Meet your #Bus13 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*
Tzach Eldan
How long have you been a tour educator?
Many years.
How long have you been working with Shorashim?
Four years.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days?
I think that when the Israelis are on the trip for the all 10 days, they are integral part of the process of the group. Only then the mifgash (meeting/encountre) between Americans and Israelis, between Israel and America can truly happens in its essence. Also, there is no better way to get to know a place through the local people experiences :)
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I love to make people to stand in circles.
What's your favorite site to go to take participants to and why is it your favorite?
I love to take participants to the desert, mostly to Sde-Boker area. Also, because I used to live there til recently and also because it is maybe the most beautiful place in Israel.
What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Someone once told me: "everything is right and wrong at the same time." Also, the same person said: " Rule number one is to tell to yourself that you are amazing!"
What's your favorite Shorashim memory?
Saying goodbye at the airport at the end of the journey to the Israelis and to each other. You can feel that something really meaningful happened, and that people got connected to each other in a very deep way.
What do you love most about Shorashim?
The feeling of family.
What's your favorite place that you have ever travelled to and why?
I can't say what is my favorite one, but few weeks ago I was traveling in India in a place called Spiti Valley in the Himalaya. The mountains, the high desert land, the small Tibetan villages and the amazing local people and culture made the visit there very powerful.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Come open heart and minded, take this amazing opportunity and choose to fully be in it.
It is can be a life changing experience, but it is also depends on you...
Anything else to share?
Peace and love.
Sara Legasey
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Salem, MA.
What do you do for a living?
Program associate at Tufts Hillel!
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
On Birthright, of course!
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
Tzfat, it's such a beautiful place and I always end up meeting interesting people.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I secretly love karaoke.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
Besides Israel? Cappadocia, in Turkey.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Shakshuka! It's always best homemade.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
The people! Some people say Israelis are pushy, but I think they are the warmest and most welcoming people on earth.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Obviously so that they can experience Israeli with Israelis, but also because Shorashim has the best tour educators!
What /who is your spirit animal and why?
My spirit animal is an elephant... go jumbos!
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Never miss an opportunity for adventure!
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Don't over pack! You're going to end up wearing the same jeans and fleece everyday anyway.
Abby Calish
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Boston, and Boston.
What do you do for a living?
I work as a program associate at Tufts Hillel.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
I went to Israel for the first time in 2007 with my summer camp.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
My favorite place to visit is the Baha'i Gardens in Haifa.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I used to perform in Boston Ballet's production of the Nutcracker.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
My favorite place I have ever traveled to is Istanbul. It is a beautiful city and the food is amazing.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Falafel - pretty much at any stand in Israel that's far enough away from the tourist centers. Rugelach from Marzipan bakery is a close second.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Going on a birthright trip is great, but experiencing Israel with Israelis is amazing.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Bring a journal! You will be doing so much in 10 days, so having a place to quickly jot down questions or initial thoughts will be helpful when reflecting on your trip. It will also be fun to look through the journal in a few years and see how you felt at certain moments in your trip.
