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Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim
מכינת 'עטרת ירושלים'
· Old City, Jerusalem
#age-gap-year#religious-mechina#mechina#boys-only#jerusalem#essence-spiritual-growth#essence-pre-military
Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim is a mechina in Old City, Jerusalem, for gap-year students, men only.
A pre-military academy in Jerusalem's Old City, near the Western Wall -- one of the first mechinot established in Jerusalem and among the older ones in Israel nationally (marking roughly three decades in operation as of the mid-2020s). The program centers on character education, Torah study, and connection to the Jewish people and the land of Israel, based in the heart of the rebuilt Jewish Quarter.
Poll results
Best for someone who wants Hebrew that actually sticks · a real Israeli social circle · full Hebrew immersion
Rate this program
8 people have rated this program.
Would you recommend it to a friend?
1 Definitely not · 5 Definitely
Asked "Would you recommend it to a friend?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.8 out of 5 (1 = Definitely not, 5 = Definitely), based on 8 responses.
n=8How much did your connection to israel grow
1 It didn't · 5 Profoundly
Asked "How much did your connection to israel grow", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.7 out of 5 (1 = It didn't, 5 = Profoundly), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did your Hebrew actually improve, honestly, by the end?
1 No improvement · 5 Completely Transformed
Asked "How much did your Hebrew actually improve, honestly, by the end?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.3 out of 5 (1 = No improvement, 5 = Completely Transformed), based on 6 responses.
n=6How did you typically spend your free evenings during the program?
1 Almost always stayed in5 Almost always went out
Closest to: Mostly stayed in, occasionally went out
Asked "How did you typically spend your free evenings during the program?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim answered closest to "Mostly stayed in, occasionally went out", based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did your experience depend on which specific staff/rabbis/madrichim you got?
1 Same for everyone5 Depended completely
Closest to: Depended somewhat
Asked "How much did your experience depend on which specific staff/rabbis/madrichim you got?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim answered closest to "Depended somewhat", based on 7 responses.
n=7How niche are the people that go to this program?
Not enough responses yet.
How much were you treated as an adult vs. managed like a student?
Not enough responses yet.
How much freedom did you have over your own time and choices?
Not enough responses yet.
How much prior Torah learning background did you need to keep up?
1 No background necessary5 In depth Gemara with proficient Aramaic
Closest to: 3
n=7How much did the program contribute to your desire to learn?
Not enough responses yet.
How much are you still learning now, after the program?
Not enough responses yet.
How much free time do you have outside of a learning schedule?
1 I had no free time outside of a learning schedule5 I had all the free time in the world
Closest to: I had a lot of free time
Asked "How much free time do you have outside of a learning schedule?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim answered closest to "I had a lot of free time", based on 8 responses.
n=8If you know, what type of units did the top third of people from your cohort actually go to?
1 Jobnik/intellegence 5 Elite units
Closest to: Gdudim/Basic infantry
Asked "If you know, what type of units did the top third of people from your cohort actually go to?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim answered closest to "Gdudim/Basic infantry", based on 8 responses.
n=8How realistic a picture did the program give you of army service?
Not enough responses yet.
Did the preparation help you stay strong throughout your whole service?
Not enough responses yet.
How much were you accompanied and mentored through the service?
1 Not at all I was on my own · 5 Fully accompanied and mentored
Asked "How much were you accompanied and mentored through the service?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.1 out of 5 (1 = Not at all I was on my own, 5 = Fully accompanied and mentored), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did the program guide and support you through actually signing up and drafting?
1 Left me on my own · 5 Held my hand the whole way
Asked "How much did the program guide and support you through actually signing up and drafting?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 3.7 out of 5 (1 = Left me on my own, 5 = Held my hand the whole way), based on 6 responses.
n=6How easily did you find people you clicked with?
1 Never really did · 5 Found my people fast
Asked "How easily did you find people you clicked with?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.9 out of 5 (1 = Never really did, 5 = Found my people fast), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much do you feel you gained close friendships that lasted?
1 None Lasted · 5 Lifelong Friends
Asked "How much do you feel you gained close friendships that lasted?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.9 out of 5 (1 = None Lasted, 5 = Lifelong Friends), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did the social scene depend on your particular cohort?
Not enough responses yet.
How was the food, realistically, day to day?
1 Not good at all · 5 5 Star Hotel
Asked "How was the food, realistically, day to day?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.1 out of 5 (1 = Not good at all, 5 = 5 Star Hotel), based on 7 responses.
n=7How would you rate the living conditions?
1 Not good at all · 5 5 Star Hotel
Asked "How would you rate the living conditions?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 3.4 out of 5 (1 = Not good at all, 5 = 5 Star Hotel), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much privacy/personal space did you have?
1 None/ Felt cramped · 5 All the space in the world
Asked "How much privacy/personal space did you have?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 3.3 out of 5 (1 = None/ Felt cramped, 5 = All the space in the world), based on 7 responses.
n=7How responsive was staff when something practical broke or went wrong?
1 Ignored it · 5 Fixed things immediately
Asked "How responsive was staff when something practical broke or went wrong?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.0 out of 5 (1 = Ignored it, 5 = Fixed things immediately), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did the hebrew that you learned in the program stick or fade?
1 Faded Completely · 5 All the Hebrew I learned stayed with me
Asked "How much did the hebrew that you learned in the program stick or fade?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 5.0 out of 5 (1 = Faded Completely, 5 = All the Hebrew I learned stayed with me), based on 6 responses.
n=6How available are resources for learning hebrew, (ie ulpan)?
1 No resources available you are on your own · 5 All the resources available Ulpan everyday
Asked "How available are resources for learning hebrew, (ie ulpan)?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 2.8 out of 5 (1 = No resources available you are on your own, 5 = All the resources available Ulpan everyday), based on 5 responses.
n=5How much of the day did you need to use Hebrew vs. able to fall back on English?
