Sherut Leumi
Sherut Leumi is an alternative voluntary form of national service in Israel, as opposed to the mandatory military conscription prevalent in the country. It is designed for individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria for service in the Israel Defense Forces, or who hold conscientious objections to military enlistment. The program primarily was created for religious Jewish girls aged 17 to 24, although it is open to all applicants who cite diverse grounds for their decision.
Background
The majority who receive an exemption from the obligatory conscription in Israel are Jewish women from the Religious Zionist sector, and they receive it by declaring religious observance, as they maintain that a large number of religious observances for women cannot be upheld in the military, such as dress codes to keep modest in Judaism. However, there is a small number of men who serve in Sherut Leumi. Volunteers are between the ages of seventeen and twenty-four. Service typically requires working thirty to forty hours per week over twelve to twenty-four months. Volunteers have the option of doing either one or two years of the National Service. Not all volunteers are Israeli citizens. It can be done on a tourist visa, and the volunteer will later receive a special volunteer visa that lasts as long as the person will be doing their service.Haredi men who maintain that Torah study is their way of defending Israel are exempted under the Torato Umanuto arrangement. Arab citizens of Israel, who are mostly Muslims, are exempted to prevent conflict between allegiance to their country and to their Arab families. Some Israeli conscientious objectors who object to serving in the army but are not eligible for an exemption have voiced a wish to do an alternative form of national service instead.
In 2012, Israel's cabinet extended military service exemption for 1,300 Haredi Yeshiva students as part of the Shirut Le'umi Mishmar. This allows Yeshiva students to join national service, as opposed to joining the IDF. As part of the scheme, the defense minister is obliged to postpone the military service of Yeshiva students approved for national civil service who are at least twenty-six years old or at least twenty-two years old and have at least one child. There is an organization called "Chaverim" that focuses on integrating Haredim into national service frameworks.
Programs
The majority work in schools, but can also work in places such as special education, administration, hospitals, law, geriatrics, nursing homes, health clinics, teens at risk, internal security, disadvantaged communities, immigrant assistance, and many other organizations. Acceptance is based on an interview via a placement organizations that try to find the youth appropriate skills, interests, and needs.Placement organizations
There are four main placement organizations for Sherut Leumi. They are the Agudah LeHitnadvut, Shlomit, Aminadav, and Bat Ami. Each volunteer is then assigned to a coordinator, who serves as a supervisor and adviser for the youth throughout their time in Sherut Leumi.Benefits
Bnot Sherut and Bnei Sherut are entitled to a number of benefits during their service. Many of these benefits are the same as what a soldier serving in the army receives. They include:- A monthly stipend for necessities. The amount varies with location and type of service, though usually it is approximately 1200 shekels a month.
- Apartment housing in the city where they are serving.
- Free bus rides across the country and free train rides.
- Discounts offered by various business establishments.
- Social programs such as weekend getaways, tours, learning programs, and parties.
- private medical insurance.
At the end of the service, the Israeli volunteers receive a grant that can be used for things such as education, buying a house, or paying for a wedding.