predecessors, Eliav Saban and Yakira Gasner. Bnei Akiva Toronto is a member of the Midwest Region. Other Glilim Additional cities with active Bnei Akiva chapters include Atlanta, Baltimore, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Hollywood, FL, Houston, Minneapolis, Hamilton, Potomac, Silver Spring, and Washington. In the past, there have been several other chapters, including Boca Raton, Memphis, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. Gap Year Programming Historically, Bnei Akiva has operated several Gap Year programs. Until the 1980s, members of Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada participated in Hakhshara. Since 1982, Bnei Akiva has offered a program called Tochnit Nissan for members studying in Israel during the month of Nissan. Traditionally, this program took place on a kibbutz, though other options are now offered. In the early 1990s, a program called Midrash Uma'aseh existed and drew many of the most involved members of Bnei Akiva. For the 2014–2015 year, Bnei Akiva in the United States and Canada launched a seminary and a yeshiva program in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem. It offers several months of Torah study in an Israeli yeshiva or midrasha setting, along with targeted internships, volunteering and service learning, which can include living and working on a Kibbutz. Gap year students affiliated with Bnei Akiva may also attend a range of other yeshivot and seminaries affiliated with Bnei Akiva ideology. South Africa Bnei Akiva's presence in South Africa dates back to the 1920s. Today, it is one of the largest active Jewish youth movements in the country. It runs many shabbatonim as well as weekly activities at its various centres on the country. Bnei Akiva runs a month-long annual summer camp in the Western Cape, which is attended by more than 1,000 campers and counselors. There is also a winter camp held in different locations each year, and is attended by youth from all over South Africa. The movement also runs many Israel programs throughout the year including MTA, Tafnit, Hadracha Tzeira, Kfar Haroeh and Bema'aleh. See also Mizrachi (Religious Zionism) Orthodox Judaism Religious Kibbutz Movement Religious Zionism References External links Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada World Bnei Akiva Yeshivot Bnei Akiva – In Israel (Hebrew) American Friends of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva Bnei Akiva UK Youth organizations based in Israel Zionist youth movements Orthodox Judaism Jewish clubs and societies Religious Zionist organizations Jewish organizations established in 1929 Rabbi Akiva