On their first week in Bet Shemesh, two girls from the neighborhood picked up Francine Friedman’s daughters, ages 9 and 13, to walk them to their first Ezra youth movement meeting. No youth director called the Friedman’s house, nor did anyone older than a high school student ever run one of the meetings. Yet, those meetings–which included games, discussions and hikes–took place every Tuesday and Shabbat, rain or shine, and soon became the highlights of the Friedman daughters’ week.

“There was always something to do at those meetings, and no matter where they were, they were always talking about Ezra,” said Friedman.

Israeli youth movements are an integral part of growing up in Israel. With seven national youth movements that include local hubs throughout the country, children can sign up for the branch in their neighborhood that fits them best religiously and politically. Ranging from Charedi to secular and spanning a diverse political spectrum, each youth movement focuses on enriching Jewish and/or Israeli values, community building and volunteering. For Olim children, youth movements especially include many unique benefits.

Becoming Immersed into Israeli Society

Only three years after Gilan Gertz made Aliyah with her family from Passaic, New Jersey, her son became a madrich for Bnei Akiva.

“Thanks to his involvement in Bnei Akiva, he was so well entrenched in Israeli society that he was able to lead a group of fourth graders with two other native Hebrew speakers,” said Gertz.

Because of their emphasis on speaking Hebrew, Olim children often find themselves picking up the language more quickly in their youth movements than they might in an academic setting. With fun weekly activities, trips and holiday celebrations–instead of the pressure that school can bring–children feel comfortable diving into the meetings.

Local branches enable children to meet their peers in the community, and events and trips with branches all over the country mean that children are exposed to diverse sections of society.

“Youth movements really help children experience Israel outside of the Anglo bubble,” said Marc Tobin, who made Aliyah with his family in 1998. “Plus, the mindset of the movements–which is about sacrifice and doing things for others–exposes them to something that may be new to them.”

According to Adina Schwartz, an Employment and Education Specialist at Nefesh B’Nefesh, youth movements also engender in the kids a strong sense of camaraderie and loyalty. “On tiyulim (trips), you may sleep outside and run around and get out of your comfort zone. Children learn that things aren’t just dependent on personal agency, but on their ability to connect with others and work together as a team,” said Schwartz.

Teaching Leadership Skills

From ages 8 until 14, children are chanichim (participants), and from 15-17, they may be selected as madrichim (counselors) and undergo a training course. Because teenagers run each branch, creating biweekly activities, instilling pride and positivity into their group, and ensuring that a level of organization is in place, they develop leadership skills for life.

“Becoming madrichim transforms teenagers’ whole experience,” said Tobin. “From tenth grade on, they’re responsible for the kids.”

These leadership skills spill into daily life. Friedman said that the first year after making Aliyah, she planned her daughter, Rachel’s, birthday party, but after that, her friends planned the parties–as well as Shabbat meals–by themselves. “Becoming madrichim at a young age gives children feelings of independence,” Friedman said. “They may have had other difficulties, like learning the language, and this really gives them a lot of confidence.”

Long after Rachel was a madricha, she stayed in touch with her chanichim, attending their bnot mitzvah. She also attended her own madricha’s wedding years after she was Rachel’s madricha.

Giving Children a Safe Recreational Space

Because so much of Israeli children’s weeks revolve around the youth movement, parents feel good knowing that their children are involved in positive activities outside of school.

“Youth movements are a great way to meet kids in a non-academic environment that still has educational meaning,” said Schwartz. “Children are not just spending their free time shooting the breeze in the mall. They’re creating bonds that last a lifetime and engaging in value-driven experiential learning that helps them develop a strong Jewish and Israeli identity..”

For Friedman, she appreciated knowing that her children were in a safe environment every Shabbat and Tuesday afternoon, and she also liked that the kids were so enthusiastic about the hikes and outdoor activities. “In America, my kids’ youth group had trips to Hershey Park and the ice skating rink, and buses always needed to be hired,” said Friedman. “Here, very simple things were exciting to my kids, which was such a breath of fresh air.”

Interested in learning more about youth movements in your area? Email [email protected].

Types of Israeli Youth Movements

Israel’s seven youth movements vary religiously, politically, and ideologically. Youth movement membership costs around 290 NIS per year. Trips may range from 200 NIS for a Shabbaton to 900 NIS for an overnight trip.

Below is an overview of Israel’s different youth movements:

Ezra
The Chardal (Charedi religious Zionist) youth movement, which begins in third grade and has separate activities for boys and girls.

Bnei Akiva
The National Religious youth movement, which begins in fourth grade. Some of the programs are coed whereas others are run separately.

Ariel
The Chardal (Charedi religious Zionist) youth movement, which begins in third grade and has separate branches for boys and girls.

Noam
The Masorti (Conservative) movement’s youth movement, which places a big emphasis on advancing pluralism in Israel.

Hashomer Hatzair
The Secular Zionist youth movement, which includes an optional pre-army year of service during which participants serve an Israeli community while living in a commune and then join the army’s Nahal unit together.

Tzofim & Tzofim Datiim
The first egalitarian scouting movement in the world, which has both Secular Zionist and National Religious branches.

HaNoar HaOved V’HaLomed
This Secular Zionist movement, which brings together Jewish, Arab, and Druze members.