Meet Your Staff: Roy, Shira, and Itamar
Roy Swissa
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Israel, living in Indianapolis.
What do you for a living? Work for the Jewish agency for Israel, as an Israeli emissary.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? Born there :)
What's a fun fact about you? I have strong penchant to mix all of my food with Hummus. Hummus in Yafo--my cousin has taken me to a hummus-only restaurant, that opens at 5am (with a line down the street) and closes when the hummus is gone!
What's your favorite place to bring Taglit-Birthright Israel groups? Jaffa and the Dead Sea
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? The spring of Ein Prat, in Wadi kelt, next to Jerusalem.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? Ten days with the best staff ever, and ten days of mifgash. Who needs more than that?
What's your spirit animal? כלב, כי הוא כולו לב (Dog, because he is all heart.)
Shira Tober
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Originally - DC suburbs; Now - Fort Lauderdale suburbs.
What do you for a living? I work in the non-profit world.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? May 2004 at 16 years old on Alexander Muss High School in Israel.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? Feeling a connection to Israel also means feeling a connection to Israelis. Those who live everyday as a pillar of strength for our homeland.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? The kotel; not only a religiously and historically significant place for our people, but I feel an incredible spiritual connection there as well.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be? Za'atar seasoning, Marzipan Bakery's uber-chocolaty rugelach, street Shawarma ----- sooooooo the food.
What's your favorite Israeli food/favorite place in Israel to eat it? Marzipan bakery's uber-chocolatey rugelach.
What is your spirit animal and why? Sloth - a little disheveled looking, sometimes lazy, but always snuggley.
What's a fun fact about yourself? I'm OBSESSED with dogs. I once jumped out of a slow moving vehicle to pet a puppy and I would probably do it again. Ok, not probably. 100% would do it again.
Anything else that you want to share? Can't wait for the NFL season to start - go Redskins!
Itamar Buk
How long have you been a guide? Five years.
What's your favorite Shorashim memory? Shorashim dance with every group!
What's a fun fact about yourself? I was close to becoming a professional football player.
What's your favorite part about Israel? The balagan.
What's your favorite Israeli food? Where's your favorite place in Israel to eat it? Falafel on King George Street in Tel Aviv.
What do you love most about Shorashim? The Israelis for 10 days!!
What's your favorite site to go to take participants to on Taglit? One of my favorite places in the shuk.
What's your favorite city in Israel and why? TEL AVIV, becuase TLV never goes to sleep.
If you could say one thing to future participants, what would it be? I would advise them to extend their visit.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days? Because Israelis are awesome and having Israelis on your Taglit experience is beneficial to get acquainted with Israel!
Anything else you want to share? YOLO!
