FZY Year Course is an intense program which is split into three equal-length components, each three months long. These sections are Jerusalem Studies, Community Volunteering, and Israel Experience. These main components are interspersed with tiyulim (hikes), special Shabbatot (weekends), and many other fun, educational, experiential and inspirational activities. The Jerusalem Studies section is based in our brand new purposebuilt accommodation in Jerusalem. The core subjects are Ulpan, History of Zionism and Israel, hadracha (leadership), and Israel Update. There are a large variety of elective subjects which are taught around Israel and in the classroom.
The Community Volunteering period is based in a suburb of Tel Aviv, during which participants independently live in apartments with friends. The placement(s) may be teaching English in schools, volunteering in an old-age home, or helping to prepare food in a soup kitchen, amongst others. For a further three months, the participants will get to see an area of Israeli society, including a placement in the army. Participants will also have the opportunity to volunteer in another area of Israeli society, be this with Magen David Adom (paramedic service), the fire brigade, a kibbutz, or Masada. FZY also offers a variant on the general Year Course, called Shevet. Shevet keeps a traditional Modern Orthodox environment throughout and caters to people who want an Orthodox year without committing entirely to halacha. This is done through organized Shabbatot, regular visits to the Kotel, inspiring Orthodox madrichim, more Jewish learning and guidelines in place to ensure the atmosphere.