Students & lone soldiers
Students, gap year and lone soldiers
Whether you're here for a gap year, a degree, the army or Sherut Leumi, the same few things make life in Be'er Sheva easier: a Shabbat table, a cheap way to get around, and knowing who to call. These organisations exist for exactly that.
Students & lone soldiers
Start here
6 steps, in the order most people take them.
- 1
Lone soldiers: connect with the Lone Soldier Center
Meals, equipment, housing help and a community, in memory of Michael Levin.
Go (opens in a new tab) - 2
Moving here to serve: Garin Tzabar
A programme for young Jews from abroad joining the IDF, with a kibbutz or city home base.
Go (opens in a new tab) - 3
Sherut Leumi (national service)
The official authority lists placements, rights and the volunteer's stipend.
Go (opens in a new tab) - 4
Gap year and study programmes
Masa Israel Journey lists recognised programmes and the grants that come with them.
Go (opens in a new tab) - 5
Get a student or soldier Rav-Kav
Personal Rav-Kav profiles give student discounts; soldiers in uniform ride buses free with their military ID.
Go (opens in a new tab) - 6
Find a Shabbat table and a community
Shuls and community groups in Be'er Sheva that welcome students and soldiers.
Go
Guides
Read next
- Your first weeks in Be'er ShevaWhere to start in Be'er Sheva: the Ministry of Aliyah office, the absorption-centre ulpanim, your health fund, ESRA's English-speaking branch and the neighbourhoods Anglos choose.
- Getting around Be'er Sheva: trains, buses and roadsBe'er Sheva's two train stations, Dan city buses, Highways 40, 25 and 60, more than 250 roundabouts and the light rail planned for 2033.
- Shabbat, shuls and mikvaot in Be'er ShevaBe'er Sheva's mostly Sephardi shuls, where English speakers daven, the city's 15 mikvaot and how candle-lighting time is set.
- Shopping and kosher food in Be'er ShevaBe'er Sheva's malls, Israel's first enclosed farmers' market, the big supermarket chains and how to check kashrut.
Good to know
- Lone soldiers have specific rights (rent help, leave, grants): the Lone Soldier Center and the IDF lone soldier office can explain yours.
Source
- The Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin (opens in a new tab)
- National-Civic Service Authority (opens in a new tab)
- Masa Israel Journey (opens in a new tab)
These steps are national; local details for this city are being checked and will be added here.