Meet your #Bus110 staff
Get ready for an amazing adventure! #Birthright #Shorashim
*All pictures are either from your staff’s first trip to Israel, in general or as a staff person, or one of their favorite places*
Yonatan Penn
How long have you been a tour educator?
Six years.
How long have you been working with Shorashim?
Six years.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days?
Sadly, us human beings need time to truly open up. Usually, I see that the group is really created after few days. If the Israelis are not there for that, they are not a part of the process.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I have milked six different types of animals.
What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
The best advice I was ever given is definitely: "Take it easy." I'm very serious. If you take it easy, you make it easy ( I have thought about that last piece myself :))
What's your favorite Shorashim memory?
On one of my college groups, I had a participant that had extreme difficulties to connect and communicate with his fellow teens. I was "warned" not to bother with the attempts to integrated him in to the group since he studied with those people in college for the past two years and yet he stayed an outsider. In the short 10 days of birthright he's "weirdness" was not only accepted by the group, but he became the group mascot. He became open and vocal in a way that he testified that never happened before.
What's your favorite place that you have ever travelled to and why?
Hard question. I'm going for Colombia. Bountiful nature, great shores, and happy people.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Life is to short to miss an opportunity like birthright!
Elan Cohen
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Kibbutz Alonim and Providence.
What do you do for a living?
I lead trips to Israel, create Israel Programming, and tutor Arabic and Hebrew at Brown RISD Hillel.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
When I was an infant my family moved there.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
Tel-Aviv, the best city in the world! City life, night life, food, beach and the history. I just love Tel Aviv!
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I dance salsa.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
The Togean Islands because they were beautiful, fascinating, and remote.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Hummus and falafel from Samir's in Ramla.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
Good pita and Israelis!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Israeli participants (for all 10 days)!
What /who is your spirit animal and why?
An eagle because of the way they glide and they are badass.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Keep an open mind, ask questions, and extend!
Chelsea Feuchs
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Goldens Bridge, NY and now Boston, MA.
What do you do for a living?
Hospital and Higher Education Campaign Coordinator for the Massachusetts Building Trades Council.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
Winter 2011, with Shorashim!
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
Sde Boker.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I can lick my elbow!
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
Israel, because I feel such a connection to the place and the people are unbelievably warm and also brutally honest!
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Sufganiyot from Rolladin, best with chocolate syringes sticking out!
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
How friendly the people are. If you know someone's first name, you can crash on their couch!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
You get to form real relationships with the Israeli participants because they are with you the whole time. Four years later, I am still close with some of the Israelis from my bus.
What /who is your spirit animal and why?
A lion because they're community oriented, but don't mess!
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
You are the only person who gets to enjoy or deal with the outcomes of your decisions.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Have as much fun as you can while still getting enough sleep! Invest in the connections with each other because some of these really do last a lifetime.
Anything else you want to share?
I met one of my best friends to this day because he took up more than half the seat and I took up less. We never would have crossed paths without this trip. Don't underestimate the connections you make with people and how great those friendships can become!
