Aardvark: Gap Year Program in Israel

It was purely by chance that I found aardvark Israel at an expo in South Africa, but it is something that I will always be grateful for as the aardvark Israel program changed my life, literally forever. I had the most amazing time and I am now currently living in Israel after making Aliyah and going to the IDF – all thanks to Aardvark.

I woke up everyday and went to an internship that I loved. I worked at an architectural firm where I did web design, content writing, building design and worked on floor plans. My office was down the street from my very modern and homey apartment in the center of Florentine which meant that I could run home and have a quick lunch with my roommates before we headed off to classes together. My middle eastern politics class was the class I looked forward to on most days. It was just so interesting, and Mr. Goldstein kept me extremely intrigued. If I wasn’t busy in the evenings with the awesome night programs with our madrichim (such as going to see Eurovision live) I was chilling at home or exploring the arty city of Tel Aviv. My weekends were calm and uninterrupted, but I always knew that should something go wrong or I just need to chat that there was a madrich close by that I could count on. I was able to meet people from all over the world and learn so much about so many different cultures because Aardvark had such a mixed group of students.

Aardvark allowed me to explore Israel and explore myself within a structured but free environment. We travelled all over the country, from north to south, Aardvark made sure that we were exposed to every aspect of Israel. My favorite trip was the one to Ethiopia – I mean who goes to Ethiopia?? Well we did and it was absolutely incredible! I was given insight into the privilege of living in Israel as we interacted with the Jews in Gondar and even attended a Shacrit service with them! I then also had an awesome week travelling in America before I embarked on a journey to work on Summer Camp in Pennsylvania as part of the Plus Program. Every trip I went on, whether within Israel or overseas, was meticulously planned and executed so that every student could gain the most from the experience.

If anyone were to ask me if I would do it again, my answer would be 100% yes and I would not change a thing. Six months later just about to start the IDF I still pop into the office to see my Madrich Idan and Shay-El because I know that they were not only my support system whilst I was on the program but they have become my family and will be one of my support systems as I live out the rest of my life in Israel (a decision I have made based purely on the experience that Aardvark Israel gave me).

For anyone who does not recommend this program was clearly wrong for it from the start. One must be open minded and ready for a change in their life as you live in what I believe (but I am biased) to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world and to be on one of the best gap year programs that is out there in the world.

This year was really great for me and allowed me to grow. It was great learning from people and meeting new people. I really matured a lot and learnt to live independently without my parents.
I participated in the Year Plus Program doing one semester in Tel Aviv, going and working at Summer Camp in America, and then coming back to Israel for a Semester in Jerusalem. It was the best decision I ever made to participate in Year Plus because I really matured being a counselor and the extra time on the program really helped me figure out what I want to do in life.
I really wish I could do a third semester, but they don’t have that yet. But maybe one day!

Honestly, going on aardvark for a semester in Tel Aviv was the best decision I’ve ever made. I made friends for life, memories for life, and every single day I think of my experience in Israel.
I don’t mean to sound cheesy, but I promise it will be the best best decision you make! You can get college credits, an internship, and have the most fun you’ve probably ever had in your life.
I would say you should at least do one semester of THIS program. Aardvark does things right. They give you the freedom, responsibility, and opportunities you need to grow.

I had the most amazing year on Aardvark! I traveled, I studied and got college credits, and my Internship was the best thing that happened to me.
The staff really helped set me up for success, and I don't think I would be where I am today without them. I still feel like they support me to this day.
The friends I made on the program I am still in contact with today and are still some of my closest friends.
I really recommend this program to anyone who is adventurous and wants to step out of their comfort zone and try new things.

Arriving at the Aardvark you are greeted by experienced and friendly staff who tend to go the extra mile for their students. In my experience the staff were always ready to help the students grow and mature as young adults by going the extra mile in finding out how the students are doing socially, mentally and hygienically... Apart from the counselors, the support staff also go the extra mile to make sure a student has everything they need and push the student to achieve academically, through classes, and socially through the various weekly activities whilst still allowing for bounds of freedom. Reflecting on my time at Aardvark, even though it was a roller-coaster, I truly feel that Aardvark helped me find a career I enjoy through their internship programmes and helped me acquire life long friends along the way. Even though there were some things on the program I found redundant, the program and staff always made sure everyone was catered for and included. In all honesty... I would do Aardvark again, I would advocate for some minor changes but Aardvark is constantly improving. This I know through friends, currently on the program. If you're looking for a structured gap year program with tons of freedom I would recommend Aardvark.

I was reading some of the reviews and realized these reviews are made by people who were favored by the staff. When someone who wasn’t tried to write one, Aardvark threatened the person and made them take it down. Also you can see that when aardvark responds to bad comments they blame the child and not their own program.

My first week there I wore a bathing suit to a water hike. When I got out of the water I was told to “put on a shirt so that the rabbi wouldn’t feel uncomfortable because of my body”. I was shocked.

When I went to another country I slipped on some stairs and was literally left behind by a program director in the middle of Spain.

There is too much structure. The trips were completely planned to the second and when we tried to give feedback on the trip’s structure, the staff said they couldn’t do anything about it because the directors wouldn’t change it even if we asked. Most of the trips were boring. At one point we went to an amazing kibbutz but we stayed on the kibbutz and made candles for an hour. Everyone complained about the trips except for the “favorites” and nothing was done.

