FALL SEMESTER | 5 DAYS

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), located on the Arabian Peninsula, opened its doors to Israeli travelers in 2022 as part of the Abraham Accords. The UAE offers a glimpse of the magical places, the mysterious landscapes, and the prestigious buildings of the Middle East, including the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. Get to know the Arab world through an authentic, innovative experience.

Where tradition meets modernity

What: Recently opened to travelers from Israel, the United Arab Emirates is known for its luxurious and opulent lifestyle. Visit Dubai, the largest city in the UAE, and Abu Dhabi, its capital city. With the desert on one side and modern skyscrapers on the other, The United Arab Emirates offers more than you can imagine, from old to new landscapes and ideas. We’ll get a glimpse into the not-so-well-known Jewish life in this principality.

Why: In the two years since the signing of the Abraham Accords, Judaism has been experiencing a revival in the United Arab Emirates. While Jews have been living in the Emirates since 1971, only a small Jewish community has lived in the UAE for many years. Although you might think Jews can’t worship freely in the UAE, the community is slowly growing, with nearly 3,000 Jews who consider the Emirates their home. They pray freely in one of the three UAE synagogues and live side-by-side with Muslim residents.

More International Trips Available

Czech Republic

Fall Semester — 5 Days

Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, has emerged as a vibrant and exciting urban center after long years hidden and stifled behind the Iron Curtain. Renowned for its heritage, Prague has been venerated with titles such as “the city of a hundred spires” and “Golden Prague.”

Ethiopia

Spring Semester — 5 Days

Ethiopia, the only African country to have escaped European colonialism, has retained much of its authentic, ancient cultural identity and is considered by many to be the cradle of humanity. Our trip to Ethiopia will combine history, culture, food, and Zionism.

Germany

Spring Semester — 5 Days

It may not exactly be everyone’s first choice when thinking about Jewish tourism. And yet, Germany has played an extremely large part in Jewish history and is a country that has made tremendous changes the last few decades.

Italy

Spring Semester — 5 Days

From art to food to politics, Italy’s impact on the world has been immense. A place of olive oil, pasta, wine, mafia, sunshine, Roman ruins, and Renaissance palaces, and a centuries-old Jewish community, Italy is one place you can never forget!

Nepal Cultural Exchange

Spring semester — 2 weeks

“It is spiritually and ethically unacceptable that millions of people in our world don’t have sufficient nutrition, clean water, housing, basic health, or education. This reality can and must be changed.” ~Tevel B’Tzedek, Aardvark’s Israeli partner organization for the Nepal Cultural Exchange program.

Poland

End of Spring Semester — 6 Days

For centuries, the Jewish people had a vibrant religious and cultural life in Poland until the destruction of the community in the Holocaust. This trip will explore that rich history, understand its eventual destruction, and also look at the re-birth of the Jewish community and of Poland itself.

Spain

Fall Semester — 5 Days

Today, Barcelona is one of Europe’s most exciting cities. From its wacky architecture to its vibrant sidewalks to great Rabbis and to great tragedies, the region of Catalonia is a great destination for learning about the Spanish Jewish community, which experienced both a Golden Age and a brutal inquisition.