Meet Your Staff: Aliza, Jody, and Tzach
Aliza Rothstein
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Originally from Wilmette, IL, currently live in Chicago, IL.
What do you for a living? I am an Occupational Therapist, and am currently getting my doctorate in Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I also teach Hebrew as a religious school teacher.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? June 2010 as a Birthright Israel participant. I went back two months later to study abroad at Hebrew University, and dance at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
What's your favorite Israeli food to eat and favorite place to eat it at? French Hill Falafel. It's amazing. Best falafel in Jerusalem. Everyone should go.
What's a fun fact about you? This Fall, I will spend a month living in Lima, Peru providing occupational therapy services for low income individuals with disabilities.
What's one thing about Israel that you wish you could bring back to America with you? Kosher restaurants.
What's your favorite place to bring groups? The Western Wall. It's really cool to watch participants see the Wall for the first time. People have different reactions, but a lot of participants have big feelings that surprise them when we finally get there.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. Neve Tzedek is this cool little area in Tel Aviv that is home to the Suzanne Dellal Center for Dance and Theater. The area is really artsy and has some cute shops and restaurants. I've spent a lot of time there, taking dance classes and seeing performances.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim? Everyone should have a chance to go to Israel, and Birthright Israel and Shorashim make it possible!
Jody Horowitz
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Originally from Highland Park and I live in Streeterville now.
What do you do for a living? I work at the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago in Israel Experience. I get to help teens, college students and young adults travel to Israel via savings programs and scholarships.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? The summer before my senior year of high school, I went on a 6 week Young Judea trip to Prague for one week and Israel for five weeks. It shaped the way I feel about Israel and I still keep in touch with friends from that trip to this day.What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
What's a fun fact about yourself? I'm probably the only graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison who doesn't like cheese.
What's your favorite Israeli food/favorite place in Israel to eat it? There are way too many foods to pick one favorite, but I'd have to say Israel breakfasts are the best in the world (minus the cheese of course :)).
Where is your favorite place to visit in Israel? My favorite place to visit is Jerusalem. It's where I feel the most connected to Israel and when I feel like I've truly "come home."
Where is your favorite place to take groups? The Kotel.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be? The Machane Yehuda market - there is nothing like the fresh produce, smells and sense of community here in the States.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim? With Shorashim, you not only get to visit all of the beautiful and meaningful sites, but you get to experience it with Israelis. There is nothing like talking to Israelis and learning about their culture and way of life first hand. Those relationships can last a lifetime.
What is your spirit animal? A seagull because I'd love to spend all day on the beach and in the sun.
Anything else you want to share? Israel is my favorite place on earth and I can't wait to be a part of (some of) your first experience(s) there.
Tzach Eldan
How long have you been a tour educator? About four years.
What's your favorite Shorashim memory? At the end of one of my groups, after the last talk, just before leaving to the airport, the group made a song about their journey and memories from the last 10 days. Everybody were singing together huging each other and crying. The feeling of one group without differences between the Israelis and the Americans was a great thing.
What's a fun fact about yourself? I love circles! and I need them to be perfect (some people would say that it is a bit ocd of me).
What's your favorite food in Israel and place to eat it? Tahini! with everything. I love to make it myself.
What's your favorite thing about Israel? I love that it is small, and in one day you can be in the green north and after couple of hours you can find yourself in the open desert in the south.
What's your favorite site to take participants to on Birthright Israel? Desert! Not just because I live there right now but also because I thik that there is somthing in the desert that let you to look deep inside, that you can't get in any other place.
What do you love most about Shorashim? That it is feels like home.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days? I think that to get to know a place like Israel you have to do it through the people that live there. By a close, deep and meaningful Mifgash (meeting) you get personal connection to Israel. On the other hand of the Mifgash, Israelis can have some prejudice about Americans and American Jewry, and this is an important opportunity for the Israelis to learn about new ideas and about the Judaisem of the diaspora. By the two-sided Mifgash we can build a bridge between people and maybe create a life-long relationships.
If you could say one thing to future Birthright Israel participants, what would it be? Try to take this as an opportunity for a self journey with a group. Come open-minded to hear, feel, meet new things and to ask questions about Israel, America and yourself. If you will it, it could be lifechanging experience.
