10 MONTHS・CO-ED・ENGLISH
AUSTRALIA・NEW ZEALAND・SOUTH AFRICA
Limmud is an experiential based Israel year program aimed at participants from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It runs from February to December.
Operating in a religious Zionist, co-ed environment, Jewish high school graduates from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa for a transformative year in Israel. Guided by a strong team of dedicated staff, participants experience an incredible process of learning, self-empowerment, and growth, preparing them for university and professional lives well into the future.
*Note:
All World Bnei Akiva programs are continuing to run during this challenging period in Israel.
Applications for 2026 are now open!
Application deadline is June 10th 2025.
At a glance
Duration: 10 months
2025 dates: 3rd February - 30th November
Feb: Opening seminar, Birthright, Kibbutz
Mar: Kibbutz, Torah based seminar, North Tiyul
Apr: Nissan seminar, Chofesh Pesach, Mechina
May: Mechina, Shvil Israel
Jun: Mechina, Europe Journey
July-Aug: Poland Journey, MDA
Sep: Yeshiva/Midrasha
Oct: Yeshiva/ Midrasha, Chofesh Sukkot
Nov: Leadership Seminars, Amazing Race, Closing seminar
Click here to see full yearly calendar
Limmud is an uplifting, inspiring and empowering gap year program in Israel with World Bnei Akiva. You’ll learn new skills, enhance old ones, develop your Jewish identity and adapt to new environments - all while enjoying the group experience.
On Limmud you’ll spend significant time at Yeshiva or Midrasha, as well as the legendary Bnei Akiva experience of Israel, including Kibbutz, Shabbatot, seminars, community volunteering and MDA ambulance volunteering.
During the Mechina period you’ll also experience orienteering, camping, physical training combined with learning about Zionism, Hasbara, Leadership, and all infused with the
Bnei Akiva Ideology.
Limmud will also enable you to grow Jewishly. You will come back with a clearer understanding of what it means to be Jewish for you, and the skills, drive and passion to develop your own Jewish identity.
Limmud is all about learning and giving. It’s a year for yourself, but also a chance to contribute to society around you.
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Leadership TrainingWith our professional guidance, and carefully crafted activities and workshops, participants develop their own unique leadership skills, and the confidence to serve as a personal example. Through their own initiative and teamwork they establish and run committees that steer the very course of the program, and work on individual and group projects to hone their skills. Committees are responsible for many aspects of Mechina life including educational content, PR, cooking, army preparation, tiyulim and more.
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Torah learning and lifestyleOur learning program teaches a religious Zionist and Modern Orthodox educational philosophy. We believe in learning for the sake of growing which makes classes lively, positive, relevant and involved. Topics studied include Torah and Jewish texts, tfilla, emuna, Jewish history, Zionism, and philosophy. You’ll be guided throughout, and different levels will be catered for. To be a participant on the Mechina, you don’t need prior knowledge in Jewish studies – you just need commitment to learn and to grow.
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Community ServiceAs part of the immersion into Israeli society and to contribute to it, participants dedicate time to volunteer within a local community. Projects include teaching English in schools, visiting the elderly, working with people with disabilities, and agricultural work.
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Love of IsraelParticipants discover Israel both geographically and socially, as we encourage them to challenge their pre-existing perceptions of the country and the people. They are exposed to all sectors of the Israeli population, and develop their own understanding of how the pioneering spirit is still very much alive in contemporary Israel. With the Love and connection to the Land of Israel being such a core element of the program, our participants grow to become the newest link in the chain of pioneers.
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Fitness Camp and Army PreparationWe make every effort to ensure that participants going into the IDF have a meaningful service. Therefore, there are classes and activities carefully designed to deal with a wide range of subjects relating to army service including ethics, leadership and structure of the IDF. Twice a week there are physical training classes for all participants. Classes are run by professionals as well as by participants. Participants gain self-empowerment through coping with physically challenging situations, and develop physical fitness and mental stability.
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Hebrew LearningThroughout the program, our international participants take part in our own dedicated “Ulpan” – intensive Hebrew learning course, with 2 classes a week divided according to 3 different levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. However the best Hebrew learning is through their daily interactions with their Israeli peers at the Mechina with whom they share everything.
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Jewish PeoplehoodThe Mechina Olamit strives to bolster the link between Israel’s Jews and Diaspora Jewry through their common historical, religious, and cultural heritage. We actively work to instill within our participants a desire for mutual action and commitment to a stronger and positive Jewish future.
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Seminars, Camp, and TripsThere are regular three to six-day seminars and trips around the country to expose the participants to a wide array of topics and build an intimate familiarity with land of Israel. Seminars include: Israeli society, Shoah, Zionism, Jewish Peoplehood, Gush Etzion, Navigation, Army preparation, Desert Survival and Chovek Israel – the final two-week trip from North to South of Israel planned entirely by participants. Participants help plan and run many aspects of each trip and seminar, including building educational elements, accommodation, cooking, navigating, and guest speakers.
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Safety and SecurityWe 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.
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Health and WellbeingWorld 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
Mechina Olamit
The Mechina serves as the ideological Beit Midrash of Bnei Akiva. Through its learning programme, participants will deepen their understanding of our movement’s ideology, learn how to be leaders and gain practical hadracha skills.
The “Mechina” formula is a real Israeli success story. Each year tens of thousands of young Israelis join Mechinot around the country to prepare for the challenges of transitioning from school into the IDF. Many of them go on to leadership roles both within and after the army. Our Mechina Olamit programme applies this same successful formula for Limmud as they transition to university, community leadership roles, and their professional lives in the future.
