Maagalim, an Israeli Zionist organization that sends young representatives to high schools to help disadvantaged youths believe in themselves, hosted 700 young religious men for a special day of activities on Monday.
The participants included 500 twelfth graders from all over the country who are deciding on their course of action next year, before they enter the army, and 200 students who study at pre-military Yeshiva academies (Mechinot). The purpose of the program was for the older students to serve as mentors for the younger students, tell them about the pre-military academy, and encourage them in their decision-making process.
Asaf Weiss, Founder and Director of Maagalim, told Arutz Sheva that the guys “come for a whole day of activities and they look each other right in the eye and the older students say, ‘I’m your friend. I’m not a teacher, I’m not a councilor, I’m not your father, I’m not your mother. I’m your friend and I decided to go to the pre-military academy. I decided to go to a hesder yeshiva. I took a step and did something in life. It’s all on a personal level.”
“We came here to encourage the guys to do something with themselves and with their lives next year,” said Yair Kahan, a student at the pre-military academy in Beit El.
“When I am asked by a twelfth grader why he should a pre-military academy, I tell him, ‘It’ll change your perception of things and what you’ve been used to until now,’” said Kahan.
He said the reactions from the twelfth graders are “very positive. They really had a good time, they really want to come and check out the pre-military academies. I think most of them will go to the pre-military academies.”
“We’re talking about such an important time, in which you’re creating a potential to make a change in your life,” said Weiss. “The young men are asking themselves, ‘What am I doing after I finish school? Do I go to the army or not? Am I going to a pre-military academy? It’s not obvious. How will my life look?’ The guys make these decisions in twelfth grade. After that, the race of life is a crazy one and you can’t stop for even a second.”
The activities Maagalim conducts for youth include arranging for them to visit and choose post high school hesder, mechina and other army options. The organization is well-known to educators of at-risk youth in Israel.