Meet Your Staff: Rotem, Sarah, and Ishai
Rotem Ben Lulu
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Originally from Israel (Tel-Aviv and the North) and now living in Cincinnati, Ohio.
What do you for a living? I'm the Israel fellow (Jewish agency shlicha) at Cincinnati Hillel.
What's your favorite Israeli food to eat and favorite place to eat it at? I just love Shawarma, but the best food us the Yemeni food that my mom and aunt cook. My favorite restaurant is 2C on the top floor of Azrieli building in Tel-Aviv. It has the best food with amazing view of Tel-Aviv!
What's a fun fact about you? I did Bungee jumping about four years ago when I traveled in Thailand.
What's one thing about Israel that you wish you could bring back to America with you? The food, the warm people behavior and my family :-)
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? My hometown Metulla and Tel-Aviv.
What's your favorite place to bring Taglit-Birthright Israel groups? The North of Israel, so they can see where I grow up at, and of course, Tel-Aviv-best city in the world!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? Shorashim is like a family, and they treat you like a family. i feel like they are always there for me for any issue that might comes up, and they always do their best to help. Besides that, they have the best trip, with the best locations, and we have the Israelis for all 10 days!
Sarah Kuljian
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? I'm from Ann Arbor, MI and now live in Perrysburg, OH.
What do you do for a living? I am the Jewish Student Life Coordinator for UT & BGSU Hillel.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? During the summer of 2011 when I participated in Taglit-Birthright Israel with my sister!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? With Shorashim, you have the Israelis with you ALL 10 days!
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? My favorite place to visit in Israel is Tel Aviv. It's a modern city that's right on the Mediterranean! I love the energy of the nightlife there and all of the artists who live and sell their art in the city. There's also some amazing street art that tells many different stories all around the city.
What's a fun fact about yourself? Here's a few!1) I lived and worked in Spain for two years. 2) Until college I was a competitive figure skater. 3) I attended Kalamazoo College... which is in the (real) city of Kalamazoo, MI.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be? The aspect I'd bring back to America would be the sense of family, community and welcoming that you can have with complete strangers in Israel.
What's your favorite Israeli food/favorite place in Israel to eat it? Shawarma! It's delicious everywhere in Israel and I can't find any that taste the same at home. I wish I could bring a suitcase full of them back with me!
Where are you most looking forward to taking your group? I'm really looking forward to bringing my group to Tzfat. The layout of the city is really unique with the narrow, sloped walkways. You feel like you've stepped back in time. Since I studied art in college, I love seeing all the artist's galleries and pieces being sold right on the street!
Ishai Levin
How long have you been a guide? Four years.
What's your favorite Shorashim memory? Independence day party during concert!
What's a fun fact about yourself? I am one of two!
What do you love most about Shorashim? In order to have a genuine experience and get a good perspective of a place, one must interact with the locals. Other than that, this is an eye-opening experience for the Israelis nothing less than it is to the Americans. If you understand that the Israeelis are an important part of this program, and the bonds that are made during this 10 day program - then there is no alternative to having the Israelis for the entire time!
If you could say one thing to future participants, what would it be? Come & see for yourself!
