Shalom everyone 👋😊
What a year it’s been! If someone had told us in September that by June we’d have students calling Israel home while discovering strength they never knew they had, that roommates from five different continents would become family, and that an 18-year-old from Australia would
discover that his life’s calling teaching English to Israeli kids – well, we
probably would have believed them. That’s just what happens at Aardvark
Israel.
This wasn’t just any gap year. This was the gap year.
The one where Yotam went from stocking supermarket shelves in Melbourne to realizing “the people I met on Aardvark Israel are the best people I have met in my life.” Where Ari stayed for both semesters because one wasn’t enough.
Where Ella witnessed strength that made her “never felt more proud to be Jewish.” Where students discovered that Israel isn’t just a destination on their Jewish journey – it’s home.
From Jerusalem apartments filled with morning laughter and the inviting smell of shakshuka, to startup internships in Tel Aviv, from volunteering in remote Nepali villages to standing with hostage families, our students didn’t just live in Israel. They became part of its story.
Yotam from Australia: “It felt like home”
“I was in the middle of my gap year and wasn’t really doing anything exciting or meaningful other than filling shelves at the supermarket in Melbourne.” From Jerusalem apartments filled with morning laughter and the inviting smell of shakshuka, to startup internships in Tel Aviv, from volunteering in remote Nepali villages to standing with hostage families, our students didn’t just live in Israel. They became part of its story.
That’s how Yotam’s story began – with a friend’s recommendation and parents saying “why not?” But what unfolded was a transformation nobody saw coming.
As an assistant English teacher, Yotam discovered something profound: “All it takes is one specfic teacher with the right approach that makes a world of deference for students and can actually change their attitude towards learning completely.” Working with small groups of Israeli kids on reading and pronunciation, he found a gift he never knew he had. That’s how Yotam’s story began – with a friend’s recommendation and parents saying “why not?” But what unfolded was a transformation nobody saw coming.
But the deeper change happened in his friendships. “Towards the end of my program I realized and felt for the rest time what it’s like to have actual good quality friends. The people I met on Aardvark Israel are the best people I have met in my life.” This revelation changed everything: “I made a sort of self rule that if the people I’m with don’t actively show me that they want me around, then they aren’t worth my time.”
And Israel? “For me being in Israel it felt natural, it felt like home. Even though I wasn’t born in Israel nor grew up there, I felt like I truly belonged there. There was no awkward silence when meeting someone or ice that needed to be broken.”
Curious what other students experienced?
Ari from London: The Two-Semester Adventure
“I always wanted to do a gap year before I started university but had no idea what to do. Once I heard about Aardvark Israel it sounded perfect – work, learn and travel all while being in the greatest country in the world.”
Ari did something special – he stayed for both semesters, diving deep into Israeli society from two completely different angles.
Semester one took him to the Knesset, working with the Christian Allies Caucus, where he “learned how to network and connect with politicians while furthering my understanding of the Israeli Political System.” The highlight? Meeting the President during a gathering with British Jews.
Semester two brought real estate and creativity, doing cinematography of Tel Aviv properties – “including one that had a full Harley Davidson motorbike hanging o the wall.” Because apparently, that’s how Tel Aviv rolls.
But the experience that changed him most was Nepal: “My culture exchange trip to Nepal was the most inspiring and powerful days of my life. Seeing how people lived like that was so alien to me while still being so happy and grateful for what they had made me appreciate every opportunity I have in my life.”
Living through this particular year in Israel meant something special:
“Living here in the holy land has always felt special and makes me feel like I’m a small part of the story of this nation.”
Living through this particular year in Israel meant something special:
“Living here in the holy land has always felt special and makes me feel like I’m a small part of the story of this nation.”
Want to design your own journey?
Ella from the U.S.: From Journalism Dreams to
Jewish Pride
Ella arrived with clear goals: journalism, marketing, cultural immersion, and independence. “Aardvark Israel offered me everything I wanted in a gap year, with the perfect combination of programming and freedom.”
Her first semester at The Jerusalem Post had her writing articles and recording podcasts. “As news would come in, we’d take over different pieces and submit them into the computer for editing and publication.” The second semester brought startup life at Charme TLV jewelry store, diving into social media marketing.
“I’ve never felt more proud to be Jewish than looking at that Jewish mother.”
