Am Yisrael World Adventure Programs

In addition to the core program, the Am Yisrael World Adventure program offers students the opportunity to participate in organized trips outside of Israel, allowing them to customize their gap year or semester by choosing from the menu of countries offered.   For an added fee, students may choose amongst several one-week educational and recreational excursions.  Itineraries are designed to give students a relevant Jewish experience while also visiting the most popular tourist destinations in each country.  Delving into the history of the local Jewish community and their relationship to Israel, students will better understand Zionism and in turn their own connection to Israel. These excursions also serve to foster a sense of Jewish peoplehood and link the students to Jews around the world.

The trips are scattered throughout the year and students may sign up for all four if they choose.  Click here to read the Educational Rationale and other Important Information regarding the Aardvark Israel World Travel Program.

Kenya Safari – Simba, Chui, Tembo.  That’s Swahili for Lions, Leopards and Elephants which are among the animals you will see while on Safari in Kenya.  Students will meet the local Wayahudi community, who believe they are descended from the waliopotea makabila (lost tribes).  Students will explore issues of African-Israeli relations and will tour major sites and cities in Kenya. Click here for more on Kenya

Italy – Thousands of years of western and Jewish history will be explored as students visit Rome and Venice.  Feasting on the delicious Italian cuisine and exploring the country’s rich culture, participants will enjoy a week of discovery of many of Italy’s treasures.  Highlights will include a gondola ride in Venice, the Colosseum, Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the Vatican, as well as a memorable Shabbat spent with the local Jewish community. Click here for more on Italy

Bulgaria Ski Retreat – For students who love winter sports, wineries and majestic mountain-top views, a visit to Bulgaria will be a memory to last a lifetime.  Students will learn about gentiles who saved Jews from deportation during the Holocaust and will have the chance to connect with the local, thriving Jewish community and celebrate Shabbat with them. Click here for more on Bulgaria

Tunisia – This country has recently become a major tourist destination and hosts a fascinating blend of Arabic, French, and African cultures.  Although small, there is still a functioning Jewish community and infrastructure.  During Shabbat, as they interact with Jewish youth, students will be captivated as they learn about this Arab country whose government “assures freedom of worship for the Jewish community and [even] pays the salary of the Grand Rabbi" of the community.  Exploring the modern and the ancient, this trip will include visits to the Mediterranean coast as well as Tunis, Sidi Bou Said, and other sites of interest. Click here for more on Tunisia

Participants in any of the Am Yisrael World Adventure programs will have the option to register for a course related to the curriculum of their trip and upon completion of all course requirements will receive college credits for participating in this program.