gap year in israel

Kibbutz, Tech, and Beyond with Aardvark Israel

The aardvark israel staff at the kasuy sand dunes!

Shalom Parents, Students, and Partners, As the holiday season has passed here in Israel, we’re excited to share all the wonderful things that have happened over the past month! Celebrating the Holidays During Chagei Tishrei, our students had the chance to fully immerse themselves in the festive Israeli atmosphere. Some students spent quality time with […]

From Spain to Sderot

Combined tiyul_ connecting the communities2

Shalom Parents, Students, and Partners,    September and the beginning of October have been exciting and meaningful for our students, filled with celebrations, professional growth, and unforgettable experiences. As we kick off a new year and embrace the changing seasons, we’re thrilled to share what our communities have been up to. Read on to see […]

Sukkot: Unity, Tradition, and the Aardvark Israel Experience

Chag sukkot sameach!

Sukkot is a time when we celebrate not only the harvest but also the deeper connections between people, traditions, and the land of Israel. The holiday’s rituals and symbols, like the Arbaat Haminim (four species), remind us of the unity and diversity of the Jewish people—an idea that resonates deeply with the experiences of Aardvark […]

Rosh Hashanah by Meital Dyett

Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection, celebration, and hope for a sweet new year. It has reminded me of celebrating with my family and friends over the years in England.In England, my Rosh Hashanah was always a whirlwind of activity, lasting two days, with the busiest day always being the first. We’d begin the […]

Opening Ceremony Speech- Challenges and Opportunities, Parashat Re’eh

Opening ceremony speech- challenges and opportunities, parashat re’eh

by Yifat Nadler, Aardvark Israel Program Director. This year at Aardvark Israel we are privileged to welcome nearly 100 new students from 17 different countries around the world to Israel, a land that is a center of history, culture, and spiritual significance for the Jewish people.  Dear students,  Your arrival in Israel comes during a […]

Orientation Week Recap

Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

On August 26th, 100 students from 17 different countries began their Aardvark Israel journey, kicking off our Fall 2024 semester. We are thrilled to see that even in these challenging times, young Jewish people continue to seek a deep connection with the land and people of Israel. What Have Our Students Been Up To? During […]

End of Summer and New Beginnings at Aardvark Israel!

Gap year in israel - aardvarkisrael

The summer is almost over, and do you know what that means? Yup, you guessed it—the Aardvark Israel programs are about to start! These past few months have been incredibly busy, both for our dedicated staff and our Plus USA summer camp program! Throughout the summer, some of our students worked as camp counselors for […]

The Aardvark Monthly – March 2024

Shabbaton with mechina

Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, What a busy month we had, with celebrating Purim, a Shabbaton, and exploring Israel and abroad! Our students are truly living like locals in Israel, immersing themselves into Israeli society. It’s hard to believe that the semester is halfway through. Here are some March highlights! Italy International Add-On Trip […]

The Aardvark Monthly – February 2024

Aardvark israel gap year

Shalom Parents, Students, Partners, and Staff, The second month of our spring semester is over! We had some very exciting programs and Tiyulim (Trips) in February, during which our students learned about diversity within Israeli culture, how to become strong leaders, connect with their Jewish identities, and, of course, they gained hands-on experience at their […]

Leadership Seminar

Picture of tiyul

This week, our students had the opportunity to choose between different tracks for our two-day leadership seminar. They completed hiking trails, learned from guest speakers, and experimented with different forms of creative media. Day One: Hiking Tracks & Workshops Students were given the option to hike in the Negev at Ein Ovdat, Nachal Mamshit, or […]