Articles, Tips & Free Resources

With lots of schools going on bein hazmanim (vacation) and some parents visiting their gap year students, Pesach is a great time to explore the country and enjoy the Chol Hamoed holiday atmosphere. Check out some of our suggestions for activities during your Pesach break...

As a gap year student, people often ask me, "Why did you choose to come during such turbulent times?" In this guest blog, current GAP year student, Gabriella Swartz, shares her feelings and personal experiences about being on GAP year in Israel during these turbulent times.

This guide, filled with useful tips and tricks, is about the ‘how’ of packing and focuses on two questions: What types of things should I buy in Israel and what should I bring from home?

 

We're part of a great Facebook group of Israel GAP year parents. We've taken the feedback and comments from parents on that list and compiled the ultimate packing lists for seminary girls and Yeshiva boys.

Do I need a converter for my hairdryer in Israel? Will my American sheets fit my Israeli bed? Is it better to buy shampoo in Israel?  Check out this short guide to answer some of these questions...

To answer this question, we combed the “Israel GAP Year Parents” Facebook group and reviewed literally hundreds of comments by GAP year parents. In this article we’ll give you an overview of the main factors to consider when addressing this issue.

In this guest post, psychotherapist Joy Epstein, MSW, discusses potential mental health issues that can arise during the GAP year and provides guidelines and resources to ensure that you and your child are prepared and are able to get the support necessary should you need it.

Welcome to the Israel Gap Year Program database, the first comprehensive listing of every GAP year program in Israel, including Yeshivas, Seminaries and Coed programs. 

In an effort to make choosing a GAP year program a bit easier, the Pack for Israel team is going out into the field and interviewing different programs to help you get a feel for each place. As we do more interviews, we'll add them to this running blog. Best of luck with your decision!

As your gap year in Israel is unfolding, you might start feeling a desire to connect, to give back, and to become an active thread in the rich fabric of Israeli life. Here are just a few incredible chessed opportunities across Israel...

With so many yeshivas, seminaries and general Israel experience programs to choose from, we've put together a comprehensive guide that provides detailed questions, suggestions, and issues for students and their parents to consider when choosing a GAP year program. 

After sending her first kid on GAP year and then getting ready to send her second child, Tracy Schultz realized that that there are no easily accessible  'to-do' lists to prepare for the year. Tracy took action and gathered feedback from other GAP year parents and students to compile this comprehensive preparation checklist for new GAP year parents.