About professional and personal growth – Shayna Dash
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. (nelsongreerpainting.com/) Aardvark gives us the ability to learn about Israel and form deep connections with the land. I have gained knowledge […]
Adam Grossman – Leadership Seminar in Neot Kedumim
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 team as well as how […]
Sammie Wittenstein – Shabbaton in Peki’in
At the Shabbaton in Peki’in we experienced a taste of Druze culture. We first stopped at a home where we got to experience Druze cooking, and later on we toured the area for a more everyday perspective. We also participated in programs where we discussed our personal connections to Judaism and specifically Hanukkah. It was […]
Sam Lynn & Alex Sandler – Yad Vashem and Har Hertzel
Sam Lynn This week was an emotional whirlwind. We began our Siyur day at Yad Vashem, my personal favorite Holocaust museum. For me, Yad Vashem stands out because of its incredible attention to detail and its ability to tell as many individual stories as possible. While I have been to Yad Vashem before each time […]
Julian Frucht – Hanukkah tour in Bnei Brak
My experience in Bnei Barak learning about the orthodox community in that city was very interesting. We have been to religious areas of the country on other tiyuls, but this one, in particular, was very unique. Our tour took place during the third night of Hanukkah, and it was fascinating walking around the city and […]
Daniel Matthys – Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Masada!
I came to Israel to grow closer to my culture and heritage. The opportunity to have a Bar Mitzvah on top of Masada was another part of this journey, and one I am glad that I took. It was awesome being able to have this experience with my friends Benjamin and Gabi. There was something […]
Hannah Nahmias – Masada in the sunrise
Visiting Masada was challenging yet rewarding. We left early in the morning in order to watch the sunrise on the mountain. We took the Roman ramp up and the snake path down. We also had a great tour guide who explained to us the history of Masada. We visited an ancient Mikva, church, and synagogue. […]
Ze’ev Gittleson – Be’er Sheva and Rahat – The Bedouin culture in Israel and its struggles
“Tuesday the 9th of November, 2021 was truly a wonderful experience for me. Traveling to Rahat with Aardvark was like entering a parallel universe. Hearing about the lives and experiences of two Bedouin Israeli women who defied the patriarchal restrictions and limitations imposed on them by their communities to pursue their dreams was heartwarming and […]
Jacob Weiser – Sderot and Nativ Ha’Asara – Building bridges towards peace
It’s hard to imagine what these people who live near the Gaza border have to face everyday, knowing that day could end in tragedy. The day starts as a calm and peaceful day, when they are going around their daily business, when there could be a ‘Tzeva Adom’ (red color) siren which means they got […]
An Environmental Disaster and Moment for Reflection
by Josh Glucksman “A few days ago, one of Israel’s worst environmental disasters occurred when an oil tanker spilled hundreds of tons of oil along the country’s coast. For all the parents reading this email who are not a 5-minute walk from the Tel Aviv Promenade, the beaches are bad. So bad, in fact, that […]