Supporting Derech Eretz Mechina in Ashkelon

Impossible Reality in IsraelToday’s youth are growing up in a turbulent reality: a global pandemic, an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, polarization, incitement, isolation, and the list goes on. They could easily choose to live in fear, lose hope, and give up on the desire to create change. But in practice, they choose differently. Tens of thousands of young men and women in Israel choose each year to dedicate a meaningful period before their army service to personal growth, shared living, breaking down silos, strengthening the social fabric of the country and giving back. And this is exactly what we enable at Derech Eretz. Transforming Lives, Building a Pluralistic IsraelFor the past 15 years, 18-year-olds from every corner of Israeli society have come to our mechinot (pre-army leadership citizenship academies). They learn to live alongside those who are different from them, set out on challenging field journeys, volunteer in the community, and are guided by educators who truly believe in them  and who lead with heart. No matter where they come from or how they grew up, at Derech Eretz they discover that they have a choice. That they have the ability to make an impact. And that their potential is far beyond anything they have previously imagined. They gain tools for life, form deep bonds as a group, face challenges together and become part of a supportive, empowering, and committed community. And they do all of this before entering the Israeli Defense Forces, a defining moment in every Israeli’s life. Our graduate Almog Sahalo shares: “Through the mechina, I gained friends who were very different from the friends I grew up with in my neighborhood, but today they are like brothers, family. Friends I learned countless lessons from, and I hope to keep learning from them. Even five years after the mechina, I know that if I’m struggling, I can call a friend from that year. I arrived as an 18-year-old who didn’t really know what was going on with himself, and I finished much more focused, working on myself, aware of my strengths and weaknesses, able to handle challenges and put things in proportion. A person who is significantly better than the version I was before". A Community That Continues Long After• Approximately 2,000 Derech Eretz alumni are now young adults who take responsibility for our shared future, in both small and big ways: • Engaged citizens. • Values-driven soldiers and commanders. • Community volunteers. • Young adults who choose to live in Israel’s periphery and work in education and social impact. The New Mechina in Ashkelon, Near The Gaza BoarderToday, the demand for mechinot is greater than ever. In order to allow more young men and women to walk the Derech Eretz path, we established a new mechina in Ashkelon, a mechina born in a time of hardship and war, standing alongside a city and community in the process of rebuilding. This mechina serves as an educational and community-strengthening force for the city, and for Israeli society as a whole. Why We Need YouYour support will allow us to: • Develop and expand the new mechina in Ashkelon • Deepen our community involvement in the city • Enable more young people from across Israel to experience this life-shaping year A year that shapes the future generation of Israel: a generation that stands together, acts for one another, and brings hope, optimism, and a spirit of positive change. Donate now, and together we will continue shaping a generation that finds its way.