Defense and Society Department

·      Leading and coordinating IMOD and IDF activities with Israel's youth to increase motivation and readiness for meaningful military service.

·      Carrying out the Defense Minister's policies regarding military draft and national service.

·      Coordinating activities and operations with the IDF,  youth movements, NGOs, and regional organizations.

·      Centralizing and providing the resources necessary to generate an active, strong partnership between the military and Israeli society.

·      Facilitating and overseeing the IDF's implementation of MOD policies relating to drafting unique tracks and programs integrating minorities and special populations in the IDF.

The Defense and Society Department aims to encourage youth enlistment in the IDF and prepare them for meaningful service. Working in partnership with the IDF, the department coordinates various activities that expose Israeli youth to different military units while highlighting their essential role in shaping Israel's past, present, and future. Educational activities are coordinated across approximately 600 high schools nationwide, including preparatory workshops for juniors and seniors, parent workshops, activities for youth at risk, and team-building outdoor experiences.

The "Be'ekvot Lochamim" Golan Heights Trek strengthens young Israelis' connection to their national heritage and history while fostering identification with the foundational values of Israeli society and the IDF. The Golan Heights was selected because battles fought there were crucial to Israel's establishment and defense, with the region's story continuing to influence Israeli society's character. This annual nine-day journey involves thousands of high school seniors who visit key battle sites, hear about heroic acts performed by IDF soldiers, and attend lectures given by renowned war heroes such as Brig. Gen. (res) Avigdor Kahalni. The trek culminates with a live-fire exercise conducted by active IDF troops.

Workshops are offered to students at different stages of their pre-military preparation. For juniors, "Anticipating the Draft" focuses on drafting and evaluation processes. The senior workshop builds upon this foundation, concentrating on service preparation and unit placement. A specialized team works with adolescents aged 16-18, providing outdoor activities, seminars, and workshops. Special programs are tailored for immigrant youth, adolescents with disabilities, and youth at risk. These workshops aim to create open discussions between students and moderators in a supportive environment, provide information about placement and recruitment processes, and facilitate debates on the importance of meaningful military service and the military's role in integrating various parts of Israeli society.

The Parents Workshop recognizes Israeli parents are heavily involved in their children's drafting process. It familiarizes parents with the recruitment process, provides a forum for open discussions about their experiences, helps address concerns, and offers guidance on effectively supporting their children throughout military service.

The Gadna program enables students to experience military life over a short period of time as an important step in their preparation for IDF service. This week-long program empowers students and provides them with a positive experience in a military framework.

"Ofek" runs parallel missions across Israel with activities in various social sectors—religious, secular, new immigrants, and rural youth—emphasizing communities from geographical and social peripheries. Hundreds of young Israelis contribute to this program every year, which helps bridge social divides while preparing participants for military service.

Various religious and secular Zionist seminaries promote the importance of meaningful military service and encourage youth to strive for excellence and serve in leadership positions. The curriculum includes subjects such as civic responsibility, Israeli society, and specific preparation for military service.

The voluntary national service program significantly contributes to Israel's hard-hit communities, with participants assisting distressed areas across the country. Over 2,200 annual volunteers support various causes, including caring for new immigrants (olim Hashim) and at-risk youth. The national service year program begins on September 1st. For further information, contact the Defense and Society Department by phone at 03-608-4506/7.

The Nahal program integrates military service with social involvement, combining the efforts of youth movements, the IDF, and the Ministry of Education. Young Israelis drafted to the Nahal unit may participate in a preparatory track where they volunteer and work for underserved communities or dedicate their time to various social causes.

Participants first complete eighteen months of military service as instructors and counselors in the Nahal Brigade, including the 50th Battalion and the co-ed Caracal Battalion. They then return to their communities for a year of social service, which includes preparing youth for IDF service, conducting educational activities in schools, empowering youth movements, working with at-risk youth and immigrant populations, organizing summer programs, and leading informal after-school activities.

The Defense and Society Department strengthens relationships with youth in Israel's Bedouin and Christian communities by investing in educational, social, and value-driven activities that promote serving one's community, society, and country.

The Department encourages military service among Israel's Druze and Circassian communities through workshops, recruitment seminars, visits to army units, and cultural events in schools. These activities introduce community members to the IDF and better prepare them for their military service.