Yossi Mahari was born in Ethiopia and came to Israel at two years of age. The eldest brother of 6, and son to hardworking parents, Yossi grew up in what he describes as “not the best of neighborhoods” which is what motivated him to seek out a place where he could fulfill his potential and arrive at Derech Eretz.

At Derech Eretz, one of our goals is promoting an integrated society with equal opportunities. In Israeli society, the army is one of the few places in which there is social mobility and joining an elite unit is synonymous with increased opportunities in the job market later in life.

Today, Yossi serves in Maglan – a Special Forces unit which specializes in operating behind enemy lines using advanced technology. While the training program for Maglan is one of the toughest, Yossi was prepared and motivated to succeed. He is only one of only a few Ethiopians to ever serve in this unit.

“I am glad I chose Derech Eretz,” Yossi says. “The mechina program was definitely a factor in my success in the military. I came to the IDF with both life skills and leadership skills, having learned to think out of the box… plus, the physical and mental challenges really built me up.”

At Derech Eretz, Yossi spent 6 months living with 45 peers from all over the country, from different religious, financial, social and cultural backgrounds – a heterogeneous group representing Israeli society.

Yossi recalls one of the group hikes at Derech Eretz that was particularly difficult. After a few days of walking, some of the participants were having a hard time carrying equipment. Yossi says: “we helped each other reach the mountain. And we trusted each other that we can do it together. Some had to let themselves accept help and others pitched in to help, but we had to learn to trust each other, to trust that we would achieve our goal together. We arrived at that mountain, and I learned a valuable lesson that stays with me to this day.”