Shnat Netzer:
Shnat Netzer is a 10 month gap year program in Israel for Post Matric Netzernicks. It is an ideal program for anyone wishing to experience Israel from a Progressive perspective. Shnatties get the opportunity to experience everything Israel has to offer. Below is some more detailed information about the structure of the program.
If you’re interested and want to know more about Shnat Netzer please contact shnat@netzer.org.za
To download the Southern Shant Netzer Forms click here
To apply for a MASA grant, please click here
or to find out more about the MASA scholarships please visit www.masaisrael.org
Machon
The name Machon comes from “Machon L’Madrichei Chutz L’Aretz” (the “Institute of Youth Leaders from Abroad”). Machon has been operating for over fifty five years as the Zionist youth leadership development program. Run by the Sochnut, (Jewish Agency), candidates from several Zionist Youth Movements participate in this program, from Australia, South Africa, Britain, various other European countries and New Zealand. There is also a Spanish speaking group from all over South America that runs at the same time.
Classes are five days a week (Sunday to Thursday) from 8am. These are not however, all classroom based. The lecturers are of the highest quality and knowledge. The topics covered change from week to week, giving participants a rounded Jewish education. The Machonikim sleep in dormitories on the campus and all meals are provided in the communal dining room.
Once a week the Netzer group will have an afternoon and evening of Movement time which is consists of two parts. The first part is usually study based, and the second part is a more fun focused activity for both the Machon & Etgar groups together.
Etgar
Etgar literally means ‘challenge’. Etgar is specifically for Netzer Shnatties (participants on the Shnat program). The program is put together and run by Netzer Olami staff, both in Israel and in the respective countries.
The aims of the program are to educate participants about Israeli society, Jewish Community, and to gain a better understanding of Progressive Judaism. These are all achieved through living as a Reform Zionist community, a community which plays, prays, eats and lives together. The group live in their own flat, and have to take care of all that it entails eg. setting up, cleaning, shopping, cooking rosters, budgeting and discussing things as a community.
Etgar is a holistic program in that it expects the participants to take what they study, examine it, and then decide whether they will apply it to their lives and communities. Days are spent in classes, working on projects and volunteering in their community. Hebrew classes are also given, and an opportunity exists to quickly develop functional Hebrew skills.
The educational component of the program is similar to Machon, with many of the lecturers being shared by the two programs, but the content is presented from a Reform/Progressive perspective. Classes include Ancient and Modern history of Israel, Tanach (Biblical Text), Progressive Judaism, Hadracha (Leadership) and Netzer Ideology.
Yam l’Yam:
The group also does a week long hike called Yam l’yam from the Mediterranean sea to the Sea of Galilee, as this is the first time that the Southern Group will be together.
Jewish Identity Seminar:
A 5 day seminar on Kibbutz Channaton with the Southern Shnat Group, exploring Jewish customs, forming a closer bond and learning about ones self in relation to Judaism.
BINA:
A 1 Month volunteering program in Tel Aviv with informal classes.
Kibbutz
The last two and a half months of the Shnat Netzer program are spent on Kibbutz Lotan, situated 45 minutes from Eilat in the middle of the Arava desert. Whilst on kibbutz, participants will be welcomed into the kibbutz community. They will be given food, accommodation and a small allowance in return for working on the kibbutz. The work that they do can vary from working in the Cheder Ochel (communal dinning room), Picking dates in the Harvest, building with ecological materials or milking Cows and Goats in the dairy. The work that each group or individual does will depend on the needs of the kibbutz and the needs of the individual.