Mahal IDF Volunteers
Guide & Assistant

This is the Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org website, the leading guide and one-stop-assistant for all would-be overseas enlistees prior to joining Mahal IDF programs or non-Mahal IDF paths. This is not an official website of the State of Israel but a private initiative of volunteers aiming to assist you - from retrieving information to pre-checking your qualification and until your enlistment in the IDF.

The following programs enable young Jews from all over the world to volunteer for the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). The programs aim to contribute to Israel's defense and to provide knowledgeable and enthusiastic young leaders for Jewish communities.

IDF programs for non-Israelis:

• The Mahal program is for men younger than 24 and women younger than 21. Eligible are non-Israeli Jews, descendants of a Jewish grandparent and the spouses of the aforementioned. The program consists of 14 1/2 - 18 months of IDF service (depending on command of Hebrew).
  
• The Mahal Nahal Haredi program is for non-Israeli religious (haredi) Jewish men younger than 24. The program consists of 14 1/2 - 18 months of service (depending on command of Hebrew) in a separate IDF Nahal Haredi Infantry combat unit.
  
• The Mahal Hesder program is for non-Israeli religious (dati) Jewish men younger than 24. The program consists of 6 1/2 months of studies in a Yeshivat Hesder (IDF Rabbinical College) followed by at least 14 1/2 months of IDF service, in total 21 months.
  
• Program for non-Israelis who do not qualify for the Mahal programs - will be added soon

IDF programs for overseas Israelis:

• Path for Israeli citizens residing overseas, former Israelis residing overseas, non-Israelis with an Israeli parent etc. | Details - click here
  
• Other programs for overseas Israelis (under construction)

Over one thousand young people from more than 40 countries have already joined the IDF through its exciting programs for overseas volunteers.

• Free Hebrew studies program - click here
• Before contacting Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org, please study Who Can Volunteer?, Your Service in the IDF, Volunteering Step-by-Step, Register/Sign up Online, FAQ and the external links like the informations for Chayalim Bodedim (Lone Soldiers)
• If the IDF enlistment date is after your 24th birthday (man) | 21st (woman) - click here
• If you are not Jewish | none of your parents is Jewish | none of your grandparents is Jewish | you are not the spouse of the aforementioned- click here

What's New?

• Ministry of Defense/IDF rule raises the maximum age for male volunteers: 24th birthday (man) | 21st (woman) at the time of the IDF enlistment date.
  
  Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org continues lobbying for improved IDF eligibility rules aiming to increase the numbers of eligible overseas volunteers. The rules improved considerably and continue moving in the right direction. We will publish all changes here, as soon as there will be changes. Please check from time to time Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org's homepage for updates - Apr 27, 2008
• Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org continues to be the leading guide and one-stop-assistant for all overseas would-be enlistees prior to joining the IDF. Launched in 2001 as Mahal2000.com, it got the "Jewish Agency Top Site 2005" award. The usage statistics for 2007 show 135,000 visits and 3,000,000 hits. Google ranks on Mar 11, 2008:
  join Israeli army - 1st,
  volunteer Israeli army – 1st,
  volunteer Israeli military - 1st
  enlist IDF - 1st,
  volunteer IDF - 1st,
  volunteer Israel Defense Forces - 1st,
  serve Israeli army - 3rd
  volunteer Israel - 16th.
  
  Following the improved infrastructure of the Ministry of Defense, we redesigned the website and expanded our services aiming to assist all would-be overseas volunteers and enlistees, for all IDF Mahal programs and all IDF non-Mahal paths.
  
  There are a few organizations and individuals helping IDF overseas volunteers, like Garin Tzabar, Mahal2000, Mahal Haredi, Bnei Akiva, a multitude of Yeshivot etc. None of these facilitates the entry to all IDF overseas programs.
  
  Mahal2000.com cooperated in the last years closely with the Mahal2000 association. Since 2008, however, the Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org website (alias Mahal2000.com) operates independently from any association and is thus available for all organizations and individuals which assist IDF overseas enlistees, and all those overseas enlistees who might want to consider service in any of the the IDF overseas programs.
  
  Therefore, Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org is now the sole website that can assist every IDF overseas volunteer for the Mahal, Mahal Nahal Haredi and Mahal Hesder programs and also all IDF non-Mahal paths. As soon as the volunteer is choosing a program, Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org will forward his/her registration to the Ministry of Defense or the organization best suited for that program and assist that organization to handle the case.
  
  All organizations and individuals facilitating the enlistment of overseas volunteers are requested to submit/update information about their services for free publication here.
  
  All Mahal-IDF-Volunteers.org personnel are volunteers and all services are free of charge. Donations are not accepted. - Feb 10, 2008/Mar 11, 2008
• IDF health certificate - Nov 28, 2007
• Path for overseas residents with Israeli citizenship who were not residents of Israel between their 11th and 18th birthday. This path is also an option for volunteers who - unlike Israelis - are not liable for IDF service but fail to qualify for the Mahal programs.
• Ministry of Defense rule limiting the enlistment age of volunteers, effective immediately: men 23rd birthday | women 21st. No exception is possible. Mahal is lobbying for the cancellation of this rule. Please check from time to time our website for updates. - Oct 30, 2007
• Ministry of Defense rule disqualifying volunteers who stayed in Israel over 12-18 months before enlistment. Mahal is lobbying for the cancellation of this rule. Please check from time to time our website for updates - Oct 30, 2007.
• The eligibility for the IDF Mahal program includes now non-Israeli Jews, descendants of a Jewish grandparent and the spouses of the aforementioned. - Oct 30, 2007
• Volunteers must arrive in Israel not later than 2 1/2 months before the enlistment date in order to register in person with the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and IDF (alternative schedule for Hebrew speakers only - click here) - Oct 29, 2007
• Enlistment dates for 2008 - Oct 29, 2007
• The IDF is beginning to reach out to motivated new olim and Diaspora Jews - JP, Aug 16, 2007
• The IDF is planning to open one of its most secret and prestigious hi-tech courses -Talpiot- to overseas Jews - JP, Aug 6, 2007
• IDF revamping 'Shlav Bet' to offer new olim better options (does not apply to non-Israelis) - JP, Aug 3, 2007
• IDF appeals to Israeli expatriates to come to Israel to perform reserve duty in the West Bank - JP, Jul 24, 2007
• Free army ulpan | What happens if my command of Hebrew is not reasonable, at the time of the enlistment? - Jul 3, 2007

1948 vets meet present-day volunteers
May 12, 2005. Veteran foreign volunteers who fought in the War of Independence held a stirring meeting Wednesday with present-day volunteers in the IDF.

Lone Soldiers
August 22, 2004. It's dangerous, difficult and sometimes brutal. So why would North American kids want to serve in the IDF? In this article, some of them explain why they're here.


Induction
RAMAT GAN. Mahal volunteers experienced their first day in the IDF at the BAKUM induction base today, where they received their IDF uniforms and equipment.