When it comes, and what it contains
Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Lone Soldiers Program explains that after aliyah your details pass to the army, and the tzav rishon is sent to the address on your Teudat Zehut. As a matter of policy, olim are not called up in their first year. If you are eligible to be drafted, expect the tzav rishon 6 to 12 months after aliyah and an enlistment date 12 to 24 months after aliyah. You may be notified through your profile on the mitgaisim website, by text message, by mail or by email.
The notice gives the date and time of your first appointment at the lishkat giyus (draft office) nearest your registered address, and a personal code you will need for every later inquiry. Keep it. It also includes a medical questionnaire: you fill in the first part, a doctor fills in the second, and it goes back to the army within 14 days of receiving it.
Whether you serve, and for how long, depends on your age when you arrived and your family status. Nefesh B’Nefesh keeps the current table on its length of service page. A Katin Chozer or Ezrach Oleh does not need to report right away: Misrad HaKlita informs the army, which then decides.
The day at the lishkat giyus
Travel there free
Travel is free with your Rav-Kav: load the travel contract onto it from your personal area on the mitgaisim site, 48 hours before.
Bring ID and your papers
You will not be let in without identification, so bring your Teudat Zehut. Bring the notice (it can be on your phone), the completed medical form, and any medical letters, keeping the originals yourself.
Medical examination
An army doctor examines you and sets your medical profile (פרופיל), the score that shapes which roles are open to you.
The Dapar test
A computerized reasoning test. Nefesh B’Nefesh notes it can be taken in English, Spanish, French or Russian, and that the score weighs heavily in deciding which jobs you are offered.
Results and next steps
Scores appear in your mitgaisim profile. Missing results: call Meitav on 1111. Later you may be invited to Yom HaMea or Yom Sayerot, or told you will start at Michve Alon, the Hebrew-learning base for olim.
The Hebrew of the draft process
For ranks, units and army slang, see IDF terms and slang. These are the words from the tzav rishon stage.
- צו ראשוןtzav rishonFirst notice, the first step of the draft process.
- לשכת גיוסlishkat giyusDraft office, where the tzav rishon day takes place.
- מיטבmeitavThe IDF unit in charge of recruitment; its information line is 1111.
- אתר מתגייסיםatar mitgaysimThe mitgaisim website, your personal draft profile.
- קוד אישיkod ishiPersonal code printed on the notice.
- שאלון רפואיsheelon refuiMedical questionnaire, part of it filled in by a doctor.
- פרופילprofilMedical profile, the health score from the army doctor.
- ערעור על פרופילirur al profilAppeal against the profile, possible within 30 days with medical documents.
- דפ״רdaparThe computerized reasoning test.
- מנילהmanilaThe questionnaire where you rank the roles you qualify for.
- יום המא״הyom ha-meaAn optional day of further tests that can open more roles.
- יום סיירותyom sayarotA one-day tryout for special forces, for candidates with strong Hebrew and a high profile.
- מחו״ה אלוןmichve alonThe IDF base where many olim soldiers take a Hebrew course after they are drafted.
- תאריך גיוסtaarich giyusEnlistment date.
- חייל בודד / חיילת בודדהchayal boded / chayelet bodedaLone soldier, man / woman: a soldier without family support in Israel, usually because their parents live abroad.
Phrases for the soldier-to-be, and for parents
Male form first, female form second.
| English | Hebrew | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| I received a tzav rishon for next Tuesday. | קיבלתי צו ראשון ליום שלישי הבא. | kibalti tzav rishon le-yom shlishi ha-ba |
| I didn’t receive a personal code. | לא קיבלתי קוד אישי. | lo kibalti kod ishi |
| I’m a new immigrant. Can I take the test in English? | אני עולה חדש / עולה חדשה. אפשר לעשות את המבחן באנגלית? | ani oleh chadash / olah chadasha. efshar laasot et ha-mivchan be-anglit |
| I brought my medical documents. | הבאתי את המסמכים הרפואיים שלי. | heveti et ha-mismachim ha-refuiyim sheli |
| I need to change the date. | אני צריך / צריכה לשנות את התאריך. | ani tzarich / tzricha leshanot et ha-taarich |
| When will the results be uploaded? | מתי יעלו התוצאות? | matai yaalu ha-totzaot |
| I want to appeal my profile. | אני רוצה לערער על הפרופיל. | ani rotze / rotza learer al ha-profil |
| I’m a lone soldier. | אני חייל בודד / חיילת בודדה. | ani chayal boded / chayelet bodeda |
| My son / my daughter made aliyah alone. | הבן שלי עלה לבד / הבת שלי עלתה לבד. | ha-ben sheli ala levad / ha-bat sheli alta levad |
Read the army’s letters and messages
Photograph the tzav rishon or paste an army text message, and baba gives you the English with every date, time and code exactly as printed. Parents abroad can use it too.
- Photo and PDF translation with baba Pro
- Paste an SMS, get plain English
- iPhone, Android and web
Get babaFree for iPhone and AndroidPoint your phone camera here. It opens baba if you have it, or the store if you don’t.
Frequently asked questions
When do olim get the tzav rishon?
Nefesh B’Nefesh says to expect it 6 to 12 months after aliyah if you are eligible to be drafted, with enlistment 12 to 24 months after aliyah. Olim are not called up in their first year.
Do all olim have to serve in the IDF?
No. It depends on your age at arrival and your family status. Nefesh B’Nefesh keeps the current table on its length of service page.
Can I take the Dapar test in English?
Yes. Nefesh B’Nefesh notes the Dapar is offered in English, Spanish, French and Russian.
Can I leave Israel before my draft date?
Nefesh B’Nefesh says olim chadashim do not need an army exit permit to travel, but olim with an official draft date must be back in Israel at least three days before it.
Official sources
Rules, amounts and deadlines change. Check the official page before you act on anything here.
- Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Soldiers Program: Tzav Rishon and IDF draftchecked September 29, 2026
- Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Soldiers Program: Length of service for olimchecked September 29, 2026
- Nefesh B’Nefesh: Your first steps after making aliyah (travel and draft date)checked September 29, 2026