Hesder and the army program

The Charedi units (Nachal Chareidi, Netzach Yehuda, Tomer Givati and Chareidim B’Tzanchanim) serve two groups: Charedim who choose to serve, and lone soldiers with no family in Israel. They are made up of religious soldiers and build set learning time into the day. For olim, the service is longer than Hesder. The English Mitgaisim website has more on this option.

Hesder combines yeshiva learning with active service. Machal Hesder runs in three parts: pre-draft learning (two months or more), active service (17 months) and post-draft learning (two months), 21 months in all. In the army you serve alongside other Hesder soldiers, who are generally the most motivated soldiers in each unit and share your commitment to Torah and mitzvot.

Over 20 YTVA students have served well in both kinds of unit.

Yes. We are with you for every step of the draft process, with a clear list of the documents you need and instructions on how and when to get them. Start as early as you can: some documents take many weeks to arrive.

Michve Alon is the army’s course for soldiers who are not native Hebrew speakers, assigned by the Hebrew score at Tzav Rishon. It runs a few months and covers Hebrew and how the army works.

YTVA Hesder runs an Ulpan in coordination with the army, taught by an army teacher, which counts as the Ulpan Mechina. Pass it and you are exempt from Michve Alon. Everyone is expected to improve his Hebrew over those months, and in some cases a soldier with limited Hebrew may still be sent to Michve Alon.

Yes. Tzanchanim is infantry like the other units, and the one difference is the Gibush, a physical tryout. You can opt into it through Hesder, and if accepted you serve with the other Hesder soldiers in Tzanchanim.

Each infantry unit also has its own elite unit: Sayeret Golani, Sayeret Givati and so on. You may try out for those before your draft. If accepted, you waive Hesder and Machal and serve a full two years and eight months, or three years.