9 MONTHS・CO-ED・ENGLISH
CANADA・EUROUPE・UK・USA
Kadima is a 9-month co-ed Modern Orthodox gap year in Israel, run by World Bnei Akiva, welcoming Jewish high school graduates from the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe.
It’s a life-changing year of independence, Jewish growth, and discovery — where you’ll live in Israel, engage with Israeli society first-hand, and deepen your connection to Judaism and Zionism.
The program is designed for motivated young adults who want to grow as Jews and as individuals — all while sharing unforgettable experiences with new friends from around the world.
Kadima offers a unique array of experiences: volunteering, Kibbutz, MDA/Marva, internships, Torah study, travel, and authentic encounters with Israelis. Living in Jerusalem and exploring the land, you’ll gain independence, resilience, and skills that will stay with you for life.
For all World Bnei Akiva programs, see here.
*Note:
All World Bnei Akiva programs are continuing to run during this challenging period in Israel. Applications for 2025/6 are still open, with limited places available.
Program Overview
At a Glance
Duration: 9 months
Sep: Kibbutz - Pioneering Experience
Oct: High Holidays
Nov/Dec: Internships
Jan/Feb: Electives: MDA/Marva
Mar: Volunteering & Israel/Judaism Seminars
Apr: Zionism & National Holiday Seminars
May: Learning & Leadership
June: Closing seminar
Your first year after school is your first real opportunity to shape your future life direction and choose the values you wish to live by.
That’s why we’ve designed the Kadima program, to help you explore your Judaism and Zionism in a positive and non-judgmental environment, and to help you forge your own personal direction.
Kadima will facilitate your personal and religious growth through diverse and challenging experiences, giving an authentic encounter with Israel. It will deepen your understanding of Judaism through relevant and contemporary learning from ancient texts to modern, cutting-edge issues.
Bnei Akiva believes that our learning and personal growth must be matched by a commitment to action - or in other words, Torah Va’Avodah. On Kadima you will become active contributors to Israeli society, making a tangible difference to people and communities.
And Kadima doesn’t end there: our vision is for graduates of Kadima to make a lifelong commitment to giving back to others, through being involved in Bnei Akiva, the wider community and Israel.
Program Components
Kibbutz
From the early days of the State, kibbutzim had a sense of duty, serving as a pillar of strength for Zionism. The members lived under extreme conditions, while tilling the soil, draining the swamplands, and building settlements. Today, World Bnei Akiva Hachshara participants are viewed as valuable contributors to the kibbutz movement. Working with kibbutz members, you may share duties in the field, gardens, factories, kitchen, dining hall or childcare facilities.
You’ll be offered placements according to the work requirements of the kibbutz, and you’ll live together in kibbutz housing, eating meals in the communal dining room. The group will also become involved in kibbutz social and communal activities such as Shabbat and holiday celebrations. You’ll be “hosted” by an Israeli kibbutz family, enabling you to have a closer view of what kibbutz life means for the children and adults who reside there permanently.
Discovering Israel
Israel has a dynamic, multi-layered society, where each person and family has a story to tell.
On Kadima you’ll travel the length and breadth of Israel on seminars to uncover about how the Zionist dream unfolded into reality, the diversity and complexity of Israeli society, how the Holocaust affects Israeli identity and how the Land of Israel has been brought to life in modern times.
Kadima is committed to training, inspiring and enriching the Jewish leaders and activists of tomorrow.
Our seminars give you the opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of Israeli society, whether in politics or religion, charity or hi-tech, and from this learn what it takes to make a difference to the society around us.
Work Experience
We believe that your year in Israel should give you the tools to shape your future life direction in a truly holistic way. That’s why we are offering work experience placements, personalized based on your needs and interests. We aim to find a placement suited to you, connected to your fields of interest*.
Building connections with people and experiencing life in the Israeli workplace will give you an authentic and diverse appreciation of what it means to live and work in Israel.
*Placements in certain fields may not be available.
Community Volunteering
You’ll volunteer in a neighborhood in one of Israel’s socio-economically deprived areas where there is a real need for volunteers. This will bring you to experience a part of Israel that you would not necessarily encounter elsewhere.
Volunteer placements may include teaching English in local community centers, helping in soup kitchens, working with the elderly, and sports. Your time will be supplemented with a learning program and evening activities. Through your experience, you will gain appreciation for the challenges facing the people of Israel today.
Education is at the heart of Bnei Akiva, and guided by our core values of Torah v’Avodah, Kadima weaves Jewish learning throughout the program in an experiential and meaningful way — through learning sessions, seminars, and site visits.
Inspiring guest speakers and educators help you explore your Judaism, personal growth, and your role as part of Am Yisrael. Even the tours and tiyulim are framed through a lens of Religious Zionism, deepening your spiritual connection to the Land of Israel.
