Meet your #Bus109 Staff
Get ready for an amazing adventure! #Birthright #Shorashim
*All pictures are either from your staff’s first trip to Israel, in general or as a staff person, or one of their favorite places*
Neta Friedman
How long have you been a tour educator?
Two years.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days?
I think that more than anything on the trip, the bond that is created between the Americans and Israelis is what means the most to the participants. The longer we can be together, the better.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
One of my pinkies is smaller than the other.
What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
See for yourself!
What's your favorite Shorashim memory?
A hilarious group activity led by the Israelis in the desert.
What do you love most about Shorashim?
The great atmosphere during the trip and knowing that we have a full 10 days with the Israelis when everyone else only has five!
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Sambusak Ha'arazim from a Druz village named Hurfeish. It's kind of like pizza dough with amazing minced lamb, folded in half. The best thing ever.
What's your favorite place that you have ever travelled to and why?
Probably Australia. In the northwest, there is a huge and wild nature reserve with amazing rivers, waterfalls and pools in the middle of the desert.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
See for yourself!
Jordyn Harris
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
I grew up in Vernon Hills and currently live in Lincoln Park.
What do you do for a living?
I work for the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago in the Women's Division. I oversee a group called the Young Women's City Council, which is comprised of young women who live in Chicago.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
I went to Israel for the first time during the fourth quarter of my junior year of high school on Alexander Muss High School in Israel.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I had my bat mitzvah this past summer on top of Masada.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
The art shuk in Tel Aviv!
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
Israel of course! - you'll figure out why when you're there.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
Forget food- I could live off of Aroma iced coffee.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
Nothing- having my favorite aspects about Israel be exclusive to Israel makes it more special to me.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
It's a tie for me - First, Shorashim is one of the only programs that includes Israeli's for the entire trip so you have the opportunity to form strong relationships with them get a better understanding of everyday Israeli life is like from your peers. Second, on a trip like Birthright, you form life long bonds with the people in your group. As a Chicago based trip, it is such a treat to have the majority of those people living in one city so you get to see each other whenever you want!
What /who is your spirit animal and why?
Andy Cohen is my spirit animal - he established the Real Housewives franchise (my favorite- judge me), he has his own talk show where he gets to hang with celebrities and get the juicy dirt on them, and, best of all, he loves being Jewish! I vicariously live through him...I've even read his diary.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Money is made to be spent and its not going with me when I die.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Cherish every moment on the trip - it will fly by!
Anything else you want to share?
I'm looking forward to an amazing trip with you all!
Nikki Labaschin
Where are you from originally and where do you live now?
Born in New York, grew up in North Burbs of Chicago, currently live in Lincoln Park, Chicago.
What do you do for a living?
I work for Allstate in their three year rotational program called the Leadership Development Program. I am currently a Management Consultant in their internal consulting firm finishing the program up in early 2016.
When did you go to Israel for the first time?
Summer of 2011.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
My family is Modern Family meets Brady Bunch- three girls, three boys and a whole lot of craziness. I have a twin sister too named Sammi. She's a cooler version of me.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel?
I am not sure I can pick one...
Jerusalem on Shabbos, Yafo for Shakshuka, Golan Heights for the scenery, Tzvat for the art, Tel Aviv for the night life and energy.
What's your favorite place that you've ever travelled to and why?
Last November, I flew to Israel to surprise my best friend from college. I've pulled off a few surprises in my day, but this one was pretty big and exciting. The look on her face was priceless. We spent a week together, which included Thanksgiving in Tel Aviv. All her American and Israeli friends gathered to have a giant meal together-- it was pretty special. I had no agenda, no to-dos. I simply walked and enjoyed my time in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It was a pretty special week.
What's your favorite Israeli food and where is your favorite place in Israel to get this dish?
No competition here, Shakshuka from Dr. Shakshuka in Yafo.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be?
Israeli's passion and dedication towards their country.
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Birthright Israel with Shorashim?
You will open yourself up to an opportunity to meet a diverse group of young individuals with different and/or similar views, backgrounds and experiences. It's widely appreciated and accepted to bring all of yourself on this trip.
What /who is your spirit animal and why?
Theresa Caputo. She has a show on TLC called Long Island Medium. I would love to be the North Shore Medium and be able to speak to others that are no longer with us. Yeah, I am fully aware it's weird.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
When you're not sure how to go on, put one foot in front of the other.
What are your words of wisdom for your future participants?
Don't bring too much technology with you- disconnect from the world and live in the present moment. You can connect to wifi at another time!
Anything else you want to share?
I am really excited to lead my first Birthright trip. This will be my fourth time back to Israel-- I clearly enjoy going! Any questions, hesitations and/or concerns, feel free to reach out to me.
