I chose to come on a gap year because after a couple of intense years of school combined with Covid, I decided I wanted to take a break and do something a little different. I wanted to come to Israel because as an important and complicated part of my Jewish …
Shalom Parents and Students! We are already starting the second week of the semester, and our students are feeling more like locals and becoming more familiar with their neighborhoods and their weekly schedule. This week, our students experienced their first Tuesday Tiyul (exciting!) and participated in bonding activities to help …
Shalom Parents and Students! Spring Semester has officially started! We welcomed more than 200 students from all over the world, and look at that – they are already touring their neighborhoods with their madrichim, going through important orientation sessions, and getting to know their new best friends. Want to see …
Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, These were the last weeks of Fall semester, and we could not have had a better semester. Our students are now on their winter break and will get back to us next week already along with the new students joining in for Spring (Yay)! …
My name is Sophie Harris and I am from San Diego, California. I was on Aardvark Israel last year, of Fall 2020/spring 2021. After having the absolute BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE, I completely fell in love with Israel and decided to move here! I am now currently living in …
My time on Aardvark Israel is exactly why I choose a gap year. While on Aardvark, I have not only gained real work experience with my internship but also gained independence and lifelong friendships. Aardvark gives us the ability to learn about Israel and form deep connections with the land. …
Shalom Parents and Students! This week was the last day of our Fall 2021 semester. Our students reflected on their experiences and got the chance to see all they have accomplished and how they’ve grown. Each group participated in closing activities together. The students took the time to write something …
This semester in Tel-Aviv has certainly been one to remember, and for good reason. From day 1 we have been immersed in a completely new culture, challenged to live on our own for the first time, work, and make new friends. We have been in an environment which has pushed …
When I first thought about taking a gap year, it was mainly because of the fear I had that college would be altered by Covid, so I wouldn’t get your normal “freshman experience”. What ultimately led me to take a gap year was coming to the realization that this was …
Shalom Parents and Students! This week our students had some closure moments, while they prepared for the semester to end, including spending their last days in their internships and volunteering. Jerusalem community students traveled to the Kotel tunnels and attended an end-of-semester party in the Moadon. They enjoyed a talent …
I’ve lived in Rome all my life, and growing up I realized that the bubble I was living in was too small to achieve my goals. So I decided to take a gap year to experience a new culture, away from home, and meet people with different ideas than mine.I …
Food rescuers is an organization that collects products from restaurants and supermarkets and redistributes them to those in need. One of my roles at the internship is to help sort the fruit and veg to make sure that only good food is given away, not things that have gone off. …
Shalom Parents and Students! This week was a very emotional, though fun week for our students, as they got to go together to their last overnight tiyul for this semester! Our three communities (More than 150 students!) traveled to the north of Israel, to Beit She’an Valley. We started our …
I chose to take a gap year because I was burnt out from high school. Especially after COVID hit, it was hard to be motivated and get excited about being in a rigorous classroom again so soon after graduating. Aardvark Israel was the perfect gap year program because it gives …
Shalom Parents and Students! This week on Aardvark Israel was very versatile. As most of our students will be staying here with us for another semester (yay!) some will be going back home at the end of December. For those students who are returning home after this semester, our partners …
I have had such a meaningful experience during my first-semester internship at Save A Child’s Heart. SACH is an organization that brings children with congenital heart defects from countries where they don’t have access to pediatric cardiac care and provides them with life-saving procedures here in Israel. My role at …
Volunteering at Chaimes daycare for kids with special needs has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have had already two years of experience working with individuals with special needs and coming to Israel I really wanted to continue in that field of work. In such a …
Yesterday, we were taken to a leadership seminar in Neot Kedumim. After splitting into two groups, we were taken around the nature reserve to undertake various activities centered around team building, communication, and cooperation. From herding cattle to obstacle courses, we learnt both how to effectively be part of a …
During your gap year in Israel, you will soon discover that it can be quite an expensive country. However, even if you are on a shoestring budget, you will quickly discover that there is plenty you can do for free. Whether you are in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa or anywhere …
If you enjoy ghost stories, then you will find that Jerusalem is home to plenty of material to feed your imagination. If you look back on this blog, you will find that we already have a post dedicated to Jerusalem ghost stories, but there are so many of them that …
