A year ago at this time, I was preparing for the next stage of my life: a stage that was so different from anything I’d ever done before that I had no idea what to expect. It wasn’t the step I’d always figured I’d be taking right after high school. No, this was very different. I was going to Israel for the year. And I had no clue what was going to happen.
I should clarify: I knew the facts. I knew that the program I was going on was the best fit for me. I knew that I should bring converters to Israel so I could charge my phone. But as the year went on, I realized there were a lot of things I hadn’t been told.
As a veteran of the Israel experience, here is some advice.
When you first get to Israel—or even beforehand, during the weeks of planning and packing—you will feel anxious and afraid. I cannot stress this strongly enough; this is normal. Everyone, even those who have been wanting to go to yeshiva, seminary or a program for years, will be nervous. Everyone is worried about the language barrier, the daunting task of making new friends and not being able to fulfill El Al’s luggage requirements. Don’t be afraid that you are the only one. You aren’t.
Make sure that when you pack, you remember that you are packing for almost a whole year. You’ll need light clothing and sandals, but you will also need sweaters, scarves and rain boots. Yes, Israel does get cold. I thought I had packed for the weather, but I still was shocked when I was wearing thick sweaters daily for several months. Especially if you are going to be in Jerusalem—be prepared for wind and cold temperatures. Equally important: remember that Israel is a first-world country, and most things that you forget to bring can be purchased there. Some Israeli products are even better than American replicas. (Buy Blundstones and Shoresh; they are life-changing.)
Most likely, you will be spending your time with primarily English speakers. But don’t let that limit you to only speaking in English. Try to learn as much Hebrew as you can. This can be in a classroom setting (Ulpan is fantastic), but even better is to just go out and speak. Try to order a meal in Hebrew, even if you used an English menu. Speak only Hebrew in your dorm room once a week for an hour. Ask Israeli counselors what words mean when you don’t know them. Whether you’re nearly fluent or don’t speak a word, this is the chance to practice your Ivrit.
It doesn’t matter if you are an atheist going to yeshiva to please your parents or if you have never questioned your faith once in your life. When you are in Israel, it is the time to experience Judaism like never before. Don’t just watch the streets of Jerusalem clear out on Yom Kippur; be a part of the kumzitzes that spring up in the middle of the road. Don’t make assumptions about what Kabbalah is; go to Tzfat and learn from the city it was born in. Try different kinds of siddurim; see which one suits your style. Talk about religion with rabbis as well as random people on the street. There is nowhere better than Israel to learn about Judaism and to find deeper meaning. After experiencing Simchat Torah in Israel, I realized that I had never truly celebrated it before—because I had never truly understood it before. Now I can say that I understand why Jews want to dance crazily with a Torah for hours on end. I was one of those Jews.
See the country! There is so much more to see than where your yeshiva, seminary or program will take you. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Have an experience you’ve never had. I had never heard of Ginosar, but it turns out to be the home of the Jacob’s Ladder music festival, a bi-annual gathering of up-and-coming folk music performers. Ever thought about seeing Rambam’s grave? It’s conveniently located right near the Tiberias bus station. Thought Tel Aviv was full of nightlife and parties? Well, it is. But it also has amazing graffiti tours and a beautiful seaside Shabbat service on Friday nights. Be safe, but be curious.
As important as it is to get to know Israel, it is equally important to get to know the area that is your home for the year. Stay back for Shabbat more than a few times. Go out at night and see what’s going on. If you’re in a city, walk around, go to different restaurants or try a new activity, such as pottery painting or Escape the Room. If you’re in a more isolated location, get to know the residents of the kibbutz or moshav, join in with their activities and embrace the nature that surrounds you. I spent half of the year in Jerusalem and half in a youth village near Haifa. I tried to integrate myself in both communities: going to different shuls and performances in Jerusalem, and joining a ceramics club and watching student productions at the village.
Your Jewish studies skills will skyrocket this year; it’s a natural consequence of studying Tanach and Talmud for hours and being surrounded by holiness on a daily basis. But it’s easy to forget secular studies in Israel. No one is asking you to write essays or solve differential equations while you’re on your gap year. Try to exercise your brain every now and then by going on Khan Academy or reading an English newspaper. It’s not worth worrying too much about college during your gap year, but don’t forget that it is coming.
Keep an eye on your emails and keep in touch with those going to your college next year; there are probably some other kids who are on gap years, too. But remember that this is your time to be free from academics. Make sure to check with your college to see if there’s anything that needs to get done (especially after April, when colleges start reaching out to accepted freshmen). But don’t base your year around your future college experience.
This year is about you. It’s the first time you will be living away from home for such an extended period of time. No parents. No siblings. New friends and new teachers. This is a chance to find out who you are. It sounds cliche, but it is true. Take recommendations from other people who have spent the year in Israel, but don’t rely on them. Go to places you’ve never heard of. Do something you’ve never done. For me, that meant going on a 15-kilometer bike ride even though I hadn’t ridden a bike in years, learning Torah trope, becoming obsessed with the Eurovision Song Contest, learning Arabic, spontaneously going to the Kotel on several occasions, eating waffles at restaurants 11 different times and learning new board games to play on Shabbat. For you, it could be something completely different. So take the time—you have a whole year—and make it your time! The only way to do it wrong is to do absolutely nothing.
By Ariella Shua
Ariella Shua is a graduate of Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School and the Nativ Program in Israel. She is a rising freshman at Johns Hopkins University and a Jewish Link summer intern.
