To fully understand Israeli society, and to meet their Israeli peers, FZY believes that it is important that every chanich/a has a significant interaction with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Every Israeli at the age of 18 gives two (for women) or three (for men) years of their lives to serve in the IDF and as such, a part of the FZY year is to meet with and experience life in the army. At no point are FZY chanichim members of the IDF or liable for any service of any description, rather they are volunteering and experiencing the life of a soldier of their own age.
FZY offers two exciting programmes, Sar-El and Marva. They are designed to expose chanichim to the complexities of the problems and challenges facing the Israeli Army, and the role of the IDF within the framework of Israeli Society.
SAR EL: THE NATIONAL PROJECT FOR VOLUNTEERS
Sar-El is a voluntary organisation providing the Diaspora Jew with an opportunity to participate directly in the IDF. The chanichim are stationed at IDF bases and they live and work in the same conditions as the Israeli reservists. The Year Coursers have the opportunity to experience Israeli life of people their own age first-hand. The Israelis on the other hand, will appreciate the volunteers’ work ethic, organisation and commitment.
MARVA
Marva is a programme that consists of a two month simulated basic training programme. Chanichim doing Marva are not doing Army service and are in no way part of the IDF. Components of the programme include training, hikes and marches, history of the IDF, living in field conditions (no bathrooms or showers), camouflage, survival training, topography, physical fitness and extensive education programmes.
The Marva programme is conducted in Hebrew and chanichim are subject to the full military discipline of the Army and will train with other young people from all over the world. The programme is an exciting and demanding one that is mentally challenging to chanichim. The end of the Marva programme is marked by a full graduation ceremony that friends, family and other Year Course chanichim are invited and encouraged to join. |
