In this season finale of Israel Gap Year B’Iyun, Avi Proctor sits down with Rabbi Ben Rapaport, co-founder of TRIO Academy, to talk about something that’s often overlooked during a student’s year in Israel:

How and when should you start thinking about your future career?

Your year in yeshiva or seminary is focused on spiritual growth — but it’s also the most pivotal time to begin asking the big questions about your direction in life. This episode is about starting that conversation the right way.

With years of experience guiding hundreds of students toward personal and professional clarity, Rabbi Rapaport shares tools and perspectives to help students make thoughtful, balanced decisions — without losing sight of their values.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why your year in Israel is the ideal time to reflect on career direction
• The biggest mistakes students make when thinking about their future
• How to ask the right questions — even if you’re unsure where to start
• Balancing growth in ruchniyus with planning for your future
• The mindset that builds confidence without rushing big decisions

In this episode of Israel Gap Year B’Iyun, Avi Proctor sits down with Rabbi Dani Kunstler of Yeshivat Torat Shraga to explore a question many yeshiva and seminary students quietly ask themselves:

Does the music I listen to actually affect me spiritually?

A gifted educator and musician, Rabbi Kunstler shares insights from years of experience speaking in various yeshivot and seminaries, where he’s helped students reflect more deeply on the soundtrack of their lives.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why music isn’t neutral — and how it can shape your inner world
• Real-life stories from Rabbi Kunstler’s talks that left students thinking twice
• Rabbi Kunstler’s own background in music and how it informs his view
• The surprising ways music can support or stunt your growth during and after your year in Israel

In this episode of Israel Gap Year B’Iyun, Avi Proctor sits down with Rabbi and Rebbetzin Mayer from Tiferet Seminary to explore a powerful topic that doesn’t get talked about enough: the importance of seminary girls having a spiritual mentor — whether a rabbi or rebbetzin — both during their year in Israel and long after it ends.

Drawing from their own transformative relationships with their mentors, the Mayers discuss:

• Why girls also need a “rabbi figure” in their life
• What to do if you're in seminary and haven’t connected with someone yet
• How to build a meaningful spiritual relationship after you've already left Israel
• The difference these connections make — not just in seminary, but in life
• Real advice for students feeling like it's “too late” to find a mentor

This is a must-listen episode for seminary students, parents, educators — or anyone who believes in the power of lasting relationships in Jewish growth.