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Leadership TrainingWith our professional guidance, and carefully crafted activities and workshops, participants develop their own unique leadership skills, and the confidence to serve as a personal example. Through their own initiative and teamwork they establish and run committees that steer the very course of the program, and work on individual and group projects to hone their skills. Committees are responsible for many aspects of Mechina life including educational content, PR, cooking, army preparation, tiyulim and more.
-
Torah learning and lifestyleOur learning program teaches a religious Zionist and Modern Orthodox educational philosophy. We believe in learning for the sake of growing which makes classes lively, positive, relevant and involved. Topics studied include Torah and Jewish texts, tfilla, emuna, Jewish history, Zionism, and philosophy. You’ll be guided throughout, and different levels will be catered for. To be a participant on the Mechina, you don’t need prior knowledge in Jewish studies – you just need commitment to learn and to grow.
-
Community ServiceAs part of the immersion into Israeli society and to contribute to it, participants dedicate time to volunteer within a local community. Projects include teaching English in schools, visiting the elderly, working with people with disabilities, and agricultural work.
-
Love of IsraelParticipants discover Israel both geographically and socially, as we encourage them to challenge their pre-existing perceptions of the country and the people. They are exposed to all sectors of the Israeli population, and develop their own understanding of how the pioneering spirit is still very much alive in contemporary Israel. With the Love and connection to the Land of Israel being such a core element of the program, our participants grow to become the newest link in the chain of pioneers.
-
Fitness Camp and Army PreparationWe make every effort to ensure that participants going into the IDF have a meaningful service. Therefore, there are classes and activities carefully designed to deal with a wide range of subjects relating to army service including ethics, leadership and structure of the IDF. Twice a week there are physical training classes for all participants. Classes are run by professionals as well as by participants. Participants gain self-empowerment through coping with physically challenging situations, and develop physical fitness and mental stability.
-
Hebrew LearningThroughout the program, our international participants take part in our own dedicated “Ulpan” – intensive Hebrew learning course, with 2 classes a week divided according to 3 different levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. However the best Hebrew learning is through their daily interactions with their Israeli peers at the Mechina with whom they share everything.
-
Jewish PeoplehoodThe Mechina Olamit strives to bolster the link between Israel’s Jews and Diaspora Jewry through their common historical, religious, and cultural heritage. We actively work to instill within our participants a desire for mutual action and commitment to a stronger and positive Jewish future.
-
Seminars, Camp, and TripsThere are regular three to six-day seminars and trips around the country to expose the participants to a wide array of topics and build an intimate familiarity with land of Israel. Seminars include: Israeli society, Shoah, Zionism, Jewish Peoplehood, Gush Etzion, Navigation, Army preparation, Desert Survival and Chovek Israel – the final two-week trip from North to South of Israel planned entirely by participants. Participants help plan and run many aspects of each trip and seminar, including building educational elements, accommodation, cooking, navigating, and guest speakers.
-
Safety and SecurityWe 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 WellbeingWorld 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
Europe &
Poland Journey
Limmud participants have the special opportunity to embark on a Journey to Europe and Poland.
The Europe & Poland Journey focuses on the rich and beautiful Jewish heritage of pre-war Europe, dating back 800 years. You will also examine the harrowing years of the Holocaust by visiting Jewish ghettos, and death and labor camps, and other significant sites. The trip is meticulously prepared by our educational team to ensure a meaningful and impactful experience.
While in Israel, you will prepare for your journey to Poland, and upon your return, you will engage in processing and reflecting on the many concepts and issues covered during the trip.
Meet The Team
SHABTAI PESSIN
Head of Program - Limmud
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 Limmud cost?
The cost of Limmud for 2026 is 110,000nis. This 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/Mad 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.
Joel, Australia
Limmud was the most incredible year of my life. I made so many incredible memories that I will remember for the rest of my life. I learnt so much about myself, my Judaism and my connection to Israel. I met so many incredible people and and gained so much from everyone around me. I am so grateful for the experiences I had.
Dalya, Australia
Going on Limmud was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I had the time of my life! I was able to meet so many different people from all over the world and make life long friends! Limmud gave me the opportunity to see Israel’s beauty through our various living locations and beautiful tiyulim. Limmud matured me, guided me and has made me into the person I am today!
Danielle, South Africa
Limmud didn’t just show me Israel. It showed the person I was becoming. The leader I want to be. The kind of friend, Jew, human being I want to show up as in this world. I grew up in ways I didn’t think I needed to. It pulled me out of my comfort zone and into something real. Something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.
Ariella, Australia
My experience on Limmud was beyond incredible and I gained so much. I learnt more about myself, Judaism and Israel, all whilst developing the most special friendships.
Ben, South Africa
Limmud gave me the experience of a lifetime traveling around and interacting with the rich Israeli history and culture. I made so many new friends and met so many different people. I got to do things I've always wanted to do and experience things I didn't know I wanted to experience. Limmud changed my life, matured me, and helped me realize who I want to be in life.
Jason, South Africa
Limmud gave me the chance to experience Israel in the most real and authentic way. Whether volunteering, hiking, farming or touring, it pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible, and made Zionism feel less like a concept and more like something I’m actively part of. I gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be Jewish, both personally and collectively. I’m extremely grateful for the experiences, growth and perspective Limmud gave me.
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