Most of the Madrichim were amazing and really helpful. They listened to us, took in our concerns, and helped us through our issues. The program directors were rude, overbearing, and didn’t care about us. I went to a doctor and they told me I needed 3 weeks bed rest for a twisted ankle, but the directors said that’s too much and told me I only have 2 weeks to “get my shit together”. I was kicked off the program because I took longer than 2 weeks to heal.

The internship choices suck. Honestly I hated what I was doing in my first internship and when I told them they told me to stay in it until they find me another one. I was in my internship until the last few weeks of the program, sanding wood every day for 4 hours. I didn’t learn anything or gain anything from it. I sat there and sanded wood and they didn’t do anything when I told them. Several people don’t like their internships and decided that if they weren’t going to make an effort to find us a new one then they wouldn’t go. And they didn’t and they were punished for not going. I was punished by being placed on 2 weeks of “house arrest”. I was not allowed to go anywhere after classes and had to stay home on weekends. I was not allowed to drink even though it’s my choice since I am of legal age and never ever had an issue with drinking because I don’t normally party. Others didn’t get punished at all and got a small slap on the wrist.

Classes had no variety and there were only 3 choices that we could take. One of the teachers was terrible and even when everyone transferred tried to tell them and transfer out of the class, they told us to suck it up and let this teacher ramble about his personal life and how amazing his career is in a graded class.

My apartment had black mold growing in it and nothing was done.

We had a rule that you couldn’t bring alcohol into the apartments, but even when we asked for them to sit down with all of us and discuss the rule they refused. We tried to tell them that it was much safer to drink at home sometimes than go out to a bar and drink there. Especially if we were drinking alone. Some nights I wanted a glass of wine with my Shabbat dinner or to drink a beer while jamming out on the balcony with my friends. I wasn’t a big drinker at all but they told us that other kids would abuse the privilege so no one was allowed. I asked why they wouldn’t have just let people who proved that they were responsible have the privilege, but take away that privilege from some people who weren’t being responsible and using the privilege correctly. They wouldn’t listen. I wanted to buy white cooking wine to make grilled veggies in a white wine and Alfredo reduction sauce but when I asked if I could buy cooking wine for a recipe they said I could but I couldn’t bring it anywhere near the apartment. We weren’t even allowed to drink near the apartment. We weren’t allowed to stand across the street and drink. There were kids who spoke their mind and tried to talk to the directors about changing some aspects of the program and those people were kicked off. When we moved to Jerusalem, 16 out of 20 of the kids were on probation because they were found drinking a beer or having a bottle of alcohol in their apartment. It was ludicrous because all of the people who were caught were put on probation immediately. One night I went out with some friends to a club and had one drink. We didn’t want to drink that much but we couldn’t bring a glass of wine home. After drinking one glass of wine I began to feel really out of it and realized that someone must have drugged my drink! My friends helped me back to the apartment and made sure we were all safe, but if we had stayed home and had a glass of wine on the couch while talking none of that would have happened. It was scary.

The only reason I enjoyed my year is because of the amazing people I met, places I travelled, and memories I made. Most of my fondest memories were made by things me and my friends decided to do and not things the program made us do. Because of the memories I made and the connection that I myself had do foster with Israel, I will be moving there and going to the army, but don’t think that aardvark has any reason to take credit for that. Aardvark only cares about the money they make off of your children. They DO NOT actually care about them at all.

I am Ben, and my daughter, Dana, attended Aardvark 2018-19 for what my wife and I feel was an unequivocally fantastic experience that helped her develop her sense of self, Judaism, and confidence in a complex, international world. She returned eager for college, excited to tackle big problems - and to do it with a new set of great friends.

I think Aardvark provided just the right balance between structured activities and kid independence. Aardvark helped Dana find perfect internship opportunities for her - in the Fall at “Tiny Toes” in Tel Aviv, a childcare program; and in the Spring at Women of the Wall in Jerusalem where she got in the thick of things with women’s rights, Reform Judaism and religious politics. Dana joined a local volleyball team (all Hebrew of course). And in addition to the nearly weekly trips, she joined Seleh which provided her with a deeper investigation of Judaism in all its complexity that she was looking for.

The living situation worked out well, and gave her the first long-term experience living away from home with roommates. Learning to shop, cook, negotiate with roommates was sometimes challenging, but I think is just right for someone at this stage of life. The right structures were in place to support the kids, but they largely worked things out themselves. The expectations and requirements were clear, and most kids lived within those bounds. There was plenty of room to let loose out in the city, but I am glad that rules were stricter in the apartments.

I do not hesitate to recommend Aardvark. Our daughter (and family) is stronger for it.
תודה ראבא Aardvark

- Ben

I had probably the best year of my life on Aardvark. It is a program that attracts such a diverse yet open-minded and free-spirited group of people that I will remain friends with for the rest of my life. There was no social hierarchy or intimidation- everyone is friends, and it is an entirely jude-free environment. One of my favorite things about the program is that there is no agenda- the program will help you focus on things that you think are important and want to learn more about and the staff genuinely wants to help you succeed. The schedule is diverse, with trips varying from museums to boat rides to helping pick up trash on beaches. The classes were very interesting and have definitely helped with my hebrew and general knowledge of what's going on in Israel. I would totally recommend this program for anyone that wants a very independent year with room for self-growth while also having lots of fun!