Each year in the Nativ program, The Jewish Agency works with close to 1,700 immigrant soldiers, many of whom are from the former Soviet Union and looking to reconnect with their heritage. Over the course of four-and-a-half weeks, participants gather to learn, travel through Israel, and share in the observance of both Shabbat and Jewish holidays.

The Nativ experience is cross-denominational, and designed to help support these soldiers in the quest to become more familiar with Jewish culture. After completing the program, many participants choose to pursue an optional extended conversion course.

For David Skvirsky of Mexico City, the path to Judaism led him not only to Israel, but to service in an elite IDF infantry unit and intensive study with the Nativ conversion program. It's just another success story for The Jewish Agency, whose mission is to connect Jews around the world with Israel and their Jewish identity. Nativ provides identity-building education for immigrant soldiers in the IDF.