Meet your #Bus409 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*
Osnat Alef
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days?
Israelis are imperative in every group, they contribute a different perspective on issues, they help experience things in a much more interesting way, they raise the group's morale and generally making everything a lot more meaningful and fun!
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I'm learning German and swing dancing!
What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Start as fast as you can and gradually increase!
What's your favorite Shorashim memory?
Shorashim Group celebrating my birthday in Harel Mall, after a visit in Yad Vashem memorial. The held a birthday cake and sang as I came down the the escalator (super slowly).
What do you love most about Shorashim?
It's just like one big family and you feel at home.
What's your favorite thing about Israel?
A variety of cultures, perspectives and people. And the food!
What's your favorite place that you have ever travelled to and why?
The Dead Sea because it's so peaceful and calm (and that's the place I spent my first years as an infant)
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Seize every moment because this is a once in a lifetime experience!
Andrew Max
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
San Diego, CA and Orlando, FL.
What do you do for a living?
Israel Engagement Coordinator at Central Florida Hillel.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
When I was four for my cousins Bar Mitzvah.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
My parents are from South Africa and I've visited five different countries in Africa.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
There's no place in the world more beautiful than the Kotel in Jerusalem.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
ISRAEL!! It's home!
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Shwarma b'lafa at any vendor in Israel!
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
The entire country feels like one giant family.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
When you travel to any country, if you don't travel with locals (in this case, going to Israel without Israelis), you never get the full experience. Shorashim understands this and makes sure that all their participants get a local perspective.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
There's never a "perfect" time to do anything... If a good opportunity presents itself, don't hesitate to take it!
Danielle McKinstry
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
I'm originally from Connecticut, but I live in Orlando, FL now!
What do you do for a living?
I am an Engagement Associate for Central Florida Hillel. As an engagement associate, I primarily work with freshmen and sophomore college students, getting to know their interests and what programming they would like to see in Hillel. I also work with incoming juniors and seniors in high school, primarily those in youth groups such as BBYO, NFTY, USY, and NCSY.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
I went to Israel for the first time the summer after my freshmen year of college on my university's Birthright trip.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact about myself is that I don't know my natural hair color! I have gone from blonde to brunette to red for so many years that I couldn't tell you what the real color looks like anymore!
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
My favorite place to visit in Israel is Tel Aviv. While visiting this city, the culture and energy of this city left one of the largest impressions on me when we arrived and until we left later that afternoon.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
I have not travelled outside of United States very many times in my life, so I would have to say my favorite place that I have ever travelled to is Florida. Every summer my family and I would spend two months down in Florida with my Mom's entire side of the family, as well as one of my closest friends. It was the only time I got to see them, so this became a very special time that I always looked forward to.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
I would recommend that friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim because this program gives them the opportunity to bond the entire time with the Israelis rather than just half the time. It allows them to form these relationships with the Israelis unlike any other trip.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." -Wayne Gretzky" - Michael Scott
