Weekly Updates

Weekly Updates Welcome to Jerusalem Dear parents, My name is Natali Basel and I’m the city coordinator for the Jerusalem division of the Aardvark Israel. I can't wait to meet you and your children, and I hope they are as excited as I am for the experience ahead. My...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem December 25, 2016 Dear Parents, We've enjoyed another jam-packed week here at Aardvark. On Monday evening, representatives from the NGO, Tevel B’tzedek came and speak to and tell us about the group and what they do. Aardvark...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem October 30, 2016 Dear Parents, I hope your week was as eventful and as much fun as ours! The biggest highlight of our week was our annual 3-day Ketura Seminar. On Tuesday morning, bright and early at 6:00 am, we departed for...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv October 28, 2016 Shalom Parents! It is great to be back again 🙂 I hope your holidays were relaxing and meaningful. Here are some of are highlights for the week - things were over the top here and there is plenty I want to...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem October 7, 2016 Dear Parents, Shana Tova! Because of the chag we had a short week here Ardvaark, but still we've been busy and its been amazing! What could be better than starting a new week with a New Year? All our students...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv October 7, 2016 Hello Parents, Since Adi left us here all alone for the holidays, I'll be writing you the weekly newsletters in the next couple of weeks. I want to apologize for those of you that every week, since August 28th,...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem September 15, 2016 Dear Parents, We have enjoyed another great week with beautiful hot weather. Here is a bit more about some of the experiences that we have had this past week. Every Sunday evening, the students have an...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem September 1, 2016 Dear Parents and Students, Our first week in Jerusalem was a busy, eventful and exciting one. Here are some highlights: The week started out on Monday as the students all arrived and began to settle in to...

Weekly Updates Selah Email Hello to all the Selah crew for 2016-2017! Now that we have finished last year’s program I am already looking forward to next year and with Shavuot coming up I thought I'd share a few thoughts and a photo with you. On Shavuot we read the...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv June 2, 2016 Shalom Parents I hope that you are all excited to see your children again. We, the Tel Aviv staff, have had a bittersweet 3 days since they left... It is so exciting to see the change and progress every single one...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem May 31, 2016 Shalom Parents! The Aardvark program officially came to an end today (for everyone except those in Marva). It is a bittersweet feeling for all of us. It has been a wonderful year but it is sad to see the students...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv May 27, 2016 Dear Parents, I cannot believe that there is less than a week left of the program. I feel like I met the students just yesterday. They were a little confused and very excited, and full of questions: "Why am I not...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem May 21, 2016 Dear Parents, I cannot believe that there are just two weeks left of the program. I feel like I just met the students yesterday. They were confused and excited, and full of question like "Why am I not alone in the...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv May 21, 2016 Shalom Parents! This week felt slightly different. A lot of the students are beginning to understand that the semester is close to an end and this knowledge affects each student differently. Some of them are happy...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem May 18, 2016 Dear Parents, Last week in Israel was extremely busy so as a result of the holidays combined with the end of year preparations my letter is reaching you a little later than usual. The consecutive holidays of...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv May 18, 2016 Shalom Parents! Last week in Israel was extremely busy so as a result of the holidays combined with the end of year preparations my letter is reaching you a little later than usual. The students have had number of...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem April 25, 2016 Dear Parents I want to wish everyone happy holiday Unfortunately I broke my leg so the weekly email is bit delayed Here are some of our experiences from last week: Last week we had to say goodbye to the military...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv May 8, 2016 Shalom Parents! In Israel, when Passover is over, we enter one of the most meaningful times of the year. Starting with Holocaust Memorial Day, then a week later Memorial Day for our Fallen Soldiers and Victims of...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem May 5, 2016 Dear Parents, Here are some of our most important events this week. On Tuesday we went to the Israel Museum. My favorite part of the visit was learning about and seeing the Dead Sea scrolls. These manuscripts are...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv April 24, 2016 Shalom Parents! Yesterday was a special day in Israel. It was Seder Night. Almost everything was closed (such as shops, restaurants, cinemas…) and everyone gathered together for a family reunion! Each family has...

