“My name is Gabriella Ben-Zvy, I’m from Rockland County, New York. I graduated from Clarkstown Senior North High School during COVID in 2020 and I got accepted to the honors program at Rockland Community College where I graduated last May! I chose to go on a gap year because I …
This Friday we celebrate the festival on Shavout. It was on this day over 3,300 years ago that the Jewish people stood at the base of Mount Sinai and received the Torah according to the Jewish tradition. Undoubtedly, the reception of this G-dly wisdom greatly influenced the moral and ethical …
This week we begin the fourth book of the Five Books of Moses entitled “Bamidbar,” or “In the wilderness.” G-d has created so many wondrous sites in this world. There are the massive, awe-inspiring mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the incredibly beautiful chains of islands in the Caribbean, as well …
Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, Wow, April flew by! We hope this newsletter finds you well, and we hope you have had meaningful experiences like our students have.. As we welcome the month of May, we are excited to share some updates from our Aardvarkians, who are now starting …
My experience in Poland was a deeply emotional and profound one, as it allowed me to bear witness to the sites where my ancestors were tortured, suffered, and murdered. In addition, the trip was crucial in strengthening my connection to my Jewish identity and love for Israel, which are significant …
My name is Ella Duvdevani, I am from Birmingham, Alabama and I went to Mountain Brook High School. I chose to go on a gap year because I wanted to have exciting new experiences in Israel, connect to Judaism, and make friends from across the world! I chose Aardvark Israel …
This week we read the Torah portions of Behar and Bechukotai. The latter portion discusses various curses that will come upon the people should they not act in accordance with the moral and ethical specifications of the Torah. If G-d is all good and loves His people as His children, …
My name is Gilad Nagar, I am from Melbourne, Australia and I went to Mount Scopus Memorial College. I chose to go on a gap year program because I wanted to explore the world whilst living independently. I also wanted to take some time away from studying before going to …
This Friday is the widely unknown festival known as Pesach Sheni, or “Second Passover.” After the Jewish people celebrated their first Passover as a free people, a number of people who were unable to celebrate Passover due to circumstances beyond their control approached Moses. “What of us?!” they cried. “We …
My Name is Dustin Feldman, I am from Melbourne, Australia and I went to school at Bialik College. I chose to go on a gap year to embrace the opportunity to explore creativity and innovation in Israel and create international connections with like-minded people. Aardvark Israel sounded like a great …
This week we read the Torah portions of Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. Additionally, we find ourselves in the middle of Sefirat HaOmer; the special countdown, or more accurately count-up, to Shavuot. There is a clear connection between a verse in the portions and the Sefirat HaOmer. Beyond just being the …
My name is Taya Samuels, I’m from Melbourne Australia and went to Mount Scopus Memorial College. I chose to go on a gap year because I realised that after such intense studying in year 12, I was not ready to go to uni and start studying again so a gap …
My name is Josh Green, I was born and raised right near Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia and now I’m just nearing the end of 4 months of living in Tel Aviv. After graduating from Moriah College in October of 2022 I decided to spend a semester with Aardvark. To …
Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, We are so happy to be with you here again, telling you about our students’ adventures from the past month. With Women’s Day, Purim, internships, volunteering, and two international trips to exciting places – wow, we just can’t wait to tell you all about …
My name is Joshua Kanarek, more commonly known as Aussie Josh within the communities. I’m from Melbourne Australia and went to Bialik College. I chose to do a Gap Year as I wanted to give myself time away from studying after year 12, whilst being able to explore Israel and …
The final day of Pesach commemorates the separation of the Reed Sea. It was at this time that the liberation from Egypt was finally complete as Pharaoh and his riders were crushed in the Sea. As a result, many recall the miracle by reciting the song at the sea. When …
The Baal Shem Tov was once traveling with some of his disciples. They decided to stop at an inn for a meal. Immediately upon arrival the students went to inquire about the shochet (ritual slaughterer). They inspected his knife and began questioning him on his knowledge of kashrut and Jewish …
Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, The semester is flying by, and we are already nearly halfway through! The students are really beginning to feel like Israelis. A lot happened this month, so let us tell you all about it. Shall we? Naomi from Los Angeles, volunteering at Ichilov Hospital …
My name is Yosef Yitzchak (Yossi) Rosha, I’m from North-East London I went to Hasmonean High School. I chose to do a gap year because I wanted a different sort of experience between school, the army, and the rest of my life. I chose Aardvark Israel because it seemed to …
During Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, a group of his highly trained soldiers got stuck in a snowstorm and had to spend the night in the home of a pious Jew. Although Napoleon’s cavalry was the best of their kind, the heavy winter snow would not allow them to journey on …
