Council of Pre-Military Zionist-Israeli Preparatory Programs

The Council of Pre-Military Zionist-Israeli Preparatory Programs (Hebrew: מועצת המכינות הקדם צבאיות הציוניות-ישראליות) is the umbrella non-profit association that represents, develops and connects Israel's pre-military preparatory programs, known in Hebrew as mechinot. These are year-long (sometimes two-year) educational frameworks for Israeli youth, typically after high school and before mandatory military service, combining study, community volunteering, leadership training and preparation for meaningful service in the Israel Defense Forces. The Council was established in 2009, following the passage of the Pre-Military Preparatory Programs Law by the Knesset, which created a framework for state recognition and funding of the mechinot. Recognized programs chose to formalize their shared activity by creating a roof organization. The Council describes itself as the representative body of the annual general and religious-Torani mechinot. According to its own materials, it unites 62 programs — 23 religious-Torani mechinot intended for graduates of state-religious education, and 39 general mechinot, some secular and some mixing religious and secular youth. In the 2024–25 school year (Hebrew year תשפ"ה), about 5,800 trainees were studying in the mechinot, of whom roughly 4,850 were in the first year and about 950 in the second year. The Hebrew Wikipedia entry, citing the 2025–2026 school year (תשפ"ו), reports about 6,200 trainees, 5,200 in the first year and 1,000 in the second, and describes the Council as the umbrella of 64 mechinot recognized or in the process of recognition by the Ministry of Settlement under the Pre-Military Preparatory Programs Law. The Council's member programs vary widely in worldview, educational content, target audiences, socio-economic background of participants, geographic location, seniority and size. Despite this diversity, the Council emphasizes a shared foundation, formalized in the "Nes Harim" charter signed in 2018 by all the mechinot: belief in the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, as a Jewish and democratic state, and a shared responsibility to raise a new generation of young people for meaningful service and command in the IDF, for civil leadership and for contribution to the collective. The Council's motto-like phrase is "people of faith in the world of action" (אנשי אמונה בעולם המעשה). The Council's activities include representing the mechinot before government ministries and state authorities, fundraising and pooling resources from philanthropic funds and private bodies, developing and managing joint educational projects, operating training and standardization programs for staff at all levels (heads of mechinot, instructors, alumni coordinators and others), and organizing annual conferences and study days. It also runs projects for integrating diverse populations into the mechinot, including young people with disabilities (the "Shibolim" program), youth from abroad (the "Yachad" program) and youth from social and geographic peripheries. It operates alumni programs intended to provide avenues of action for the tens of thousands of mechina graduates, and it coordinates national volunteer efforts, including emergency volunteer operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Iron Swords war. The Council is governed by an assembly in which each member mechina has a representative and voting rights. The assembly elects a ten-member board every two years, and two co-chairs — one from the secular side and one from the religious-Torani side. As of 2026, the co-chairs are Matan Hoffman, deputy director of education at Mechinat Aderet, and Rabbi Eliezer Brown, head of the Bnei David-Ma'ale Ephraim branch. The Council's director-general since October 2022 is Avishai Berman, who succeeded Danny Zamir, who held the position from 2014.

