How it all started

The founders of Derech Eretz, Yonatan Kishinevsky and Avi Cohen, met during their army service and became close friends. They continued after their service in different paths: Avi went on to study Law and Business Administration, and Yonatan pursued studies in Social work and Conflict Management and Resolution. Years later, they reconnected, and in one late-night conversation on the banks of the Yarkon River, they found themselves reunited by a deep commitment to building a more cohesive and resilient Israeli society. They recognized the pivotal life transitions of entering and exiting the army as defining moments in the Israeli youth experience—times when young people need guidance, exposure, and practical tools for life, and decided to rise to the challenge and open the first pre-army program dedicated to youth from the socio-economic periphery.