Why should I enlist in an IDF Hebrew studies program (ulpan) and not in any other Hebrew study program?
Studying Hebrew before enlistment is not a bad idea, but no civilian program can guarantee you that your newly acquired Hebrew skills will suffice for passing the IDF Hebrew test. This puts the participants of any civilian “pre-army” program at a distinct disadvantage. If you choose an enlistment date NOT marked with Free IDF Ulpan – here – and fail the IDF Hebrew test, which some participants of civilian programs do, you will have to wait an additional 2 months for the next enlistment date marked with Free IDF Ulpan. As a result, prior to your enlistment you will have spent at least 5 months in the civilian “pre-army” program + 2 months waiting for the next enlistment date = 7 months, as well as a considerable sum of money. Financially, civilian programs have a double disadvantage: you pay a lot for participating but you also lose what the IDF would have paid you had you enlisted in the IDF in the first place – namely, a monthly salary and a generous grant upon completing service, bot
