Meet Your #Birthright Israel #Shorashim #Bus911 Staff
Osnat Alef
Where are you from and where do you currently live?
Israel
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I went to the Backstreet Boys concert and enjoyed every second of it!
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Your attitude, not your talent, will determine how high you will reach.
Rebecca Gold
Where are you from and where do you currently live?
Born in Wilmette, Illinois, left the Land of Lincoln at 18 to attend Princeton University, lived in NYC for 4.5 years after college, back in Chicago as of October 2014.
What is your favorite place in Israel?
Every minute that I've spent hiking and experiencing **nature** in Israel has been completely enjoyable. I think I could spend the rest of my life camped out in a valley in the North, or in the middle of the Negev. My friends live in Tel Aviv and my cousins live in Tzfat, so those places also hold a very special place in my heart.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
The two things that take up most of my iPhone storage space are 1)history podcasts/audiobooks and 2) Grateful Dead live shows.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
In Hebrew, the way you tell someone to "have fun" is "taa'seh chaim";in English, this literally translates to "do life". I've always thought that there is something kind of deep about this. In English, our fun is something we experience passively ("have"), but in Hebrew, fun is enacted by actively "doing". So, on your trip, remember to have fun by DOING LIFE! Try to experience as many new things as possible, remain aware of the special-ness of the trip, and rise up to meet every moment with joy and positive vibes!
Anything else?
I visited Israel for the first time in 2000, when I spent the first of several childhood summers at CAMP SHORASHIM! The camp was comprised of an equal number of Israeli and American kids; the idea was that it was an American-style summer camp on a kibbutz during the week, and then on the weekends we would venture out on tiyulim (trips) throughout Israel. It was the best. Since then, I've been back to Israel a gazillion times in a variety of contexts, and for the past few years have been staffing Shorashim trips. I'm beyond excited for all of you to have this incredible adventure, and am looking forward to helping facilitate your Encounter With The Land Of The Golden Light.
Sam Block
Where are you from?
Chicago, IL.
Where do you currently live?
Chicago, IL.
What is your favorite place in Israel?
Western Wall.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Switch seats on the bus. Meeting people, particularly Israelis who are similar in age yet have lived a different life in some ways, is a highlight of the trip.
