Meet your #Bus158 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*
Tom Bar-Dov
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days?
I believe that the best way to get to know a new place is from the locals. We Israelis are very opinionated on pretty much every subject and each encounter with a new friend or a different environment will give you a feeling about the Israeli way of life.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I always make mistakes changing words in every known songs, but still making them rhyme.
What's your favorite site to go to take participants to and why is it your favorite?
My favorite sites are the most remote ones such as the desert. The most beautiful things happen when your cleaned from all the daily interruptions and your out in nature with the group enjoying G-d's gift at its most rawest sculpture.
What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Best advice I got was to buy a playstation before I got married.
What's your favorite Shorashim memory?
Meeting the staff and joining the Shorashim family is my favorite memory yet.
What's your favorite city in Israel and why?
Tel Aviv is definitely my favorite city. Partly because I lived there for several years, but mostly because its colors, sounds, dynamics, and people.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Shawarma - anytime anywhere.
What's your favorite thing about Israel?
Neighbors become your friends.
Friends become your family.
Family is everything.
What's your favorite place that you have ever travelled to and why?
India, it so different from anything i know. I was able to get a good new perspective on life its rhythm and its meaning.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
"Now, remember! As far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family" Homer Simpson.
What he said.
Anything else you want to share?
In my opinion, I have the best job ever! Cant wait to meet everyone!
Anna Weinstein
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Wilmette to Chicago (Lakeview)!
What do you do for a living?
I am the Director of Jewish Life at Loyola University for Metro Chicago Hillel.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
My first trip to Israel (as seen in exhibit 1, my picture) was when I was six years old. I went with my family for my brother's Bar Mitzvah and don't remember a thing about it other than riding a camel and playing with Israel's many "homeless cats!"
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
In 7th grade, I played Annie in my school's musical of Annie... Reminds me the sun always does come out tomorrow!
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
My favorite place in Israel is Rosh Hanikra-- most beautiful view ever!
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
Besides Israel (duh!), my favorite places I've visited have been Paris and Bermuda.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
I really enjoy Moroccan fish in Israel. Sadly, I haven't had the opportunity to have it on Birthright trips because there's never enough time to find it!
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
I would bring back Israel's love for nature and the environment to America. I love that Israelis have a relationship with the physical land. That's something I don't feel or see walking down the street in Chicago.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Because making lifelong friends with Israelis is the best!!!
What /who is your spirit animal and why?
A lion for sure. And more specifically, Simba. Simba goes through lots of internal struggles, but he always knows what's important and finds his way "home."
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
My mother always used to tell me, "if it's wet and it's not yours, don't touch it." No joke...
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Ask lots of questions about everything you see and do, even if it's an unpopular opinion or uncomfortable to ask.
Eyal Ben Zeev
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Originally from Jerusalem area, now live in Chicago.
What do you do for a living?
I am a Shaliach, the Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to Metro Chicago Hillel. I deal with Israel programming and education on our Hillel campuses, among them: Loyola, DePaul, Columbia College, UIC, NEIU, IIT and more.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
Before I became an Israel Fellow (Shaliach), I worked as a journalist, TV content editor, producer, researcher and Arabic and Middle East History high school teacher.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
Tel Aviv: my city for the past 10 years and the place I call home - my coffeeshops, my bars, my streets and my family and friends.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
After Israel, of course, India is my favorite place in the world. The people, the food, the views, it is like no other place in the world.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
I love Israeli food, all of it. But my favorite food, something I cannot do without, is Tahini (Tchina). My favorite place to eat is Abu-Hassan hummus place in Yafo (Jaffa).
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
The diversity of the Israeli society and its deep desire to live in peace.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Because at the end of the day, Israel is about the people, and with Shorashim you get to be with Israelis your age the whole 10 days.
