Shnat programs are recognised by MASA Israel Journey – a joint project of the Government of Israel and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

HOW TO SIGN UP

FOR SHNAT

Shnat Hachshara is a year long educational and leadership program that is run for school leavers by each AZYC movement! The linked forms below may be in addition to forms required by each movement.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Complete the Program Conditions Form and send to [email protected]

Step 3.

Complete the Medical Form and send to
[email protected]

Step 4.

Get ready for an amazing year!