Nefesh BNefesh - Aliyah: Live the Dream

The Machal program offers the opportunity for individuals who do not live in Israel to serve in the IDF.  In order to qualify for the Machal program, you must be Jewish or Zakai Aliyah (i.e., have the right to make Aliyah).  If you have Israeli citizenship, you must have left Israel by age 10 and not exceeded 120 days per year of visitation prior to your recruitment. 

Please Note: Machal soldiers who decide to make Aliyah following the completion of their army service will be required to serve an additional period of service in the IDF. The amount of time is based on the individual's age and family status.

The following is a summary of who is eligible for Machal and what the program entails. For further details, please see the following site (in Hebrew): http://www.aka.idf.il/giyus/general/?CatID=58464%20

Conditions of Acceptance:

"Agaf HaChinuch V' Hanoar" of the Ministry of Defense is the body responsible for coordinating the recruitment of foreign volunteers (Machal) with the IDF and the government offices. The following are the conditions of acceptance into the Machal program.

• Age upon enlistment in Machal:

  Males – up to age 24
  Females – up to age 21

• Time spent in Israel prior to enlistment in Machal:

  Please be aware that there are restrictions on time spent in Israel before joining the Machal program. For further information please email giuss@mod.gov.il

• Tourists who are not Jewish, who are eligible for citizenship under the "Law of Return," may serve in Machal, provided that they can obtain a valid confirmation from Misrad Hapnim (Ministry of Interior) that they are candidates for citizenship under the "Law of Return."

Duration of Service:

• If Ulpan is required - 18 months.
• If Ulpan is not required - 14.5 months (determined by Lishkat Ha'giyus*)
• Machal Hesder - 21 months of which 7 months of Shalat (yeshiva studies) and 14 months of army service. Please note: The 7 month Shalat must be done before the 14 months of army service. (no payment service status)

* The IDF determines whether or not the candidate needs to take Ulpan based on their scores on a Hebrew exam taken at "Lishkat Hagiyus."

Machal Service and Aliyah:

• Those who enlisted for the army through Machal until July 2008 will not be asked to serve an additional period of time.  Please send the attached letter to AKA upon receiving your tzav rishon (first call up): ביטול השלמת מחל
• A final decision relies exclusively with the IDF.
• If one has served in Machal and wants to make Aliyah without serving additional time, they must leave the country for a two year period and upon their Aliyah they will be assigned to a miluim (reserve) unit.

Procedures:

• Enlistment dates are advertised at the beginning of each year. The dates are subject to change based on the army's needs.
• Applicants may register for Machal up to 2.5 months before the enlistment date.
• Machal candidates will go through a special training program for three weeks (for Olim and Machal soldiers) or will participate in an army Ulpan for three months at the "Michveh Alon" army base.

What you need:

• A form describing your medical condition signed by your doctor from your country of origin
• A proof of Judaism letter written by a recognized Rabbi from your Jewish community abroad.
• Student Visa - A/2 visa stamped in your passport and issued by the Ministry of Interior (Misrad Hapnim).

Registration Forms for Machal:

• Request to volunteer for IDF service – you must complete both the Hebrew and English forms
• Medical declaration – you must complete both the Hebrew and English forms
• A form for Misrad Hapnim (the candidate will receive this form only after submitting the other forms).

Machal Service for Ezrachim Olim (Israeli citizens born abroad):

Duration of Service:

• The duration of service will be the same as for the regular Machal program, if the candidate states that they plan to return abroad upon completion of army service.
• If the candidate decides to stay in Israel when they complete their service (by declaring their citizenship & filling out a residency form), they will have to complete additional service, depending on their age when they first arrived in Israel and their family status on the day they were declared a resident of Israel.
• If they declare their status after the age of 24, they will not have to serve additional time in the army.

Registration Forms for Machal:

• Request to volunteer for IDF service – you must complete both the Hebrew and English forms
• Medical declaration – you must complete both the Hebrew and English forms
• Copy of your parent(s) Teudat Zehut
• Copy of your Teudat Zehut

If you have any further questions, please write to army@nbn.org.il.