Through shared Shabbatot and chagim (yes — Pesach is part of the program!), you’ll experience the rhythm of Jewish life in modern-day Israel and build connections that last well beyond the year.
All of this is supported by nightly one-on-one learning (chevrutot) opportunities with your madrichim, and a weekly Torah session with our program Rabbi.
For those seeking more, the Torah Enrichment Track offers extra classes and discussions in Tanach, Halacha, and Jewish Thought, along with immersive seminar weeks like Chagim Seminar and Beit Midrash Seminar.
Jewish Enrichment
Hikes and Travelling
Over the course of the year you’ll explore all of Israel, including a lot of hiking to get really close and personal with land! In addition to the abundance of full day or half day hikes, you’ll have the special opportunity of taking part in a challenging two week country-wide hike, along sections of the Israel National Trail. You'll camp at night, bonding with new friends from other World Bnei Akiva programs, and then delve into the grand scale of Biblical landscapes and sites of modern Israel.
You’ll see Israel like never before, and will stretch your mind as well as your legs, on this educational tiyul.
Shvil Yisrael is a highlight of the year on Kadima!
Safety and Security
We understand that applicants and their families may have concerns about participant safety over the course of the program, and about the dynamic security situation in Israel. Your safety & security is our number one priority.
As an approved MASA program, all World Bnei Akiva Hachshara Israel programs follow the safety and security guidelines outlined by MASA for all their programs. Please visit the MASA safety page for more information and interactive video with MASA’s Chief Security Officer, Amir Keinan.
Health and Wellbeing
World Bnei Akiva take our participants’ physical & emotional wellbeing very seriously.
Noting the rise in emotional challenges amongst youth, we have commissioned the services and support of “Keshev”- a professional organization in the mental health and wellness field. Keshev provides us a with a wide variety of services including group sessions and one-on-one meetings with participants on topics of mental health such as anxiety, depression, sexuality, eating disorders and more. They provide emergency on-call support to staff, and designated on site hours for any participant who needs extra support mentally or emotionally. Through their team, our participants and staff are offered guidance and support needed, to help them to have an emotionally healthy and safe year. To learn more visit www.keshevcenter.com
Bnei Akiva - a global community
Kadima has been uniquely created to meet your needs as young Jews. Most of the program is with likeminded youth from North America, England, mainland Europe and beyond. Additionally, significant parts of the year have been designed to cross paths with other World Bnei Akiva Hachshara programs from around the world including our Mechina Olamit, Limmud, Oz and Torani. This means you will have the opportunity to learn, hike and celebrate chagim with other young Jews from over 15 different countries; from Australia to Italy and from Uruguay to South Africa. The coming together of future Jewish leaders from so many different countries and backgrounds will enrich your year and give you friends from around the world.
Journey to Poland
Kadima participants have the special opportunity of visiting Poland as part of their year with World Bnei Akiva: Hachshara. Starting and ending in Israel, the trip focuses on the experiences of Polish Jewry throughout its history.
You’ll explore the immense and beautiful Jewry of pre-war Poland, dating back 800 years, and you’ll examine the years of the Holocaust by visiting Jewish ghettos, death and labour camps, and other significant sites. The trip is prepared meticulously by our educational team so that the experience is a meaningful one. Whilst in Israel, you’ll prepare for your journey to Poland, and on your return, you’ll deal with processing and concluding the many
concepts and issues that the trip covered.
(*The Poland journey, although highly recommended is an optional extra, for an additional cost)
Meet The Team
ARIEL VILNER
Head of Program - Kadima
MORIA FISHMAN
Group Coordinator
DAPHNA REFAELI
Director of Israel Programs
RAV ARI HABER
Program Rabbi
HOW TO APPLY
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Click below on the APPLY HERE button | Once you have begun the application process, you can sign back in as many times as you like to continue the application.
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Register with MASA at www.masaisrael.org | Masa is a project of the Israeli government that offers Hachshara participants an automatic grant, with further needs based funding available.
How much does Kadima cost?
The cost of Kadima for 2025/26 is 105,000 NIS. The cost covers tuition, seminars, tiyulim, accommodation, special Shabbatot, group transportation, staff and medical insurance. Not covered by the medical insurance are costs related to optical care and treatment of prior dental problems, medical care relating to pre-existing conditions, hepatitis and MMR vaccinations (required by MDA volunteers). The full Maccabi insurance policy details and it’s exclusions can be viewed here. In addition, you may want laundry done at certain parts of the year (eg. Marva/Mada periods), and you may be required to purchase your own books and learning materials for the study periods.
How will I know if I have been accepted?
After we receive and review your application, you’ll be invited for an interview. Your interview allows us to get to know you a bit better and assess your suitability for the program. It will also give you the opportunity to ask any specific questions you may have.
