Blog - Aardvark Israel Gap Year Program

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Student of the Week – Dustin Feldman

April 30, 2023 Student of the Week

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 ...

Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim

April 25, 2023 Parashat Hashavua

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 ...

Student of the Week – Taya Samuels

April 23, 2023 Student of the Week

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 ...

Student of the Week – Josh Green

April 16, 2023 Student of the Week

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 ...

The Aardvark Monthly – March 2023

April 13, 2023 Aardvark Israel Monthly

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 ...

Student of the Week – Joshua Kanarek

April 11, 2023 Student of the Week

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 ...

Last Day of Pesach Dvar Torah

April 11, 2023 Parashat Hashavua

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 ...

Parashat Shemini

April 11, 2023 Parashat Hashavua

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 ...

The Aardvark Monthly – February 2023

April 1, 2023 Aardvark Israel Monthly

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 ...

Student of the Week – Yossi Rosha

March 30, 2023 Student of the Week

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 ...

Pesach Dvar Torah

March 30, 2023 Parashat Hashavua

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 ...

Alumni of the Month – Camila Barmaymon

March 23, 2023 Meet Our Alumni

My name is Camila Barmaymon and I want to tell you a little about my experience at Aardvark Israel. I had the pleasure of participating in Spring Semester 2022 and then going to Camp NJY in Pennsylvania, United States. At the beginning of the year I was a little nervous ...

Student of the Week – May Yohai

March 21, 2023 Student of the Week

My name is Mayra Yohai, but I go by May. I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina and I went to an art school who calls Aula 21. I chose to do a Gap Year because I wanted to know what my life would be like in another country, I wanted to ...

Parshat Vayikra

March 21, 2023 Parashat Hashavua

In this week’s Torah portion, we read of the many sacrifices that G-d commanded the Jewish people to offer in the Holy Temple. One might ask, what need does He have for these offerings? Does the Almighty feed on animals? We can see G-d’s response to this preposterous claim in ...

Student of the Week – Josh Hanison

March 19, 2023 Student of the Week

My name is Josh Hanison, I am from London and I studied at JFS school. Having visited Israel with my school five years ago I knew I wanted to come back to further my experiences and connection with the country. Taking a gap year on the Aardvark programme has given ...

Parashat HaChodesh

March 15, 2023 Parashat Hashavua

In addition to the weekly Torah reading, this Shabbat we read Parshat HaChodesh. In it, we recount the first commandment given to the nation of Israel; the sanctification of the new moon. Even before the exodus and the giving of the Torah, G-d commanded the nation to pay attention to ...

Entrepreneurship students' visit to candivore

The Aardvark Monthly – January 2023 – Spring semester – here we come!

March 12, 2023 Aardvark Israel Monthly

Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, The semester has officially started and is now in session! In our biggest year ever, with six communities, nearly 340 students came to Israel from all over the world – Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, ...

Women’s Day

March 12, 2023 Student Blog

“My name is Karel Ohana. I am French but grew up in London, where I went to North London Collegiate School. I am currently interning at the Moshe Dayan Centre for Middle Eastern and African Studies, where I am learning about Israel’s relations with the Middle East. To me, women’s ...

Student of the Week – Audra Rachel Rosenzweig

March 9, 2023 Student of the Week

My name is Audra Rachel Rosenzweig. I’m originally from the US, but I grew up in Singapore. I went to the United World College of Southeast Asia. I chose to go on a gap year because I wanted to learn how to live on my own before going off to ...

Parshat Ki Tisa

March 9, 2023 Parashat Hashavua

This week we read the Torah portion of Ki Tisa. Prior to Moses’ ascent to Mount Sinai, he told the nation that he would be gone for forty days. Unfortunately, there was a rather significant misunderstanding. The Jewish people were uncertain when the count should begin. Does that day count ...