Weekly Updates Weekly Update - Jerusalem April 17, 2016 Dear Aardvark Parents, I’m sorry that last week’s weekly newsletter wasn’t sent to you, I was leading the International Track’s trip to Germany. Here are this week’s highlights: We started our week with the...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv April 17, 2016 Shalom Parents! Another week of Aardvark is over. If I was asked to summarize the week in just a few words I would say: Sunny, Rainy, Exciting, and Hummus! If you want to hear a little more about it then keep on...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv April 10, 2016 Shalom Parents! Here in Tel Aviv we can already feel the spring. It is warm outside, but not too warm. A lot of people are heading outdoors and there are a number of events taking place, we can almost feel the...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem April 3, 2016 Dear parents, This week I have decided to give one of our students the opportunity to tell you about the past few days. Here are some words from Adam Acker: “This past Tuesday we had an incredible tiyul. Our...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv April 3, 2016 Shalom Parents! Today is the final day of the month of March, one of the program’s more intense months. Why? Because it was "Breakout" month on Aardvark. At the beginning of the month, now that the students have...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem March 27, 2016 Dear Parents, By now you will have heard about the terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium. We heard the news during the second day of our tiyul, a few minutes before starting our last hike and just before we lost...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv March 25, 2016 Shalom Parents! By now you will have heard about the terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium. We heard the news during the second day of our tiyul, a few minutes before starting our last hike and just before we lost...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jeruslem March 17, 2016 Dear Parents This week the students enjoyed a number of activities about the society we live in. Here are a few of the things we did. On Monday the students attended a Masa BDS seminar at the Yehuda Hotel. They...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv March 17, 2016 Shalom Parents! A lot happened this week and there is so much that is going to happen next week so please make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed and I'll give you all the highlights!   On Sunday, as...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jeruslem March 11, 2016 Dear Parents,   All week long the sun was out making us sweat (except for today). T-shirts and shorts came out of the closets and a whole new season has begun.   On Monday our students went to the ice...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv March 10, 2016 Shalom Parents! I hope you are all well and prepared to focus on my weekly update! I want to open with a great example of cooperation between a student and his Madrich. Zack Stockar was telling Shirli, his...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem March 5, 2016 Dear Parents We have had a week full of adventures! Here is a summary of them: Once a month I meet with the students for some "date" time with me. I do this so that I can hear some of their views and requests for...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv March 3, 2016 Shalom Parents! March has arrived together with spring. All week long the sun was out and making us sweat (except for today). T-shirts and shorts came out of the closets and a whole new season is beginning. On...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Feb 28, 2016 This week on Aardvark Jerusalem: We have now been living in Jerusalem for over a month and it is starting to feel like home. On Sunday we decided to have a Martha Stewart themed apartment meeting. Hagai cooked...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Feb 26, 2016 Shalom Parents! What a crazy week we’ve had! Complete with a serious rain storm, poppies - as promised, and some sunny days towards the end! So what happened in the hallways of Aardvark Tel Aviv? On Sunday night...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Feb 21, 2016 Dear Parents, I am pleased to inform you that this week summer arrived. We are experiencing global warming first hand. Here are some of the activities we had over the week. On Monday-We decided to redecorate our...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel aviv Feb 21, 2016 Shalom Parents! Last week I was talking to the students about maximizing their time in Israel and during the talk one of the students asked me, "Adi, are you maximizing your time? Do you have plans for the...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Feb 12, 2016 Shalom Parents! I hope you are well. Another week has come to an end and it looks as if most of the students have found their path. They look, or at least think that they are busy all the time which hopefully means...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates – Jerusalem Feb 12, 2016 Shalom Parents! The rainy week has ended and at last the sun has come out. It is a beautiful time to be outside so we are encouraging the students to go out and explore more of the city. On Sunday the culture...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Feb 7, 2016 Shalom Parents! The rain of last week has been replaced with bright and sunny weather! As it began to warm up the bravest souls among us started to take off some layers. It is a beautiful time to be outside so we...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Feb 7, 2016 Dear Parents On Sunday we had a Tu Bishvat Seder. Tu BiShvat (ט״ו בשבט‎) is a Jewish holiday which falls on the 15th day of the Hebrew month Shvat. It is also called "Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot" (Hebrew: ראש השנה...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Jan 31, 2016 Shalom Parents! There is a lot to share with you so it may be best for you to quickly make a cup of coffee and take a seat on the couch. Don't worry, I'll wait.... Ready? Good! On Sunday the Madrichim met the...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Jan 24, 2016 Dear Parents, Who would have thought that it was only two weeks ago that we arrived in Jerusalem!? Time flies when you're having fun! Here are some of the highlights from this week: Sunday - the first day of...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Jan 24, 2016 We have had an amazing week! The students began their first volunteer work and internships, they began managing their apartment budgets, participated in some of our activities and started the Ulpan Hebrew course....

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Jan 17, 2016 Shalom Parents! The students have just finished their first week with Aardvark Jerusalem! According to the students every day felt like a whole week due to our busy schedule and now they are looking forward to a...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Jan 17, 2016 Shalom Parents! I'm very glad to tell inform you that the orientation week is over... We had so much going on with so many highlights worth mentioning that I don't know where to start! Our week began on Monday....

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Dec 27, 2015 Shalom Parents! Our week began with a meeting with the culture committee about the final night of the semester. The students are excited about it and they are doing a lot of planning for the final evening. On...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Dec 27, 2015 Dear Parents, First of all, you have probably noticed that last week's letter was not sent... I was in China with a group of 30 Aardvark gap year students from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv! It was a wonderful trip but...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Dec 12, 2015 Dear Parents, Chanukah is a wonderful time to be in Israel and the students on their gap years have had the chance to take full advantage of the festival of lights.  It's been a great week and we are looking...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Jan 12, 2015 Dear Parents, Firstly, I just want to let you know that everyone has arrived safe and sound. The students have had a busy and interesting first day of Spring Semester here at Aardvark Tel Aviv! After an excellent...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Tel Aviv Jan 1, 2015 Shalom Parents! As you all know the semester is coming to an end. This part of the semester is always the toughest for many reasons. I believe that you can feel how it is for your children at this point. Each...

Weekly Updates Weekly Updates - Jerusalem Jan 1, 2015 Dear Parents, We are now approaching the last week of the first Semester and we are all starting to mentally prepare ourselves for the upcoming change. On Sunday, we began the week by doing our first inventory with...