If you are considering spending a year in Israel, stop! There are so many reasons that a year in Israel can be a terrible idea.
A year in Israel can be the best experience. Or, it can be the worst.
All of the wrong reasons to take a year of learning in Israel:
It’s 10 or 12 months free from responsibility, growth, and the hard work of self-discovery. We are all growing – but if we don’t nurture our growth we can develop or aggravate problems that we start the year with.
Israel will set me (or my child) straight. Yep. A year away from parental supervision, in a dorm with teenagers flooded with hormones, is the best place to get my life together. If you have emotional or learning challenges, Israel is not a magic pill.
Just looking to avoid stress. Yes, high school was tough. And the last year has been incredibly tough on all of us. However, just chilling won’t pay off in the long term and it won’t make you feel good about yourself in the short term.
Good intentions do not make good results. Often, program administrators want to be helpful and welcoming to young people with challenges. Unfortunately, good intentions without the backing of resources and support are not a recipe for success.
All of us have emotional and intellectual needs. If you, or your child, needs specific support, picking a program that doesn’t know how to provide that support is not going to work out well.
Three signs that that a year yeshiva program might not be for your son:
Is your son lost or lacking direction? Does he have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, or lock himself in his bedroom for extended periods of time?
Has your son struggled through high school, socially or academically? Does he have ADD or ADHD, social awkwardness, or emotional issues may have made high school a challenge?
Does your son like to push boundaries?
Unfortunately, the traditional Israel year often does more damage than good to many at-risk teenagers. With their newfound freedom, many of these young men start drinking excessively. Others flounder, struggling to meet rigorous academic standards, and experience repeatedly a sense of failure.
The solution? Find an alternative year program tailored for your son
Your son needs to find his own path. He needs support to grow and develop his potential.
Unfortunately, the traditional Israel year often does more damage than good to many at-risk teenagers. With their newfound freedom, many of these young men start drinking excessively. Others flounder, struggling to meet rigorous academic standards, and experience repeatedly a sense of failure.
The solution? Find an alternative year program tailored for your son
Your son needs to find his own path. He needs support to grow and develop his potential.
