Host Shinshinim

Shinshin (ש”ש) is the Hebrew acronym for Shenat Sherut (שנת שירות), meaning Year of Service. They are Israeli high school graduates who choose to defer their army service for one year in order to volunteer in English speaking communities as cultural ambassadors.

When are they in Pittsburgh?

A new team of Shinshinim arrive in Pittsburgh to serve in the community each school year. They usually stay with one host family from fall to spring and move to a new host family for the spring and summer. A host family commits to approximately three to five months.

Who qualifies to host Shinshinim?

There are a few requirements of host families.

1. Home must be located in Squirrel Hill, Oakland, Point Breeze or Regent Square.
2. Provide a private bedroom for the Shinshin.
3. Integrate them into your family.
4. Families are preferred who also have children at home.

But the main ingredient in a successful host family is love. If you love learning about Israel and having a lot of fun, fill out this form to inquire about becoming a host family.