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 […]
Impact Month
by Harper Green When Big Idea started back in September, I was really excited to learn about web development and expand my programming skills. I wanted to take away a new skill set that could help me in my future endeavors, as well as allow me to help others. After completing the coding course during […]
Couch to 5K
by Tiffany Salzberg A large part of my life is health and fitness. This passion goes beyond working out, and is more than just a “diet.” I put great emphasis on physical activity. I do plyometric workouts six days a week. I prefer circuits and functional workouts. Through this passion, I have also gotten into […]
Israel Packing List
Clothing Hiking boots (broken in!!). Preferably waterproof Water shoes with firm bottoms and straps (Keens, Tevas…) Hat for hiking (a must!!) T-shirts Long sleeve shirts Sweaters/Sweatshirts Jeans/pants/leggings Shorts/skirts Underwear Socks (high, full length— a must when wearing hiking boots!) Dress shoes that are comfortable for walking Flip flops or shower shoes (Flip flops will not […]
Hebrew Slang
My name is Josh Glucksman and I am an 18-year-old Chicagoan living in Jerusalem in Aardvark Israel. Although I have only lived here for a few months, I have quickly realized that knowing basic Hebrew is life-or-death. Okay, not in the literal sense, but it can definitely save you from getting lost, getting on the […]
Quarantine Workout
by Josh Glucksman If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last year, I am sure the phrase “14-day quarantine” will ring a bell, and possibly stir up some strong emotions. It definitely did for me when I was told that upon my arrival to Israel this September, I would be swiftly whisked […]