The Council of Pre-Military Zionist-Israeli Preparatory Programs was established in 2009 as the umbrella organization of Israel's pre-military preparatory programs (mechinot). The impetus for its creation was the passage of the Pre-Military Preparatory Programs Law by the Knesset, which established a legal framework for state recognition and funding of the mechinot. Following the law's passage, the recognized mechinot decided to give formal expression to their joint activity by founding a roof organization. The first mechina had been established in 1988, and by the time the Council was founded, the field had grown to dozens of programs across the country. The Council's purpose was to unite the activity of the mechinot, represent them, develop them and connect them. Over the years, it has grown alongside the expansion of the mechinot sector. In 2018, the member programs signed the "Nes Harim" charter, which formalized their shared foundational beliefs: that the State of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, that it is a Jewish and democratic state, and that the mechinot bear responsibility for raising a new generation of young people for meaningful service and command in the IDF, for civil leadership and for contribution to the collective. Leadership of the Council has evolved over time. Danny Zamir was selected as director-general by the board in 2014 and served until 2022, when Avishai Berman was elected to the position by the board in October 2022. The Council's governance includes an assembly of representatives from each member mechina, a ten-member board elected every two years, and two co-chairs — one from the secular side and one from the religious-Torani side. As of 2026, the co-chairs are Matan Hoffman and Rabbi Eliezer Brown. A public council (circle of friends) headed by Amir Halevi advises the organization. The Council has been active in national emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it operated an emergency volunteer headquarters for mechina trainees. During the Iron Swords war, it operated a unified task headquarters with representatives of the Ministry of Settlement, the Security-Social Division of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Health and the Council. During Operation Guardian of the Walls, mechina trainees were activated to reinforce assistance teams in hospitals, to prepare shelters, to staff babysitting services for essential workers' children, to reinforce city emergency centers and to assist in logistics centers. The Council also holds an annual memorial ceremony near the date of the Nahal Tzafit disaster, in which nine girls and one boy who were candidates for Mechinat Bnei Zion were killed in a flash flood during a hike; after the ceremony, a study day is held for heads of mechinot dedicated to safety, investigation, control and lessons learned. The Council's projects have expanded to include the Shibolim program for integrating youth with disabilities (about 50 young people per year, funded by the Ministry of Welfare), scholarship funds for periphery trainees (with support from the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions, KKL-JNF, Atidim and the Matanel Foundation), the residential model for strengthening the integration of youth from the social periphery, and the Ba'artzeinu movement for alumni. The Council also operates batei midrash (study houses) such as "Netanel" and "Siach Shalom-New York Federation" that bring together heads of mechinot, branches and veteran staff monthly for joint learning. Its offices are located at Oranim College in Kiryat Tivon and at the education campus in Latrun.

• 2025

  As of the 2025–2026 school year, about 6,200 trainees studying in the mechinot; Council described as umbrella of 64 mechinot.

• 2024

  As of the 2024–25 school year, about 5,800 trainees studying in the mechinot under the Council.

• 2022

  Avishai Berman elected director-general in October, succeeding Danny Zamir.

• 2018

  "Nes Harim" charter signed by all member mechinot, formalizing shared foundational beliefs.

• 2014

  Danny Zamir selected as director-general by the board.

• 2009

  Council of Pre-Military Zionist-Israeli Preparatory Programs founded as umbrella organization following passage of the Pre-Military Preparatory Programs Law.

• 1988

  Establishment of the first pre-military preparatory program (mechina).

The umbrella and representative body of Israel's Zionist pre-military preparatory programs, promoting shared values of social leadership, national responsibility, Zionism and community contribution.

• Shibolim program

  Program for integrating youth with disabilities into pre-military preparatory programs, led by the Council and funded by the Ministry of Welfare; about 50 young people integrated annually.

• Yachad program

  Program bringing Jewish youth from abroad to Israeli mechinot for a year of Israeli experience, personal development and empowerment; some choose to enlist in the army afterward.

• Scholarship fund for periphery trainees

  Assistance for mechina trainees with limited economic means, operating with support from the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions, KKL-JNF, Atidim and the Matanel Foundation.

• Residential model

  Program to strengthen the integration of youth from the social periphery into pre-military preparatory programs.

• Ba'artzeinu movement

  The realization movement of mechina graduates, working to create opportunities for graduates in adult life and encouraging social involvement, leadership and integration into Israel's public, security, educational, social and national spheres.

• Batei midrash (Netanel, Siach Shalom-New York Federation)

  Study houses that bring together heads of mechinot, branches and veteran staff monthly for joint learning to strengthen connection, trust and shared language.

1. 1ראשי | מועצת המכינות הקדם צבאיות בישראלmechinot.org.il
2. 2אודות מועצת המכינות | מועצת המכינות הקדם צבאיות בישראלmechinot.org.il
3. 3מועצת המכינות הקדם צבאיות הציוניות-ישראליותhe.wikipedia.org
4. 4Wikidata Q30527025wikidata.org