Meet Your Staff: Elan, Rabbi Michelle, and Lior
Elan Cohen
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Originally from Kibbutz Alonim and Providence, RI. Currently live in Providence.
What do you for a living? I am an IACT at Brown/RISD Hillel.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? When I was a few months old.
What's a fun fact about yourself? I speak Arabic.
What's your favorite Israeli food/favorite place in Israel to eat it? Samir's Restaurant in Ramla.
If you could bring one thing back to America from Israel, what would it be? Israelis.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? Kibbutz Alonim..
What's your spirit animal? An eagle. They're badass and they glide effortlessly.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? It's free and you do A LOT in 10 days
Rabbi Michelle Dardashti
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Los Angeles, CA ... Providence, RI
What do you for a living? I'm a rabbi & university chaplain.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? When I was in 5th grade - to visit my grandparents who lived there.
What would you like to bring back to America from Israel? No rain in the summer!
What's your favorite place to bring Taglit groups? Hiking!
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? The shuk in Jerusalem.
What's a random fun fact about yourself? I was president of my high school.
What's your favorite Israeli food/favorite place in Israel to eat it? Salads - little cafes in the Jerusalem shuk!
Why is it important to you to have Israelis for all 10 days? Mifgash with Israelis is crucial -- and Lior Chacham rocks!
Anything else you want to share? I have two adorable little girls (Eden and Miya)
Lior Chacham
How long have you been a guide? Seven years.
What's your favorite Shorashim memory? I met my wife leading my first trip at Har Herzl. I was guiding Golda Meir's grave, a personal hero of hers. We are married with one child and one on the way.
What's a fun fact about yourself? I'm a twin.
What's your favorite site to go to take participants to on Taglit? I enjoy taking them to Masada. It is physically demanding and they feel very accomplished afterwards. In addition, it's a challenge to bring the story to life, and when the participants are asking follow up questions, I know that I've opened their eyes to an important part of our history.
What do you love most about Shorashim? I only work for Shorashim because it prioritizes the participant's experience over everything else. One of the ways that they do this is by having Israelis on the trip for the entire 10 days.
What is your favorite food and favorite place to eat it in Israel? Hummus. Hummus Bar Sira in Jerusalem.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days? The Israelis are the heart and soul of the trip. They provide the Americans with the most authentic, honest perspective of Israel. Also, while I hope they will remember what I tell them about the sights, I know that the Americans will treasure and maintain their relationships with their Israeli friends who will continue after the trip to provide them with their point of view surrounding current events and their futon if they come to visit. It is also important for the Israelis to understand the diversity of American Jewry. Many Israelis only think of Americans by what they see on Bravo. The Israelis leave the trip with a broader cultural grasp of who is an American Jew.
If you could say one thing to future participants, what would it be? Keep an open mind and get to know the Israelis on the trip.
