Blog - Aardvark Israel Gap Year Program

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Selah Email

June 20, 2016 Weekly Updates

Hello to all the Selah crew for 2016-2017! Now that we have finished last year’s program I am already looking forward to next year and with Shavuot coming up I thought I’d share a few thoughts and a photo with you. On Shavuot we read the Book of Ruth, a ...

Israeli sporting triumphs

June 15, 2016 The Uniqueness of Israel

While Israel may not be best known for its sporting achievements there is actually a large amount of sporting activity in the county and a fair amount of success. For instance at the 2015 European Games Israel brought home an impressive 12 medals. The medals came in a range of ...

Student of the week – Reina Salky

June 8, 2016 Student of the Week

Student of the week – Reina Salky Hi! My name is Reina Salky and I am from a beautiful town in Colorado called Steamboat Springs. I chose to embark on my journey to Israel after my cousin Eli, an Aardvark alumni, came back and shared all of his incredible experiences ...

Student of the Week – Jonah Dafilou

June 2, 2016 Student of the Week

“My Year in Israel” To LiveThe other day I was walking down Florentine and I couldn’t help but feel a gut pain. As I walked by the graffiti I’ve come to know every detail of and pass familiar shop owners, I saw the last 5 months flash before my eyes ...

Avoiding Freshman 15 – Staying Fit in Israel

June 2, 2016 The Uniqueness of Israel

It is extremely normal for people to gain a bit of unwanted weight when they leave home for the first time and find themselves solely in charge of their meals. However, many people want to avoid this and at Aardvark we will do our best to help. First of all ...

Weekly Updates – Tel Aviv June 2, 2016

June 2, 2016 Weekly Updates

Shalom Parents I hope that you are all excited to see your children again. We, the Tel Aviv staff, have had a bittersweet 3 days since they left… It is so exciting to see the change and progress every single one of them made during the semester! But at the ...

Weekly Updates – Jerusalem May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016 Weekly Updates

Shalom Parents! The Aardvark program officially came to an end today (for everyone except those in Marva). It is a bittersweet feeling for all of us. It has been a wonderful year but it is sad to see the students leave. While a small number of our students are still ...

Israeli Slang

May 31, 2016 The Uniqueness of Israel

When you come to Israel for your gap year with Aardvark you will spend time in Ulpan (language school) and improve your Hebrew skills over the course of the year. However, to make you feel more at home from the beginning it is useful to know some Israeli slang. Of ...

Weekly Updates – Tel Aviv May 27, 2016

May 27, 2016 Weekly Updates

Dear Parents, I cannot believe that there is less than a week left of the program. I feel like I met the students just yesterday. They were a little confused and very excited, and full of questions: “Why am I not alone in a bedroom?” “Where do I do my ...

Student of the Week – Adam Acker

May 25, 2016 Student of the Week

My name is Adam Acker, and I come from a small town called Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Before going into detail, I want to acknowledge my parents for allowing me take part in an amazing program, and live thousands of miles away from home for nine months. Oh, and of course, thanks ...

Weekly Updates – Jerusalem May 21, 2016

May 21, 2016 Weekly Updates

Dear Parents, I cannot believe that there are just two weeks left of the program. I feel like I just met the students yesterday. They were confused and excited, and full of question like “Why am I not alone in the room?”, “Why are there so many steps?”, “Why do ...

Weekly Updates – Tel Aviv May 21, 2016

May 21, 2016 Weekly Updates

Shalom Parents! This week felt slightly different. A lot of the students are beginning to understand that the semester is close to an end and this knowledge affects each student differently. Some of them are happy to go back home to family and friends, some feel nervous about it, some ...

Weekly Updates – Jerusalem May 18, 2016

May 18, 2016 Weekly Updates

Dear Parents, Last week in Israel was extremely busy so as a result of the holidays combined with the end of year preparations my letter is reaching you a little later than usual. The consecutive holidays of Memorial Day and Independence Day create a very special time in Israel. Marking ...

Weekly Updates – Tel Aviv May 18, 2016

May 18, 2016 Weekly Updates

Shalom Parents! Last week in Israel was extremely busy so as a result of the holidays combined with the end of year preparations my letter is reaching you a little later than usual. The students have had number of different experiences over the past two weeks and I’m happy to ...

Weekly Updates – Jerusalem April 25, 2016

May 17, 2016 Weekly Updates

Dear ParentsI want to wish everyone happy holidayUnfortunately I broke my leg so the weekly email is bit delayedHere are some of our experiences from last week:Last week we had to say goodbye to the military track. Once the students come back from the pessach break, some of the students ...

Gap year program in israel visiting nepal

How Israel helped Nepal after the earthquake

May 17, 2016 The Uniqueness of Israel

In April 2015 an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale hit Nepal and caused widespread devastation. Just a couple of weeks later the country was hit by a second earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale just northeast of Kathmandu. In total close to 9,000 people were killed, there ...

Student of the week – Anna Kalik

May 17, 2016 Student of the Week

Hi! I’m Anna Kalik and I’m from Charleston, South Carolina. Two summers ago I spent a month in Israel on a summer tour with my youth group. As expected, fell in love with the places I visited and the sense of commonality and community. However, I was here during an ...

The Top Restaurants to Visit in Israel

May 16, 2016 The Uniqueness of Israel

The Top Restaurants to Visit in Israel Israel has become somewhat of a Mecca for food lovers. The country is littered with top quality restaurants which cater for every taste. No matter what your budget or the type of food youre after it is possible to find a great place ...

Student of the week – Temima Mayer

May 13, 2016 Student of the Week

My name is Temima Mayer and I am from Johannesburg, South Africa. A gap year has always been something I have wanted to do because I wanted to break out of my bubble at home and go out and experience the world in a way I don’t think I’ll be ...

Weekly Updates – Tel Aviv May 8, 2016

May 8, 2016 Weekly Updates

Shalom Parents! Holocaust Memorial DayIn Israel, when Passover is over, we enter one of the most meaningful times of the year. Starting with Holocaust Memorial Day, then a week later Memorial Day for our Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror, and immediately following with celebrations of Israeli Independence Day (68 ...