At a glance
Duration: July 15th - 29th | 2 Weeks
Week 1 Highlights:
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Arrival & orientation
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Introductory hikes
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Israel Night
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Camping
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Shabbat
Week 2 Highlights:
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Sports Day
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Challenging hikes
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Camping
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Israel Day
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“Explore” – Navigation
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Touring local city
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Shabbat
Join us this summer on Sayarim for an unforgettable two weeks in the heart of the European Alps!
Experience the adventure of a lifetime with Jewish teens from Europe, USA, Canada, and Israel. Hike and camp amidst breathtaking scenery, sing, dance, and celebrate your Jewish identity, Israel, and Bnei Akiva.
You’ll have the time of your life on Sayarim as you challenge yourself, connect with nature, and create unforgettable memories. With over 100 Jewish 15-16yr olds, you’ll forge lifelong friendships as you hike through epic landscapes and pitch tents under the starry sky. You’ll also compete in sports and navigation challenges, participate in team-building exercises, and engage in discussions and activities about Zionism, Judaism, and leadership.
Sayarim is located at a ski chalet nestled in a mountain valley, offering breathtaking views. You’ll savor delicious, home-cooked kosher meals prepared daily by our Israeli chefs. Shabbat on Sayarim is a highlight, where you can recharge and celebrate together with song and dance that reaches the heavens!
2 WEEKS・CO-ED・ENGLISH/ HEBREW
FOR: 15-16 YRS OLD FROM EUROPE, UK, USA, CANADA, & ISRAEL
LOCATION: ALPS
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with Sayarim, World Bnei Akiva’s classic European summer camp for Jewish teens aged 15-16!
Each summer, for 2 weeks in July, around 100 Chanichim from Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Austria and Israel, come together in the Alps for hiking, camping, adventure, sports, and to celebrate their joint connection to Judaism, Israel, and Bnei Akiva.
Dive into thrilling experiences, forge deeper connections to Judaism and Israel, and make lifelong friends from across the globe!
Get ready for two unforgettable weeks packed with action, exploration, personal growth and a lot of fun!
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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
Part of the
Bnei Akiva Journey:
Whether you’ve been dreaming of Sayarim as the next step in your Bnei Akiva journey, or this is your first taste of the largest religious Zionist youth movement in the world, you’ll feel welcome on Sayarim! Sayarim is the culmination of local camps, activities, and all the fun, friends, and Jewish content that Bnei Akiva offers. Now is your chance to take your connection to Bnei Akiva to the next level, create lasting memories while hiking breathtaking landscapes, pushing your limits, and forging lifelong friendships with peers from across Europe.
Friends from Around the World:
Ever imagined you’d had have a whole bunch of close friends of around the world? Sayarim breaks global borders in connecting Jewish teens from Europe, Israel, and beyong who share a love of Judaism, Israel, and Bnei Akiva. Language barriers fade away as the hiking and camping unite all as one, and cultural differences are embraced and celebrated. There is a special, unique connection you’ll build high up in the alps on Sayarim, forging deep friendships that last a lifetime.
Meet The Team
AVICHAI MEYER
Camp Director
LIORA VILNER
Rosh Desk Europe
HOW TO APPLY
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Fill out the Online Application Form: European applicants start by completing our online application form. Simply click the red "Apply Now" button below and fill in your details
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Interviews: After submitting your application, a member of our team will reach out to schedule an interview
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Acceptance: Shortly after the interview, you’ll be informed of the status of your application. Your place will be confirmed only after a payment plan has been agreed
How much does Sayarim cost?
The price for Camp Sayarim is 1,600€ (not including flights). There are limited needs based scholarships available.
Please let us know if this is something you are interested in.
Don't Miss Out! Apply Now! Experience the beauty of the Alps and the enriching community of Bnei Akiva.
Apply today and take the first step towards an incredible adventure with Sayarim
Natan, Switzerland
Hi my name is Natan and I was on the Machane Sayarim 2 years ago with Bne Akiva Switzerland. It was one of the best experiences of my life! I met many new people from all over Europe who I am really close with even two years later. I learned so many new things about Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and myself on the programs. My highlights are for sure the two Shabbatot. It‘s a magical atmosphere which is really hard to explain. You‘ll sing, dance and get to know new people in a totally new way. Obviously the hikes and nights outside are also fun. I‘ll never forget the Kumsitz we had outside in the mountains at midnight!!
Racheli, Israel
Sayarim is a once in a lifetime camp. It gave me the opportunity to make new friends from Israel and abroad. I learned about the Jewish diaspora through people my age and could talk to them at an eye to eye level about life as a Jews outside of Israel. And through this I was also able to understand my Judaism more. I am really happy that I was able to be a part of this journey and camp.
Yehonatan, Israel
Sayarim was a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks to Sayarim I made a lot of new friends from Israel and abroad and thanks to them I learned more about the Jewish diaspora. We experienced truly unforgettable moments together. One of the best experiences was that we slept in the field under the sky with a million stars, we sang songs around the fire, I felt like I was part of something big, meaningful, special and a family. Sayarim changed things for the better in me, and I am so glad I was a part of it. I highly recommend it.