Meet Your Staff: Rebecca, Kara, and Omer
Rebecca Gold
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Born in Wilmette, Illinois, left the Land of Lincoln at 18 to attend Princeton University, lived in NYC for 4.5 years after college, back in Chicago as of October 2014.
When was the first time you went to Israel? In 2000, when I spent the first of several summers at CAMP SHORASHIM in Israel! The camp was comprised of an equal number of Israeli and American participants; the idea was that it was an American-style summer camp on a kibbutz during the week, and then on the weekends we would venture out on tiyulim (trips) throughout Israel. It was the best.
What's your favorite Israeli food to eat and favorite place to eat it at? Jachnun, with the spiciest skhug.
What's a fun fact about yourself? I'm training to become Tel Aviv Matkot Champion 2016. After that, it's a straight shot to Rio #OlympicMatkot
What's your favorite place to bring Taglit-Birthright Israel groups? Swimming in one of the hexagon-pools during our wanderings through the Zavitan springs in the Golan Heights, and also hiking anywhere in the Negev.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? Every minute that I've spent hiking and experiencing **nature** in Israel has been completely enjoyable, I think I could spend the rest of my life camped out in a valley in the North, or in the middle of the desert.
What's your spirit animal and why? My spirit animal is the sea otter, because they are *GOOD VIBES* all the time, and are known for their calm and creative problem solving.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be? The special golden color of the sunlight there and the feeling that no one is a stranger
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? Shorashim is the one organization with a real sense of mishpachat-iut, a kind of family spirit, and no other provider comes close in terms of forging real connection between Israeli and Diaspora participants.
Kara Kimmel
Where are you from originally and where do you live now? Philadelphia.
What do you do for a living? Fundraiser for Jewish National Fund.
When did you go to Israel for the first time? Four years ago on Birthright.
What's your favorite place to visit in Israel? Mitzpe Ramon or camping anywhere in the desert.
What's your favorite Israeli food and place to eat it? Vintrina Sausage Grille in Tel Aviv or really most restaurants in Tel Aviv.
What's a fun fact about yourself? I collect rocks...fun, but not cool.
What's your favorite spirit animal? An elephant. They are awe inspiring, powerful, but at the end of the day they just want to roll around in the mud.
Where is your favorite place to take groups on Taglit? Masada. For something that happened so long ago the story is so moving.
If there was one aspect of Israel that you could bring back to America with you, what would it be? The lifestyle and attitude of Israeli's - there is no rush in life, enjoy the moment. In the U.S. the sentence "Start your life" means: graduate college and find a job that will take you on the path of a successful career meet a husband or wife. In Israel "Start you life" means: finish the army, travel the world, go to university, do something you love to do, and still travel whenever you can and meet people wherever you go. While Israeli's have much more to be stressed about that Americans, they are surprisingly "calm" people (once you get to know them).
What's the #1 reason that you recommend that your friends and family should go on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim? I first fell in love with Israel on a Birthright trip. The best part of my trip was getting to know our soldiers, whose lives were so different than ours but at the same time we learned they are just like us. The fact that Shorashim concentrates on the Israeli aspect of Birthright is so amazing!
Anything else you want to share? I am just excited to share Israel with my participants. I did not grow up in a Zionist home, so my eyes were really opened on Birthright. I hope to do the same for them.
Omer Ziv
How long have you been a your educator? Four years.
What is a fun fact about yourself? I am a morning person. Give me my black coffee and the silence of the early hours and I am the happiest guy on earth.
What is your favorite city in Israel and why? Jaffa. You got everything there: history, sea, port, markets, pubs, tourists, nice people, funny people, wierd people and afcorse: the best coffe and courason in israel.
What's your favorite place to take participants on Taglit and why? Zavitan Hike.
Why is it important to you to have Israelis on the trip for all 10 days? Only after 4-5 days people are starting to share their personality. Only then, you are starting to know them and to get the most authenthic taste of the life here.
If you could say one thing to future participants, what would it be? There are few occasions in your life that help you to understand who you are. Taglit-Birthright Israel is definitely one of them.
Anything else that you want to share? Prior obtaining my Tour Guide certification I was traveling in South America, where I realized how little I know about the country in which I live. It is amazing to discover how content, stories and knowledge I acquired, significantly contribute and enriching the level of service I provide to the people that travel with me. All of this just makes me love what I do! Two years ago, I joined the "Challenges” (“Etgarim”) Association as instructor and since I’m actively involved in all association activities during the week. The association combines extreme sports for disabled and special needs individuals. Being part of this association helps me with bringing more authentic experience to my customer when touring the world combined with extreme sport activity alongside with my believe in equal opportunity to all mankind.
