Shir Raz

Hi! My name is Shir, and I’m 18 years old.

I live in Hadera, Israel, which is a beautiful city right by the Mediterranean Sea. I’m the oldest daughter in my family, and I have two younger siblings—Ran, who is 15, and Liri, who is 10. My parents, Linoy and Niv, are amazing, and we’re a very close and loving family. We love going on trips all around Israel and watching comedy movies together every Friday night. Those little traditions mean so much to me and always make our home feel warm and happy.

I’ve been dancing since I was three years old, and over the years, I’ve trained in so many styles—ballet, ballroom, hip hop, jazz, modern, and more. Dancing is such a huge part of my life, and I still do it every chance I get. One of the highlights for me was getting to perform with some of Israel’s biggest singers on stage—it was such an exciting experience that I’ll never forget. Besides dance, theater and acting are also big passions of mine. I’m in the theater major at my high school, where I’ve had the chance to play all kinds of characters and tell stories in front of an audience, which I love.

I also really enjoy learning, especially chemistry. It’s fascinating to discover how things work and to challenge myself with new material. Since I was eight years old, I’ve also been a part of the Israeli Scouts (Tzofim), which has been like a second home to me. The Scouts taught me about leadership, responsibility, and friendship. I was a counselor for two years—my first year I led a group of 6th grade girls, and my second year I was head of the 7th grade group. Those experiences helped me grow so much as a person and showed me how much I love working with kids and creating community.

In my free time, I work as a waitress at an event hall, which teaches me a lot about teamwork and staying organized. I also love traveling and exploring new places and cultures—my dream is to see as much of the world as possible. I’m so thankful for this opportunity to be in Atlanta, meet all of you, share my Israeli story, and make amazing memories together!