Ella, USA
Her first semester at The Jerusalem Post had her writing articles and recording podcasts. “As news would come in, we’d take over different pieces and submit them into the computer for editing and publication.”
The second semester brought startup life at Charme TLV jewelry store, diving into social media marketing.
But it was during her Jerusalem Post internship that everything changed. When Shirit Yerushalmi, mother of hostage Eden, came to record a podcast, Ella was supposed to focus on technical details. Instead, she witnessed incredible strength:
“I looked at her and saw utter strength. A mother who lost her daughter far too quickly and unexpectedly. A mother who, despite so much heartbreak, chose to continue with life and advocate for hostages still held
in Gaza. I’ve never felt more proud to be Jewish than looking at that Jewish mother.”
This moment made me realize the importance of speaking out and of becoming an advocate for Judaism and Zionism, especially having lived in Israel myself and having experienced the war firsthand.
But those were just three stories. Behind them are many more, plus all the little moments: early mornings, shared kitchens, new routines, and the everyday magic of living in Israel together.
Discover more amazing stories on our Instagram!
Life Beyond the Classroom
Morning Magic: International Edition
Picture this: Jerusalem apartment, 7:30 AM. As Ella describes it: “I’d greet my Aussie roomie Livi who had just returned from meditating outside, and then go dance in the bathroom with Sara from South Africa while she got ready for her volunteering.
Their destination? Cafe Liba for “matcha, hot chocolate, and the best sea salt chocolate chip cookie in all of Jerusalem” with their friend Yishai who was interning there. When your gap year includes having a personal
barista friend, you know you’re doing something right.
Ari’s Tel Aviv experience was equally international: “Being in an apartment with people from all corners of the world has been an unbelievable and crazy experience but we’ve had lots of fun hanging out at the beach and bars from around Tel Aviv. We aren’t the best at waking up in the morning especially for Ulpan but we get up make breakfast and run out the door because we’re probably already late.”
Resilience in Real Time
Being in Israel during 2024-25 meant experiencing history firsthand. But instead of living in fear, our students discovered strength they didn’t know they had.
“Being on my gap year during wartime in Israel was super interesting and challenging,” Ella reaects. “It was a challenging decision, aware of the complexities of living here during such times.. But as I started adjusting to
life in Israel, I realized that it isn’t so bad. I felt completely safe and protected by the IDF, the Iron Dome, and general security in the country.”
As Doron, their madricha, observed: “Surprisingly, many of the students were pretty calm throughout this period. In fact, during this time, I felt they discovered a kind of resilience they didn’t always know they had.”
Adventures Across the Country
From the historic fields of Kibbutz Degania to the tech hubs of Herzliya, our students experienced Israel from every angle. Tech Track participants pitched ideas to real investors, while others volunteered in remote villages, painted in Sderot, and stargazed in the desert while discussing Jewish philosophy.
“You can read about Israeli history in books,” one student shared, “but standing where it actually happened while hearing stories passed down through generations, that hits different.”
The internships opened worlds: from teaching pronunciation to Israeli elementary students to creating social media content for Tel Aviv startups, from working in the Knesset to documenting Ethiopian-Israeli stories
through photography.
“During our fall overnight tiyul, we held a Color War between the three communities – and honestly, I think it was one of the students’ favorite moments of the semester. The
energy, the creativity, the ridiculous costumes, the laughter – it was wild in the best way. What I loved most was seeing how fully everyone, even the staff, threw themselves into it. For a few hours, we were just one big, ridiculous, colorful family.”
Rachel, Community Manager
Looking Ahead: The Journey
Continues!
As we close this unforgettable year, we’re already looking ahead to the next. A new group of young Jews from around the world will soon arrive — ready to explore, grow, and discover what it means to truly feel at home in Israel.
Will you be next😊?
Whether you’re a parent, partner, or future student, we invite you to be part of this unique experience. because here, every gap year is more than just a year o — it’s a journey that shapes who you are and who you’ll become.
As this incredible cohort heads o to universities and colleges around the world, we are already excited for the students who will take their place. And for all the simple, little experiences that will grow into something unforgettable.
Next semester is calling. Secure your place today! ✨
“”I think they’ll tell their kids about the trips they took together, the late-night conversations, and the nights out with friends who ended up feeling like a second family. It’s those simple, little experiences that make the whole year feel big
and meaningful.” “
Doron, Madricha
