Meet your #Bus221 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 Gayer
How long have you been a tour educator?
Two years.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days?
I think that for 10 days, the Israelis brings the extra value the groups needed so much, no one can do it, not the guide and not the american staff. If the Israelis are part of the group for less than 10 days as soon and the group get to know them and they get to know the group they already need to leave.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
Fun fact...ahhhm... the only other place i'm guiding other than Israel is Alaska.
What's your favorite site to go to take participants to and why is it your favorite?
To take the group for a lookout from the edge of Maktesh Ramon or Sde Boker on just few minutes before sunset, it's absolutely beautiful, quiet and relaxing. It can teach a person to love and appreciate the moment and to "forget" the outside, materialistic world.
What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Always look on the bright side.
What's your favorite Shorashim memory?
The first dance on the airport before the groups arrival :)
What do you love most about Shorashim?
The fact the the Israelis are with the group for the moment the group landed at the airport till the moment they leave, it's such a huge advantage.
What's your favorite city in Israel and why?
Jerusalem, because there you can see what's Israel is all about, all the contradiction, past and present, east & west, cultures, modern world, the "old world", east world and west world.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Of course, hummus, doesn't matter for me, as long as it good hummus, I'm eating.
What's your favorite thing about Israel?
The warmth.
What's your favorite place that you have ever travelled to and why?
Well, can't say one favorite place, but it's all the southern part of Israel and the desert of Sinai peninsula and Wadi - Rum, Jordan. Why? Because it's all big beautiful dry desert with many colors and shapes, on the first sight it looks empty but when you get to know the land, you understand it's a abundant place that only artificial borders separating it apart.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
"The hardest thing in the world is to simplify your life, it's so easy to make it complex" - Yvon Chouinard.
Hagar Israeli
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Israel; Ohio.
What do you do for a living?
I'm the Jewish Agency for Israel Israel Fellow to Hillel at Kent State University, working as Israel emissary on campus.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
I was born and raised in Israel!
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I was a Israeli participant on Birthright trip in 2008.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
Tel Aviv beach.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
I like to travel in the North part of Israel, especially the Jordan River.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
The warm weather!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Because it is a great opportunity to travel across the world with your friends from school and make friends for life.
Melissa Duchin
Where are you from and where do you live now?
Dallas, TX and Dallas, TX.
What do you do for a living?
I'm the Executive Director for Hillels of North Texas, which includes University of North Texas and University of Texas at Dallas.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
I went to Israel for the first time as a senior in high school on Poland/Israel Pilgrimage. We spent one week in Poland and then five weeks touring around Israel.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I went to a summer arts camp in Ontario, Canada for four summers as a camper and two as a counselor. It was there that I learned about clowning as an art form. It's not about birthday gigs and balloon animals!
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
Tel Aviv!
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
Yosemite National Park is one of the most naturally gorgeous places I've been to. We took a family road trip from Texas to California and back. At Yosemite we hiked and camped together. It is one of my most memorable family trips.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
Birthright with Shorashim means you get to experience Israel with Israelis for all ten days!
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Extend your trip!
