About

What Makes Lev LaChayal Unique?

Prepare
Spiritually
Prepare Spiritually

Lev LaChayal takes a holistic approach to preparation for service. Being as ready as possible for integrating into Israeli culture, handling the physical challenges of the military, and maintaining religious values require a multi-pronged approach. The Beit Midrash learning, classes, physical training, and even the recreational activities are designed to allow for maximum readiness!

The Learning Schedule
The Learning Schedule

The Lev LaChayal Beit Midrash Program integrates classic Yeshiva learning, emphasizing Gemara and Halacha with a specialized focus on topics that spiritually prepare religious soldiers for service, such as:

  • Jewish Military Ethics
  • Halacha: focus on issues that come up during army service & response from the frontlines.
  • Jewish Philosophy: Deepening an understanding of Am Yisrael’s unique role in the world, and the special status of Eretz Yisrael.

Mental Health Professional
Mental Health Professional

Dr. Zach Stern is our on-staff psychologist. He prepares our students for the psychological pressures of the army and is always available for the soldiers throughout their service.
Dr. Stern has a PhD in Psychology with a specialty in child, adolescent, and family therapy. He has extensive experience working with individuals who have ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, and adjustment challenges.

Immersive
Army Ulpan
Immersive Army Ulpan

Lev LaChayal members will take part in an intensive 3-month Ulpan on Lev HaTorah’s campus in order to sharpen their knowledge and usage of Hebrew. Comfort & fluency with spoken Hebrew is a crucial ingredient in our students’ successful integration into their army units & Israel society as a whole. For those who need further advancement with Hebrew, the army offers a comprehensive Ulpan administered by the army’s Hebrew instructors.

Army
Base Visits
Army Base Visits
Navigate Bureaucracy
Navigate Bureaucracy

Serving in the IDF and making Aliyah can be a very confusing journey with no shortage of bureaucracies to navigate. Additionally, to ensure the process goes smoothly our staff will accompany you at your Machal Interview, your Tzav Rishon, your Chiyul, and the entire process with utmost professionalism, connections, & expertise.

Living
Facilities
Living Facilities

Lev LaChayal is located on the Lev HaTorah campus in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Once drafted, LLC provides you with beautiful & spacious homes, which are cleaned, maintained, furnished, and always fully stocked with food. The Yeshiva as well provides you with 3 delicious & nutritious meals each day for the duration of the program.

Physical Preparation
Physical Preparation

Personal trainers will work with Lev LaChayal participants to design a unique exercise program for each of our students. This intensive training includes running, weight training, and stamina-building workouts. The workouts are designed to mirror those done during basic and advanced training. Thus our goal is to help you physically prepare for the rigorous demands of army life.

Rides To-and-From the Train
Rides To-and-From the Train
Here For You
No Matter What
Here For You No Matter What

Throughout your years in the IDF, Lev LaChayal will be your place to return to. We provide each soldier with a comfortable home, a warm and caring staff, Shabbat and Chag meals, rides to and from the train, visits by your Rebbeim to your base, a loving Av & Eim Bayit, and an environment of Torah and Ruach, support.

What is a
Lone Soldier?

Each year, countless young men and women move to Israel alone with the dream of drafting to the Israeli Defense Forces. They are called “Lone Soldiers” because, with their families abroad, they are left alone to navigate the drafting process and to manage every aspect of their lives without the help of their parents. Lev LaChayal commits to helping our religious lone soldiers before, during, and after their army service.
Our Lone Soldiers are never alone!

The Lev HaTorah Campus & Community

Lev LaChayal is a program run by Yeshivat Lev HaTorah in Ramat Beit Shemesh. In 2007 Yeshivat Lev HaTorah spearheaded the development of a new community within Ramat Beit Shemesh, called Ramat Shilo, which is named after the yeshiva itself — Shchunat Yeshivat Lev HaTorah. The yeshiva and the community have, since, been mutually supportive of each other.