When we say that our students “live like a local,” we don’t just mean seeing Israel through rose-colored glasses.
Aardvark Israel runs four different gap year and semester programs for Diaspora Jews aged 17-21. We aim to foster personal growth in each of our students, strengthen their Jewish identity, and solidify a connection to Israel in young Jews from around the world. Through internships and volunteering, independent urban living, and formal and informal educational opportunities throughout the country, Aardvark Israel students immerse themselves in Israeli culture authentically, beyond the scope that a tourist might do.
When Israel was attacked on October 7th, we, along with the entire nation, were caught by surprise. Faced with national trauma, concerned for the safety of our students, while some of our staff members were called to army reserve duty and others dealing with the loss of loved ones, we faced a difficult dilemma: How do we move forward and give our students a meaningful and authentic Israeli experience while also facing challenges of maintaining their safety and emotional well-being?
While some programs chose to delay opening, cancel completely, or even move their program to another country, for us there was no other answer than to continue in Israel.
To truly “live like a local” is to experience the highs and lows of what Israelis go through on a daily basis. It means bearing witness to the struggles of living here, as well as capturing the beauty of the country, the Zionist dream, and the culture of the Jewish people.
Yonatan Scott from Sydney joined our program in August and was here during the events of October 7th. He chose to remain in Israel following October 7th. Yonatan shared his thoughts on staying in Israel when the war broke out:
“I decided to stay because I didn’t want to throw away my gap year, and I wanted to have some sense of purpose to the Israeli community during the war. I also wanted to stay because I wanted to make a difference in the war and do anything I could to help rather than sit idly back at home.”
When the war broke out, we found meaningful ways to contribute to the national effort. Our staff and students volunteered on a daily basis. We opened a daycare for children whose parents had been called up to the army, volunteered at food packing sites, helped families who were displaced from their homes, and more.
“Aardvark gave us many opportunities to volunteer and help Israel in multiple ways. Some of my favorites were getting to go to an army base and spend the day preparing food packages for evacuated families, and meeting and playing games with kids who had left from Ashkelon to temporarily stay in Tel Aviv. This gave me a sense of purpose and warmed my heart,” says Yonatan Scott.
On the 9th of January, 120 students from 12 different countries joined our students who were already in Israel for the Aardvark Israel Spring semester. Words cannot describe how moved we were to see that even during these challenging times, young Jewish people are still seeking connection to the land and people of Israel.
“I chose to come to Israel because I feel more at home here. It also gives me a wider perspective of what is happening in Israel firsthand, rather than seeing it online. In the beginning, I was quite worried that if I came to Israel, it would be very dangerous and difficult to live here. However, I was assured by the fact that friends and family were here, as well as the Israeli community standing strongly with one another during this difficult period,” said Ellia Nahmias from Sydney, who joined the program in January.
While to some people outside of Israel it might seem crazy to send their child here right now, to us at Aardvark Israel, it makes sense. It is more important than ever for Jewish young people to maintain their connection to Israel. For Corey Tusak from Melbourne, it wasn’t a question at all. When his original gap year program decided they were not planning on coming to Israel due to the situation, Corey decided to join Aardvark Israel.
Corey said, “If anything I felt more empowered to come to Israel after October 7th. In Australia, I had experienced heightened levels of antisemitism from school, from the public and from people I called friends. Being in Israel feels even more important now knowing that at least my identity as a Jew was not a threat to my existence.”
While Israeli young adults their age are fighting on the front lines, Diaspora Jews fight on the online front lines; one way they can do that is by creating authentic connections with Israelis, sharing Israel’s reality through their own eyes.
“I believe it is meaningful to come on a gap year to Israel as it gives more perspective on the country and its ideals, rather than relying on propaganda for false information,” Ellia said.
It certainly has not been a typical year for Aardvark Israel or our students, but our students have had a unique opportunity to connect with the people of Israel in a very real way. One thing remains true for us in times of both war and peace: the future of the Jewish people relies in part on the connection between Israel and the Diaspora. By coming to Israel and seeing the reality of life, our students define and solidify their connections to Israel and their Jewish identity. We hope that our students will become strong advocates for Israel, to share with the world what they experience here as they continue to their next step in life.