1 Always able to speak English5 Always need to speak Hebrew
Closest to: Mostly need to use Hebrew
Asked "How much of the day did you need to use Hebrew vs. able to fall back on English?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim answered closest to "Mostly need to use Hebrew", based on 6 responses.
n=6How much prior Hebrew did you need to not feel lost?
1 No Hebrew5 Completely Fluent
Closest to: An decent amount of Hebrew
Asked "How much prior Hebrew did you need to not feel lost?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim answered closest to "An decent amount of Hebrew", based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did the program strengthen your intention to build a life in Israel?
1 No Effect · 5 Changed my direction
Asked "How much did the program strengthen your intention to build a life in Israel?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.9 out of 5 (1 = No Effect, 5 = Changed my direction), based on 7 responses.
n=7Did the program give you a real social circle of Israelis to lean on?
1 None · 5 A real support system
Asked "Did the program give you a real social circle of Israelis to lean on?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.7 out of 5 (1 = None, 5 = A real support system), based on 7 responses.
n=7Did the learning translate into something you kept doing after the program?
1 No I did not continue any learning after the program · 5 Yes I have many chavrutot and do daily learning (ie daf yomi)
Asked "Did the learning translate into something you kept doing after the program?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 3.6 out of 5 (1 = No I did not continue any learning after the program, 5 = Yes I have many chavrutot and do daily learning (ie daf yomi)), based on 8 responses.
n=8Was the program what you expected, or different?
1 Much worse than expected5 Much better
Closest to: Better than expected
Asked "Was the program what you expected, or different?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim answered closest to "Better than expected", based on 8 responses.
n=8How well did the program prepare you for the army?
1 Not at all · 5 Extremely well
Asked "How well did the program prepare you for the army?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.7 out of 5 (1 = Not at all, 5 = Extremely well), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much did the program actually make you want to stay in Israel?
1 No desire whatsoever · 5 Changed my trajectory
Asked "How much did the program actually make you want to stay in Israel?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.9 out of 5 (1 = No desire whatsoever, 5 = Changed my trajectory), based on 7 responses.
n=7How much are you still connected to learning now, after the program?
1 Not at all · 5 It's a part of my life
Asked "How much are you still connected to learning now, after the program?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.4 out of 5 (1 = Not at all, 5 = It's a part of my life), based on 7 responses.
n=7How meaningful was that Army preparation to you personally?
1 Not Meaningful · 5 Very Meaningful
Asked "How meaningful was that Army preparation to you personally?", alumni of Mechinat Ateret Yerushalayim averaged 4.9 out of 5 (1 = Not Meaningful, 5 = Very Meaningful), based on 7 responses.
n=7- Duration
- Gap Year
- Contact
- 055-9906-220https://mechinat-ateret.co.il/
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Reviews
How much did your connection to israel grow
How much did your Hebrew actually improve, honestly, by the end?
If you make an effort to learn than it will improve dramatically as my Hebrew did
I was born in Israel, my Hebrew was already good
How did you typically spend your free evenings during the program?
Working out, running….
It was great to be centrally located in Jerusalem which made a lot of places accessible and great for going on runs in the evening
How much prior Torah learning background did you need to keep up?
The amount I chose
You learn more as you go
How much free time do you have outside of a learning schedule?
This place gives total freedom You’re there to learn and prepare for the army, no one is going to force you. You’re expected to push yourself
The schedule is not like normal yeshiva or mechinas, where you’re forced into a schedule and Punished if you don’t abide by it. In my time there I felt totally free and was able to learn to push myself to be better on my own with the constant support of the rabbis. I think this is an essential skill for life and great for developing self discipline which is one of the pillars needed for military service.
If you know, what type of units did the top third of people from your cohort actually go to?
Big mix, some elites, a lot of sayerets, but the majority is probably gdudim
How much did the program guide and support you through actually signing up and drafting?
I had some issues with my draft and I got letters of recommendation from all the rabbis which really helped move the army’s bureaucracy. All the rabbis served and continue to serve in the reserves in combat units and both them and the mechina have great standing with the army.
How was the food, realistically, day to day?
We take turns cooking each day and it was great food
It’s made by you and your friends on alternating schedule. It’s not 5 stars in the sense that it’s the best food ever. But it’s made by your guys and I never ate something I didn’t like.
How would you rate the living conditions?
That’s what’s beautiful about it
It’s in the old city at first it’s a little bit of a shock but it’s 100% better than what people have in the army and it helps prepare you.
Muslim quarter
5 stars for the location. I live in Jerusalem now and I still long for the life in the old city. The dorms are rustic but there’s nothing like living in the Muslim quarter.
How much privacy/personal space did you have?
LOL
How available are resources for learning hebrew, (ie ulpan)?
I already knew Hebrew and was not an Oleh in the mechina so I wouldn’t know
How much of the day did you need to use Hebrew vs. able to fall back on English?
A lot of Americans And everyone knows English these days
There are always people that are going to speak English but the more you fall back on it the less you learn you gotta break your teeth in order to learn
It’s an Israeli program but every year there’s at least one guy who speaks English. But it’s definitely on the Israeli side
How much are you still connected to learning now, after the program?
Super
Overall, how was the program?
It was amazing it taught me and everyone around me how army life is and how to apply yourself once you draft in a religious aspect and schedule wise
How well did the program prepare you for the army?
It teaches you skills that you don’t mean to learn but pick up along the way. For example sleeping with other people, being part of a brotherhood, and being able to make sure everyone has enough food before you take more just to name a few.
Alumni References
Some past participants have offered to answer questions about their experience.
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