The Tamir Organization for Social Leadership

08/10/2023

Update on our situation:
Most of Tamir's educational staff has been called up. Most of our graduates as well. There are a number of wounded. One is missing.
Praying for all!

30/08/2023

In these trying times of terror and political tension in Israeli society, the Mechina faces unique educational challenges. As an educational institution that strongly believes in the power of gradual change, our confidence remains steadfast that Israel will ultimately grow significantly through these challenges.
We believe in Israel's young adults. Despite all of their complexity, they are full of strength and determination to succeed as leaders in society. All they ask is for us to believe in them. This confidence has been the Mechina's educational approach and doctrine ever since its inception 20 years ago. It continues to prove itself time and again.
Israeli society is well aware that Israel's youth, especially youth from the periphery, are destined to become tomorrow's military and political leaders in the midst of this tension. Therefore, more than ever, we are working hard to instill Jewish and Zionist values as well as the courage and determination they'll need to lead Israel toward a secure and prosperous future, come what may.

16/04/2023

*Incredible Story of a Tamir Mechina Graduate, Elia Bukhris*
My life-changing story began in 2018 and continues to this day.
I came to the Tamir Mechina as a confused kid from a very difficult family situation. My "lofty" military aspirations at the time were to be an enlistment clerk in Tiberias.
My high school teacher encouraged me to check out the Tamir Mechina upon graduating high school and I agreed to give it a chance.
I was accepted with open arms in the summer of 2018 by Tamir's loving staff. After a year and a half of challenging hikes, intensive field assignments, internalizing a love for the Land of Israel, and strengthening friendships with many students from all across Israeli society – I enlisted in the IDF as a combat soldier in the First Brigade with much support by the Mechina's dean and mentors.
I then managed to achieve goals I had never dreamed possible. I became a Commander in the advanced "Nameir" Unit. During the toughest times in my IDF service, I always felt the Mechina at my side- during the challenging treks, in the maturity I felt in contrast to other soldiers in the Unit, in my understanding of the paramount importance in Israel's security, and in the knowledge of how a person gains by giving to others.
During my time in the IDF, due to my increasingly difficult family situation (that continues to this day), I had to leave home and was classified as a "Lone Soldier". At the beginning, I shivered at the realization that I will no longer live at home and must get by on my own, yet I then recalled that I had already done this for a year and a half at the Mechina, persevering without any contact or support from my parents. This realization strengthened me considerably, enabling me to internalize that anything is still possible and I can and will succeed.
The Mechina gave me something so lofty and powerful. I will never be able to return the favor!

Dear Friends, so much of these achievements is thanks to you and your staunch support over the years! Thank you for helping make this all possible!

19/03/2023

"A 1,000 km trek begins with one step."
Last month, the Mechina hosted an end of Year Ceremony for the Second Year Program, Tamir's 19th Graduating Class. The ceremony was a celebration of unity and good vibes in memory of our friend Noam Reinfeld z"l.
We thanked the Mechina's amazing staff whose dedication knows no limits, and our dear Rosh Mechina, Rabbi Yaish Chanuna who leads the Mechina and knows exactly how to reach the heart of every single Mechina student in exactly the way each one needs. Also, thank you Rabbi Moshe Keinan who leads the Second Year Program with unbounded love and self-sacrifice.
In conclusion we wish our graduates great success in their upcoming enlistment in the IDF, and may Israel get the most it can from these amazing guys.
The Mechina will always be a second home for our students and we're always here to give them a hug!

29/09/2022

02/05/2022

One of the students' mothers at the Tamir Graduation Ceremony said the following:
"We placed our dear sons in your hands with mixed feelings. As time went on, our fears dissipated and we noticed the serious, responsible and sensitive work you have done. This is a special event for our boys, as they mark the conclusion of one part of their lives and begin another. I can say that their time at the Tamir Mechina has been significant in building their personalities. You received a group of eighteen-year-olds and in just eighteen months they have undergone a pivotal maturation process and discovered their talents, strengths, weaknesses, capacity for learning. They have acquired life skills, personal development and independence, including the aspiration to achieve great things."
www.tammir.org.il/en

20/10/2021

The Story of IDF Commando Unit's Amit Aharon, Tamir Graduate

During his year at the Mechina, Amit underwent a great transformation. He eventually passed dozens of IDF screenings, including the excruciatingly difficult Commando Unit Selection – in which he was chosen for the IDF's highest commando unit Sayeret Matkal, including acceptance to the prestigious IAF's Pilot Training Course.
On January 5th, 2020, Amit enlisted in the Pilot Training Course after spending a year and a half at the Tamir Mechina. Afterwards, during his flight training and numerous tests, Amit was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma, and had to end the course and the IDF in general.
Following his recovery, Amit received many invitations from multiple IDF Special Units to serve in combat support. Another invitation was to return to the Mechina as a counselor and educate the Mechina's next generation of students.
Today, Amit has begun his second year as a counselor at the Mechina. He is also staunchly fighting to return to the Pilot Training Course.

26/08/2021

How does a pre-military Mechina program succeed in transforming teens with no motivation and difficult backgrounds into mature IDF leaders?
The answer is in this video, which shows what these guys have endured over the past year. The Tamir Mechina's staff knows how to combine tough physical and mental challenges, Survival Week, Naor Week, tiyulim, a torch relay, an overnight 60 km sea-to-sea trek, fun, and tons of love and support in order to raise these guys up and show them what they're truly made of.
Enjoy!

מוסיקה:https://youtu.be/N6ZGMlcbmMEhttps://youtu.be/RCgZiOVwQYkhttps://youtu.be/Ieg5AvyikfA

15/08/2021

About 250 people came to the Tamir Mechina's graduation ceremony this summer, as every student brought about four or five family members. We held a talk with the parents without the students present. Some of them said through tears that this son is the third child they've sent to the Mechina and how he's become a completely different person and a mature young man who now respects his parents and helps around the house.
One student came from a somewhat dysfunctional family and had left home for months at a time. He originally came to the Mechina with clothes depicting all kinds of frightening characters and his demeanor too was quite scary, yet we accepted him anyway despite the fact that there was practically no room left at the Mechina. During his time at Tamir, he underwent a 180-degree transformation! Unbelievably, he cut his long hair and now attends three prayers daily. His mother cried and cried as she thanked the Mechina staff. "Today I feel like my son has been reborn," she told us. He even signed up for the Mechina's Second Year Program. We managed to appeal his original exemption from the IDF and now he's preparing for combat service! www.tammir.org.il/en

04/08/2021

Tamir's end-of-year tiyul this year included a trip to the City of David in Jerusalem and the ancient Shiloach Spring, as well as a trip in the Judean Desert. Most of our students had never been to the City of David, and some of them had never even been to Jerusalem. The tour guides there spoke to us about the extraordinary efforts invested to redeem Jewish homes from aggressive Arab squatters in these ancient parts of Jerusalem.
The tiyul in the Judean Desert is not only lots of fun; it teaches our students how to overcome fear via an 80m repelling activity. After about a half hour of deliberating, the guys eventually decide to go for it and this becomes an incredibly empowering decision they remember for the rest of their lives.