“Hi, my name is Ruthy Amkraut and I am from Cleveland, Ohio. After years of attending Jewish Day School and summers at Camp Yavneh I have grown to have a deep passion for Israel. I love the people, the food, the culture and the countless debates that surround this small country. So many of my older friends have taken gap years in Israel and absolutely loved their experiences which led me to follow in their paths. I chose Aardvark Israel because of the internship opportunities and the independence that it offers. So far my time on Aardvark Israel has taught me so much about living independently of my parents (did you know that when you leave your dirty dish in the sink it doesn’t magically clean itself?), Israeli culture, and where to find the best shakshuka around.
During the first semester in Jerusalem I interned at the Center for Near East Policy Research, a small organization that focuses on Israel in the media and spreading the truth about Israel to the world. During my time there I had the opportunity to visit the Knesset, conduct interviews, and do research for their publications.
I am so excited to see what this semester in Tel Aviv brings and can’t wait to have experiences just as great as those I had in Jerusalem!”