Shortly after the interview, you’ll be informed of your acceptance. Your place will be confirmed only after the payment plan has been agreed
Kerenna, NY
My experience on Kadima was a really fun and meaningful time! I loved how I was able to experience living in so many different places in Israel in one year. Also I learned a lot about the different aspects of living in Israel through experiences such as kibbutz, internships, and Marva. I also loved how active the program is with the trips and hiking that we did. Being able to do this all in a religious group is a very unique experience that I am grateful for!
Eli, London
My year on Kadima has been the best year of my life. I've met the most amazing people and share some incredible experiences with them. I've been able to do so much, I've worked on a Kibbutz, Interned at the Ministry of Health, worked on a National Ambulance Service and learnt about my Jewish history and identity. I've also learnt about myself and grown as a person.
Jake, London
Choosing to go on Kadima was the best decision I ever made because it has positively impacted my life to this day. I created new and meaningful friendships with people from all around the World; developed my Jewish identity and grew massively in my independence, all while exploring, and living in, Eretz Yisrael.
Lior, Stockholm
A year of personal and Jewish growth and living in the Israeli society. Jewish learning that give you different perspectives. The best gap year experience I could have ever had.
Guili, Sao Paolo
My experience in Kadima was truly unforgettable.
I created deep friendships from all over the world and meaningful memories. We learned, explored, laughed, and grew together. The shabbatot, peulot, tiyulim and lectures shaped my connection to Israel and Judaism. I will miss every single moment, person and experience! Kadima wasn’t just a program: it was a journey that truly changed me forever.
Olivia, London
My experience on Kadima was full of growth, fun, independence and a love for Judaism and Israel. Throughout the year the different experiences ranging from working on a kibbutz to internships to volunteering to hikes and seminars, guided me through what it means to live in Israel. I came to love Israel even more than I thought possible and my connection to am Yisrael strengthened even more. This program gave me friendship and memories that will last a lifetime.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that choosing your Israel Year Program is a big decision, and we’re sure you have questions. This section covers the most Frequently Answered Questions, but you are always welcome to reach out to us!
What is Kadima?
Kadima is World Bnei Akiva’s Modern Orthodox gap year program in Israel for high school graduates. Participants live in Jerusalem and other locations, gain independence, volunteer, study, and explore Israel while deepening their connection to Judaism, Zionism, and leadership
Who is Kadima for?
Kadima is for Modern Orthodox Jewish high school graduates seeking a meaningful, immersive gap year in Israel focused on growth, leadership, and connection.
Are scholarships available?
Yes. MASA grants all participants a minimum $200 grant and offers additional need-based scholarships. You are encouraged to also apply for community and federation funding. Limited World Bnei Akiva scholarships are available once you’ve explored other options, and can be discussed once you've completed your application.
How is the Kadima program structured?
Kadima is a modular program, meaning the year is divided into different modules that each provide a unique experience in Israel. Modules include time on Kibbutz, volunteering with MDA or Marva, professional internships, hiking the Shvil Yisrael, Eco village, seminars and volunteering and leadership opportunities. Each module offers new skills, perspectives, and a chance to explore Israel in a different way.
Where do participants live during the year?
Kadima is based at Beit Bnei Akiva, World Bnei Akiva’s brand-new Educational Center and guesthouse in the Givat Mordechai neighborhood in central Jerusalem. Throughout the year, the group also travels around the country for seminars, volunteering, and trips — giving participants a full Israel experience while having a secure home base.
Do I need to speak Hebrew to join Kadima?
No! The program is run in English, and you'll have plenty of support. You’ll also learn Hebrew throughout the year, with options to grow at your own pace.
How do the meals work Kadima?
Participants manage meal planning and cooking with a group budget, supported by staff. A hot meal is provided daily. Shabbat meals are included on “in Shabbatot.” During “out Shabbatot” or free time, participants arrange their own meals. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options can be accommodated
How do Shabbatot work on Kadima?
Kadima generally follows an alternating “in” and “out” Shabbat schedule. - In Shabbatot are spent together with the group, either at the Jerusalem base or hosted by communities across Israel. These include special programming, meals, and time with staff and friends. - Out Shabbatot are free weekends, when participants are encouraged to experience Shabbat with family, friends, or host families across Israel. They may also stay at the base if needed. Kadima staff make sure that every participant has a warm and welcoming place to be on free Shabbatot
How much free time do participants get?
Kadima has a busy schedule each day, but includes daily breaks, free weekends, and occasional Friday mornings free. Participants also enjoy designated vacation periods on Sukkot, Chanukah, and Pesach.| A unique part of Kadima is that Pesach is spent together as a group, with the participants preparing their own group Haggadah, and running the seder.