Contents

 

What is Shnat?

What is Betar Shnat?

Summary of the Year

 

For more information about Shnat, contact Betar Australia's Shnat Rekaz. You can find his contact details on our contact page.

 

 

 What is Shnat?

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Shnat is a selective scholarship program designed for youth leaders from around the world. The program has a strong focus on education, self-education and the acquisition of life-long leadership skills. As the program is offered exclusively to chanichim at the immediate completion of their high school studies, they are at a complex yet exceptional time of their lives when they are sufficiently mature and suitable to embrace their Jewish Homeland and gain an appreciation of Israeli culture and society whilst developing their independence.

On return to Australia, a Boger (graduate) is responsible for the running of the movement. They are given the opportunity to carry on what they have learnt and give back some of what they have been given. As a Boger they learn invaluable life lessons and gain experience and responsibility that can be found in no other forum. Shnat is an investment in your child’s life.
 
 
 

 

The Betar Shnat program offers its participants a unique and powerful Israel experience.

The year, while generally referred to as Shnat, is actually called Shnat Hachshara (year of training). This term is particularly relevant for a Betari as, during our senior years in the movement we are constantly training to better ourselves, to improve our Hadracha (leadership), our Chinuch (education) and our understanding of the movement. Shnat is the natural continuation of this training as it is designed to further improve these skills as well as gain new insights into Jewish identity and history, Zionism and Zionist history, Israeli culture and politics, and to extend and advance ourselves in terms of personal growth and independence. The skills and knowledge learned are designed to ensure that Betarim on Shnat are trained to return to their movement and their community as competent, capable and enthusiastic Bogrim who will contribute to both these elements of Jewish life in a way that will better them for the future. The impact of a successful shnattie on the movement and the community is invaluable, the love for Israel is inspiring and their dedication an asset. Shnat is an important and defining life experience for any Betari.

Based on instilling the Betarian principals of Hadar and Tagar, the program is aimed at developing the self, leadership skills, Jewish identity and a deeper connection to the land and people of Israel.

 

Summary of the Year

 
 
 
The opportunity to be immersed in Israeli culture while learning about Israeli, Zionist and Jewish history is extremely special. Betar offers its Shnat participants the Machon Le’madrichei Chul as its formal learning component. This 5 month period is followed by a 2 months of volunteering where the participants live independently.  Immediately after is a range of seminars, and finally basic army training in the form of Marva. Dispersed throughout are a number of additional seminars, concerts, weekends, trips and chofesh. Betar is interested in fostering the personal growth of its ‘shnatties’ and the maturity they gain from this year in Israel is immeasurable.
 
 
Machon –
 
Machon is an educational experience that creates leaders within the community. It lasts 4 months and is held in Jerusalem. Machon provides a chance to explore Betars ideology and find out about other youth movements. Teachers provide a wide range of stimulating and informative classes that will push the participants to get as much out of this element of the program as they can. A Southern Tiyul (trip) and Northern Tiyul will also be run during the program. 
 
Seminars –
               
Betar Israel will run Seminars for the Shnat participants throughout the program. These seminars are a chance for chanichim to explore Israel in a Betar context. There will be a vast range of seminars, which will provide participants with the opportunity to take in the rich heritage of the Jewish people. Seminars will be run in a variety of places, with seminars in the North, in the Negev, in Judea and Samaria and volunteering on an army base. During the seminars, the Shnatties will be living together, with a Madrich. Seminars may run from one or two days, to a whole week or more.
 
Volunteering –
 
The Volunteering section of the program will be run for 2 months.  The shnatties will be living together in an apartment, and have much more control over their daily lives. During the day they will be expected to be at volunteering, and at night creating their own fun. They will be given a budget for the week per person. The money they are given is generally put together to buy groceries for the week, and they will be cooking and cleaning for themselves. Here they will have a chance to enhance their reputation as chefs. The volunteering may change per person, or it may be group work. Previous years have done soup kitchen work, teaching children, working in old age homes, farming, working on day camps and even working at a vet. If there is a particular place where a child wants to volunteer, such as an animal shelter, old age home, teaching program, we will make an effort to accommodate them
 
 
Marva –
               
Marva is a nine week program designed to give the participants a taste of life in the Israeli Army. The participants live on an army base in Sde Boker, wear army uniforms and follow a basic training program run by Israeli soldiers. The course includes lessons in Israeli geography, history, discipline, physical training, navigation and tiyulim, and is run in Hebrew (participants are advised to capitalize on the Hebrew classes provided during the year). Marva offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the Israeli Defense Force. It is an intensive physical and educational experience that offers great rewards and self satisfaction, as well as a deeper understanding of Israeli society.
 
Betar weekends –
Betar Olami organizes various seminars and weekends away throughout the year. This is when Shnat participants have the opportunity to meet fellow Betarim from around the world, both on alternative programs, as well as new Olim. During these weekends Participants will also have the chance to visit Betar Israel Maozim, form friendships with Betarim from Israel as well as have a forum that allows discussion about various Betarian and contemporary issues.
 
Chofesh –
 
Throughout the year participants will have three major blocks of chofesh, as well as free weekends (which are usually Thursday night through to Saturday night). It is during these times that Shnatties may visit family in Israel, friends or have their family come from Australia. It is up to the participants to find their own accommodation, food, transport etc. during these times, however, in the event that a Shnat participant is unable to organize these things for him/herself, Betar Olami will provide assistance.