Meet your #Bus218 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*
Ido Yulzary
How long have you been a tour educator?
Three years.
How long have you been working with Shorashim?
This will be the second time.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days?
This is the best chance for the American participants to see Israel throw the eyes of their Israeli friends and experience Israel this way!
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I trained as a chef. I can touch my ear with my leg.
What's your favorite site to go to take participants to and why is it your favorite?
I will choose Jerusalem because its a small world in a city, the people, the stones, the history, the food, the culture, the atmosphere.
What's your favorite Shorashim memory?
The welcome ceremony in the airport and the flowers exchanging in Shabbat.
What do you love most about Shorashim?
That the Israeli participants are with the group for 10 days!
What's your favorite city in Israel and why?
Jerusalem because only in Jerusalem you can see a nun and a rabbi and a muslim person waiting for a bus together. The atmosphere in the shuk, the smells, the food the unique old city, the pubs the streets...
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
My favorite is hummus and the best hummus is Ben-Sira hummus in Jerusalem.
What's your favorite thing about Israel?
The Israelis!
What's your favorite place that you have ever travelled to and why?
I traveled to safari trip in Kenya and it's like seeing the Lion King in reality and it was amazing.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Always try to see the good in every person!
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Don't forget your sunscreen lotion.
Lauren Schmidt
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Wilmette, IL and now I live in Chicago.
What do you do for a living?
Marketing and Communications Manager for Shorashim.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
I went to Israel for the first time when I was 17 on Alexander Muss High School in Israel. It changed my life.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
It's so hard (ie IMPOSSIBLE) for me to pick. I love Tzfat because it is very unique and spiritual. I love Machane Yehuda because it's vibrant, full of life, and full of delicious food. I love walking through the Old City because it's like going back in time. I love hiking in the North and the South. Can you tell I am indecisive?
What's a fun fact about yourself?
My height and my birthday is the same number (5'11'').
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
Besides Israel, probably Spain. I studied abroad there and the culture, art, weather, food, etc. is all amazing.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
I love most Israeli food, but my favorite is a tie between hummus at any of the shops around Machane Yehuda or Marzipan, which is also in Machane Yehuda. I also could live off ice cafe, falafel, shawarma, shakshuka, etc.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
The sense of community. I love how natural it is for people to invite you into their homes and be so open with others in many situations. Also, the food. The food is AMAZING!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Spending all 10 days with Israelis is the only way to go. This allows you to connect more deeply to Israel, it's culture, and it's people, and makes your experience so authentic and the relationships you build on the trip that much stronger. I can't wait to witness another group of amazing individualsexperiencing that. Plus, from my first-hand experience, I know how much time, energy, and passion everyone at Shorashim puts into making the trips truly incredible. It's truly the best!
What /who is your spirit animal and why?
Part giraffe, part Joakim Noah, part Chandler Bing, part wacky inflatable flailing tube (wo)man, part Liz Lemon. It makes sense, but it also doesn't totally make sense.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
I don't know what the best advice I've been given is, but I know that one of my favorite quotes for as long as I remember has been "wherever you go, go with all your heart." It's important to do everything you do with passion and commitment, so I think it's pretty good advice from good ol' Confucius.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Birthright Israel with Shorashim is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is something that you can't fully comprehend before you go and can't fully explain once you're back, but it's clear that it is life-changing. When you're on the trip, be present. Take in every moment, listen to every conversation, and ask any questions you have. You're about to have the time of your life.
Anything else you want to share?
We're about to have the best adventure. Can't wait to meet everyone so soon!
Sarah Cort
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
From St. Louis, Live in Chicago (Lincoln Park).
What do you do for a living?
Summer Camps Director at McGaw YMCA Camp Echo.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
As a Birthright participant in winter 2009/2010 with my sister, Rachel.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
I love taking the Carmelit in Haifa up from Ir Tachtit (lower Haifa) up to Merkaz HaCarmel. It's like hopping into a time capsule and takes you to so many fun restaurants- and the zoo!
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Shakshuka- from any specialty restaurant, but also from Greg, CafeCafe, Aroma, etc... it's all delicious!
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
Shoco b'sakit- chocolate milk in a bag!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Israel with Israelis for ALL TEN DAYS! And phenomenal Israeli tour educators and American staff!
