Parsha Behaalotcha
This week in Israel we read the Torah portion of Behaalotecha. It begins with the instruction to Aaron, the high priest, to light the lamps of the sacred Menorah in the sanctuary. Last week’s reading concluded with the offerings that were given to the sanctuary by each of the tribal leaders of the twelve tribes […]
My Gap Year in Israel – Ella Duvdevani
WHAT. A. YEAR. it has been. Before I came to the program, my life was perfectly stable; I had a job, I was always with my friends, and my family was always around to support me. One thing that I knew is that I felt a strong connection to Israel. I grew up coming here, […]
My semester in Israel – Mimi Baron
On January 9, at 7:00 pm this year, I was in the car driving with my family to Sydney International Airport, about to board flight EY455. There were laughs, there were tears and there were the final selfies with the ‘departures sign’. “We will miss you Mimi”, my family said. Then, as I stacked my […]
Student of the Week – Gabriella Ben Zvy
My name is Gabriella Ben-Zvy, I’m from Rockland County, New York. I graduated from Clarkstown Senior North High School during COVID in 2020 and I got accepted to the honors program at Rockland Community College where I graduated last May! I chose to go on a gap year because I realized while in school that […]
Shavuot Dvar Torah
This Friday we celebrate the festival on Shavout. It was on this day over 3,300 years ago that the Jewish people stood at the base of Mount Sinai and received the Torah according to the Jewish tradition. Undoubtedly, the reception of this G-dly wisdom greatly influenced the moral and ethical fabric of human civilization. However, […]
Parshat Bamidbar
This week we begin the fourth book of the Five Books of Moses entitled “Bamidbar,” or “In the wilderness.” G-d has created so many wondrous sites in this world. There are the massive, awe-inspiring mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the incredibly beautiful chains of islands in the Caribbean, as well as the wildly fruitful jungles […]
The Aardvark Monthly – April 2023
Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, Wow, April flew by! We hope this newsletter finds you well, and we hope you have had meaningful experiences like our students have.. As we welcome the month of May, we are excited to share some updates from our Aardvarkians, who are now starting their last month in the […]
International Trip to Poland – Matt Siegel
My experience in Poland was a deeply emotional and profound one, as it allowed me to bear witness to the sites where my ancestors were tortured, suffered, and murdered. In addition, the trip was crucial in strengthening my connection to my Jewish identity and love for Israel, which are significant components of my personal beliefs. […]
Student of the Week – Ella Duvdevani
My name is Ella Duvdevani, I am from Birmingham, Alabama and I went to Mountain Brook High School. I chose to go on a gap year because I wanted to have exciting new experiences in Israel, connect to Judaism, and make friends from across the world! I chose Aardvark Israel specifically because of the flexible […]
Parashat Hashavua – Behar and Bechukotai
This week we read the Torah portions of Behar and Bechukotai. The latter portion discusses various curses that will come upon the people should they not act in accordance with the moral and ethical specifications of the Torah. If G-d is all good and loves His people as His children, how can we understand this […]