Shinshinim

Meet the young emissaries in your neighborhood, connecting people of all ages to Israel and Israeli culture.

What is the Shinshinim Program?

The program offers Israeli high school graduates the opportunity to volunteer for a year to perform community service and educational work in Jewish communities around the world, serving as cultural ambassadors. The program is the result of a partnership between Jewish federations and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). As part of the initiative, the Shinshinim immerse themselves in the local Jewish community, teaching and educating about Israeli culture and society, the Hebrew language, current affairs and Jewish tradition.

What Does the Word Shinshin Mean?

Shinshin (ש”ש) is the Hebrew acronym for Shenat Sherut (שנת שירות), meaning Year of Service.

What Exactly do They do in Pittsburgh?

The Shinshinim serve as informal educators at Jewish day schools and as facilitators at synagogues, community centres, youth movements and other Jewish agencies and organizations. They share a slice of Israel and Israeli culture through activities and discussions centering on Jewish identity, Jewish celebrations and life in Israel in general. In addition, they help create communitywide programs focused on Israel. In essence, the Shinshinim are a living bridge between our Pittsburgh Jewish community and Israel.

They are frequently found at the Jewish Community Center, Community Day School and Joint Jewish Education Program leading programs and having fun! Follow their adventures on facebook.com/shinshinim.pitt.

How are the Shinshinim Selected?

The Shinshinim are carefully chosen following a lengthy and thorough selection process involving hundreds of prospective candidates. They are evaluated based on their personality traits, creativity, interpersonal skills, knowledge of Israeli culture and fluency in English, among other criteria.

How Long do the Shinshinim Spend in Their Host Community?

The Shinshinim spend the better part of a year. They are scheduled to arrive during the last week of August until their departure for summer camps at the end of June.

Where do the Shinshinim Live While They are in Pittsburgh?

THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN!

The Shinshinim are housed by host families within the community for a period of four to five months. Each Shinshin normally stays with two to three families throughout the year.

Who Qualifies to Host Shinshinim?

Hosts must be located in Squirrel Hill, Oakland, Point Breeze or Regent Square.
Hosts must be able to provide a private bedroom with a door that closes for the Shinshin.
Hosts must integrate the Shinshin into their family life.
Hosts must provide food and general necessities.

While the host family is responsible for providing all meals, they are not required to cook them all. The Shinshin is a young adult who can take care of themselves. They become part of the household.

Vacations are entirely up to each host family to decide if they wish to take their Shinshin along, providing that the Shinshin has time off as well and only if it has been approved by all of their site supervisors and the Director of Israel Programming.

When families go away and the Shinshinim stay behind, there are backup homes to host for shorter periods.

There is a preference for host families that 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, complete the form below to inquire about becoming a host family.

How Long are the Hosting Periods?

What are the Benefits of Becoming a Host Family?

Many of past host families report that hosting a Shinshin was a highlight for the family and for their relationship with Israel. They not only feel they have gained a new family member, but also feel they have gained a whole new understanding of what it’s like to be in Israel. Host families play a vital role in the success of the Shinshinim program.

Host parents and siblings provide a great deal of support to Shinshinim and help them transition to living and working in the community and the school. Host families are the foundation on which this program succeeds, an opportunity to give back to the community and be a part of the foundations that ensure the future of the Jewish people and Israel.