Marva
Encyclopedia
Marva is a program in the Israel Defense Forces
that allows young Jews to learn and experience the basics of IDF and Israeli life. Beginning in 1982, Marva operated out of a base in the Galilee
, although it now is based at Sde Boker
. It was originally associated with Gadna
, youth battalions, which are now part of the Israeli Education and Youth Corps
. Marva is open to anyone from ages 18 to 28 who speaks some Hebrew
, although the vast majority of participants are between the ages of 18-20.
The program currently runs between seven to eight weeks long and previously ran for ten weeks. Each week recruits are stationed at a different base. These bases include: Sde Boker
, Bislach, out in the field, Wingate
, Latrun
, Michve Alon
and Nitzana
.
Participants must also participate in kitchen duty, guard duty in your tent area and punishments for not following orders range from pushups and waking up early to being forced to spend their free weekend on base. Marva has a greater focus on discipline and less of a focus on physical fitness compared to basic training for combat units in the army.
Course Schedule:
Week 1- Induction
You get the basics of the discipline. Not much happens that's too exciting, but you do get a weapon after a short hike. You must never put it behind your back or you WILL be punished. You also learn the theory of shooting and practice the shooting positions.
Week 2- "Field Week"
You spend the week outside living like a soldier on the line. You sleep in tents, eat army field rations (learn to love tuna) and learn the basics of field techniques (camouflage, movement, etc). You will shoot the M-16 in this week.
Week 3- North Week
You sleep at Michvei Alon, the "home base of all new citizens" and tour around all the sites of the north. Including a exercise session in Kfar Bloom and a hike in the Banyas.
Week 4- Navigation Week
You learn the basics of how to read a map and and then use the knowledge you learned in the classroom in the field in a small squad.
Week 5- Sport Week
You spend a week at the Wingate Institute
, Israel's leading sports training facility. You do sports training with army sports instructors and the highlight of the week is a spinning class and running the army assault corse.
Week 6- Combat Week
You spend a week at the home base of one of the infantry units, Nachal. You will learn how real combat soldiers live day to day. You will also shoot the exclusively Israeli rifle, the Tavor.
Week 7- Jerusalem
You tour around all the sites of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas (wearing your uniform and gun). The highlight of the week is a ceremony at the Western Wall
.
Week 8- Final Week
The week begins with a hike up the snake path of Masada
to watch the sun rise. There is a ceremony on the last day of the course at Ben Gurion
's grave where family and friends are encouraged to come and watch you receive your ceremonial pin, the Marvaton.
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
that allows young Jews to learn and experience the basics of IDF and Israeli life. Beginning in 1982, Marva operated out of a base in the Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
, although it now is based at Sde Boker
Sde Boker
Sde Boker is a kibbutz in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Best known as the retirement home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council.-History:...
. It was originally associated with Gadna
Gadna (Israel)
Gadna is an Israeli military program to prepare youth for their mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces or Border Police. A one week program of discipline and military learning run mostly by soldiers of the Nahal infantry brigade, as well as by soldiers recruited and trained...
, youth battalions, which are now part of the Israeli Education and Youth Corps
Israeli Education and Youth Corps
The Israeli Education and Youth Corps is the IDF Manpower Directorate corps responsible for the education of soldiers and commanders in Israel's military...
. Marva is open to anyone from ages 18 to 28 who speaks some Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, although the vast majority of participants are between the ages of 18-20.
The program currently runs between seven to eight weeks long and previously ran for ten weeks. Each week recruits are stationed at a different base. These bases include: Sde Boker
Sde Boker
Sde Boker is a kibbutz in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Best known as the retirement home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council.-History:...
, Bislach, out in the field, Wingate
Wingate
-Places:In New Zealand:* Wingate, New Zealand, A suburb of Lower HuttIn the United Kingdom:* Wingate, County Durham* Old Wingate, County Durham* Wingates, Bolton, Greater ManchesterIn the United States:* Wingate, Indiana...
, Latrun
Latrun
Latrun is a strategic hilltop in the Ayalon Valley in Israel overlooking the road to Jerusalem. It is located 25 kilometers west of Jerusalem and 14 kilometers southeast of Ramla.-Etymology:...
, Michve Alon
Michve Alon
Michve Alon is an IDF military base located near Safed, specialising in educational programs. It belongs to the Education and Youth Corps....
and Nitzana
Nitzana
Nitzana may refer to:*Nitzana , a city of the ancient Nabataeans located in the Negev desert in Israel*Nitzana , a communal settlement near the ruins of the Nabataean city...
.
Participants must also participate in kitchen duty, guard duty in your tent area and punishments for not following orders range from pushups and waking up early to being forced to spend their free weekend on base. Marva has a greater focus on discipline and less of a focus on physical fitness compared to basic training for combat units in the army.
Course Schedule:
Week 1- Induction
You get the basics of the discipline. Not much happens that's too exciting, but you do get a weapon after a short hike. You must never put it behind your back or you WILL be punished. You also learn the theory of shooting and practice the shooting positions.
Week 2- "Field Week"
You spend the week outside living like a soldier on the line. You sleep in tents, eat army field rations (learn to love tuna) and learn the basics of field techniques (camouflage, movement, etc). You will shoot the M-16 in this week.
Week 3- North Week
You sleep at Michvei Alon, the "home base of all new citizens" and tour around all the sites of the north. Including a exercise session in Kfar Bloom and a hike in the Banyas.
Week 4- Navigation Week
You learn the basics of how to read a map and and then use the knowledge you learned in the classroom in the field in a small squad.
Week 5- Sport Week
You spend a week at the Wingate Institute
Wingate Institute
The Wingate Institute is a sports training facility located south of Netanya, Israel, established in 1957. Named after Orde Wingate, the facility serves as the host facility for numerous Israeli national teams as well as a military training base....
, Israel's leading sports training facility. You do sports training with army sports instructors and the highlight of the week is a spinning class and running the army assault corse.
Week 6- Combat Week
You spend a week at the home base of one of the infantry units, Nachal. You will learn how real combat soldiers live day to day. You will also shoot the exclusively Israeli rifle, the Tavor.
Week 7- Jerusalem
You tour around all the sites of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas (wearing your uniform and gun). The highlight of the week is a ceremony at the Western Wall
Western Wall
The Western Wall, Wailing Wall or Kotel is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount...
.
Week 8- Final Week
The week begins with a hike up the snake path of Masada
Masada
Masada is the name for a site of ancient palaces and fortifications in the South District of Israel, on top of an isolated rock plateau, or horst, on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. Masada is best known for the violence that occurred there in the first century CE...
to watch the sun rise. There is a ceremony on the last day of the course at Ben Gurion
Ben Gurion
Ben Gurion can refer to the following persons:* Nicodemus ben Gurion, a Biblical figure, probably a rich Jewish member of the Sanhedrin that felt sympathetic to Jesus Christ...
's grave where family and friends are encouraged to come and watch you receive your ceremonial pin, the Marvaton.