The Pre-Army Service Year ( he, שנת שירות, ''Shnat Sherut''), abbreviated Shin-Shin ( he, ש"ש), is a one-year voluntary service program for
Israeli
Israeli may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the State of Israel
* Israelis, citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel
* Modern Hebrew, a language
* ''Israeli'' (newspaper), published from 2006 to 2008
* Guni Israeli ...
high school graduates prior to their service in the
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
(IDF).
Contrary to the
gap year offered in other countries, the Service Year is entirely devoted towards volunteer work, and offers no material reward for volunteers. Service Year volunteers work full-time in a variety of different fields: assisting
development towns and disadvantaged communities, residential schools for youth at risk, youth movements, nature/
ecological organizations, and many other civic organizations and projects. Through the
Jewish Agency for Israel, some spend up to ten months of the year volunteering in the UK, Canada, the United States, and other countries.
In order to participate in a Service Year, prospective volunteers must defer their compulsory military service. However, the number of deferments allowed by the IDF is limited, making acceptance into the Service Year program selective and competitive.
Conscription rates among Service Year graduates are nearly 100%, and many of the volunteers are accepted into the most elite units of the IDF.
See also
*
Gadna (Israel)
Gadna ( he, גדנ״ע) is an Israeli military program that prepares young people for military service in the Israel Defense Forces. It was established before the foundation of the State of Israel and was anchored in law in 1949. Today it is a one ...
References
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Israel Defense Forces
Volunteering in Israel
Youth in Israel
Labor in Israel