Meet Your Staff: Veronica, Zoe, and Yossi
Veronica Beskin
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Atlanta, GA to College Station, Texas.
What do you for a living? I work at Texas A&M Hillel as the Jewish Student Life Coordinator.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? 2010.
What's your favorite Israeli food to eat and favorite place to eat it at? Shwarma, falafel, and halvah!!
What's a fun fact about you? I can sing in five languages.
What's one thing about Israel that you wish you could bring back to America with you? The national acceptance of everyone overall.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? The Kotel! It's a very powerful experience.
What's your spirit animal? I am a Flamingo because I have always been drawn to them and my favorite color is pink!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? To experience new things in a beautiful place!
Zoe Goldberg
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Houston, Texas.
What do you do for a living? I work for Houston Hillel as the Director of Undergraduate Engagement working with undergrads to build relationships and their connection to Judaism.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? Birthright Winter 2011 with Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? Tzfat!
What's your spirit animal? Dolphin, because I wanted to be a dolphin trainer ever since I was a little girl for Sea World!
What's your favorite Israeli food/favorite place in Israel to eat it? Favorite food in Israel for me is the falafel, but also the shawarma and schnitzel!
What's your favorite place to bring groups? My favorite place to bring Israel groups would have to be the Western Wall. It is an unforgettable emotion, and I love seeing that emotion on others.
What aspect of Israel would you like to bring back with you to America? The amazing food!
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? I recommended Shorashim because it is the only provider that has Israelis on every trip for the whole time. When I went on Birthright, we had soldiers all 10 days and it was an amazing experience! I want my friends and family to share that same experience as well!
Yossi Samet
How long have you been a tour educator? 13 years!
What's your favorite Shorashim memory? When two of my participants got married (again) during the trip and asked me to be the Rabbi.
What's a fun fact about yourself? I can flip my right foot's middle toe,
What is your favorite place in Israel and why? Jerusalem because I am a Jerusalemite.
What's your favorite place to take participants on Taglit? Mt. Bental.
What's your favorite Israeli food? Where's your favorite place in Israel to eat it? Burekas at the Machne Yehudah Shuk.
What's your favorite thing about Israel? Car honking.
What do you love most about Shorashim? The people.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days? Because they are the ones who can truly make it an unforgetable experience.
If you could say one thing to future participants, what would it be? Don't forget to bring a towel!
