The vision of the Nitzana Derech Eretz “Mechina” is to generate change that contributes to creating a tolerant and united Israeli society, one that is based on a sense of belonging and mutual responsibility among its diverse citizens. The Israeli collective we invasion operates in light of values of equal opportunity, humanity, social responsibility, and love of Israel.
In order to bring about change, we operate a six-month preparatory course that runs from September to February, targeting youth from all sectors of Israeli society and creating a group dynamic that reflects the diversity of the Israeli people (traditional, secular, religious, new immigrants, graduates of comprehensive schools, youth villages and boarding schools, development towns, kibbutzim, moshavim, and cities). The emphasis of the course is on recruiting youth who are not typically exposed to pre-military programs and those living in peripheral areas. The program focuses on communal and shared values, intensive field trips and workshops throughout the country, diverse studies (Israeli society, history, Judaism, and more), preparation for the IDF, and community action. The program is conducted in a familial manner, with participants living together and returning home on some weekends.
The Derech Eretz Nitzana program is operated in partnership with the Derech Eretz Association, which operates educational-social programs in the Negev for youth and young adults from all sectors of Israeli society.
By instilling values of social responsibility, civic duty, and active participation in community affairs, the Derech Erez Mechina empowers its alumni to become agents of positive change in their communities. This also leads many of our alumni to seek leadership roles during their military service. Moreover, the sense of belonging and connection fostered by the program strengthens social cohesion and promotes a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration among Israelis from diverse backgrounds.
In my case, it didn’t work out at first… I had already given up and truly believed that a “Mechina” wasn’t for me. That was until I got a letter saying there were spots left at “Derech Eretz.” I went to the auditions, and I can’t explain why, but I just knew—this was my place.
I found people who speak with genuine honesty and at eye level, which was exactly what I was looking for.
When you get accepted to the Nitzana “Mechina”, you don’t imagine at all what your half-year is going to look like. At first, you arrive full of fears and anxieties… You don’t know if you’ll find your social circle, who you’ll connect with, and who you won’t. You have to get used to being home only on weekends, not having coordinated outings with friends from back home, having four training sessions a week, and countless classes you’re required to attend.
No matter how much I write, I have no way to explain what this half-year meant to me. I entered as one Yarden, and I am finishing as another. The same Yarden, but a much improved version.
I am leaving with the confidence to speak in front of people and to voice a different opinion. I’m leaving with the habit of being in a framework where home is a rare visit; I know what it means to get along with people whose opinions are polar opposites of mine, and I know what true discipline is—waking up and going to sleep at the most unconventional hours.
In hindsight, it’s the best thing I could have asked for myself.
In our Mechina, there are a few quotes that influenced us, and especially me:
“Don’t be mediocre” – Always aim high!
“In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man.”
“Be a ‘Sucker’ (Fraier)” – Always be the first to volunteer when help is needed, even if it’s a physical task or just an annoying one. Always volunteer, because that’s how you improve yourself as a human being!
I want to say thank you for everything I received: to the staff who were always a listening ear, to the amazing lifelong friends I’ve gained who will stay with me long after the program, and especially to Nitzana. Thank you for the knowledge that no matter what happens in our lives, we have a place to return to with open and loving arms!
Thank you for the privilege of being in a program that fulfilled me so much!
Some places you never truly leave; they simply move into your heart, and from there, they stay with you for a lifetime. So, how do you actually summarize the journey I went through here? How do you write an ending to a story that is still alive in every breath you take?
No matter how hard I try, I won’t be able to describe in just a few sentences the long road I’ve traveled here—a path that began with a million questions, some of which I found answers to, while others remain open, like a gateway to the real life waiting outside.
The answers that did come didn’t always arrive in big or planned moments. Instead, they came in the simple ones: hanging out until the small hours of the night, endless laughter until my stomach hurt, walking to the dining hall, and those moments of just another ordinary day that turned into a memory. In the fatigue, the difficulty, the treks, and the smell of sweat that suddenly became meaningless because we were in it together. And there, amidst the simplicity and the chaos, I found the answers I was looking for.
Between all the questions and answers, there were also the lessons that weren’t written in any notebook: lessons about listening, about friendship, and about not giving up, no matter how hard or long the road ahead seems.
Each person brought their own color, a unique and small yet significant shade. Together, we created a complete mosaic of people, moments, and memories, preserved like pages in this crazy album called “Life.”
And in the end, what remains is mostly a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the journey, for the people, for the moments, and for who I have become here. There is also a quiet curiosity about where life will take me next, and which version of myself I will meet further down the road.
But there is one thing I am absolutely certain of: the “Mechina” doesn’t end here; it only changes form. It will walk with me in my heart, in the small and big choices I make, in the dreams, the fears, and the hopes that still wait for me along the way. And somewhere, in the most unexpected places, it will meet me again—at a crossroads in the middle of life, in a moment of confusion or a tough decision, in a glance at the sky on a sunny day, or in a memory that suddenly surfaces without warning.
Thank you for being a home to me during these past six months.
How do you start? I’ll start at the beginning… I came to the Mechina confused and anxious—worried about social life, about reaching my goals, and about what this place even was.
The answer I got took six months to unfold. It was an answer full of meaning, life skills, values, friends, and journeys. It was about discovering the land, learning independently, realizing my potential, and above all, finding a sense of belonging.
I’ve cried, been angry, laughed, and smiled. It wasn’t an easy journey. I transformed from a girl who doubted herself and her ability to give, into a woman who has proven she can do it all.
This half-year was a gift. Thank you for the chance to prove myself every single day, and thank you for making this feel like home.
For Sharon, the Mechina was a defining crossroads where he forged his identity and discovered inner strengths he never knew he possessed. His transformation was tangible and inspiring: starting as a trainee who initially struggled with the simplest technical tasks, like rolling up his sleeping bag alone, he grew into a confident leader who facilitates complex activities, delivers educational content to his peers, and even heads out for solo overnights in the field with total self-assurance.
“The Mechina was where I truly learned what it means to take responsibility for my own destiny. I suddenly realized that the power to change my reality is in my own hands, and that the small and large challenges we faced in the field are exactly what built the confidence I need to face any obstacle in the future.”
