40. Switzerland Bnei Akiva Switzerland was founded in 1936. Numerous former Bnei Akiva Switzerland members have moved to Israel as a result of being in the youth movement. Today, Bnei Akiva Switzerland has more than 120 members in the two chapters (snifim), in Basel and Zurich. Geneva used to have its own chapter, but was closed by the parent organization in Israel because of a lack of interested members. Bnei Akiva is the biggest Jewish youth organization in Switzerland. Due to the lack of a Jewish high school in Switzerland, Bnei Akiva fulfills an important role as a regular meeting place. It is a vital entity that allows high-school students, who do not see each other on a daily basis, to stay in contact with their Jewish friends. Every year there are two camps, one in summer and one in winter. Additionally, the two oldest shvatim ("tribes") join the Sayarim summer camp (a camp in which usually the oldest shevet of chapters all over Europe take part) on a biannual basis, followed by a four-week Israel trip the following year. A number of Shabbatonim take place throughout the year, such as the Yom Yerushalayim weekend. United Kingdom Bnei Akiva in the UK was founded in 1939. Its beginnings were closely associated with Bachad and the Torah V'Avodah movement, which both encouraged moving to Israel. Arieh Handler was the main figure in the early growth of Bnei Akiva, as he brought over children from Nazi Europe on the Kindertransport and placed them in Bachad Hachshara (preparation) centres. These aimed to prepare the youth to work the land of Israel on kibbutzim by learning agricultural techniques. The first of these was at Gwrych Castle near Abergele, which held the first gathering of Bnei Akiva UK in December 1940. Between 1939 and 1941, Gwrych was home to between 250 and 300 children. Other hachshara centres were set up in Bromsgrove, Buckinghamshire and the most famous, Thaxted, Essex. Many Kibbutzim, including Lavi and Beit Rimon, were founded by members of BAUK. In modern times, hachshara takes place in Israel and involves two schemes: Torani (the yeshiva and seminary track) and Kivun (giving participants a range of experiences in Israel). Bnei Akiva is the leading provider of gap years to Israel for 18-year-olds in the UK. Nowadays, Bnei Akiva is the largest Jewish youth movement in the country, with more than 1,000 members paying Mas