OUR COMMUNITY

S

hinshin (ש”ש). It’s the 
Hebrew acronym for 
Shenat Sherut which 
means “year of service.
” Kind of 
like our gap year, Shenat Sherut 
is a program some Israeli high 
school graduates take part in 
before starting their military 
service. Recently, four such 
young Israelis (collectively 
known as shinshinim) touched 
down in Metro Detroit.
For the next year, Noa Levi, 
Itay Schwartz, Ron Harel 
and Amit Bellin will make 
Michigan their home away 
from home … with home 
being the Central Galilee, 
famous for its kibbutzim, 
moshavim, dance and music 
festivals. It’s also Metro 
Detroit’s Partnership2Gether 
region where programs like 
the Israeli Camper Program 
and Detroit Community Teen 
Mission give families in Israel 
and Michigan the chance to 
connect.
“
Americans often hear and 
read about life in Israel,
” says 
Dona Stillman, associate direc-
tor of the Israel and Overseas 
Department at the Jewish 

Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, “but the shinshinim 
help them understand what it’s 
really like to be Israeli.
“Synagogues, schools, camp, 
the JCC … We hope they’ll be 
everywhere and meet every-
one!” she adds. “Their role is 
to bring Israel here in a very 
tangible way.
”
“Welcome to Detroit” to our 
newest shinshinim. We’re so 
happy you’re here!

Noa Levi

NOA LEVI
Hometown:
Kibbbutz Yifat
School Majors:
Chemistry and 
Biology
Interests: Dance, 
technology
What is your favorite food, and 
where is the best place in Israel 
to get it?
“There are two very clear 
groups. First, everything my 
mom makes, obviously the best 
place to get it is our kitchen. 
Second, ice cream and yogurt, 
there’s an amazing place in 
Ramat Yishay called Aglida. 
Best ever.
”

Amit Bellin 

AMIT BELLIN
Hometown: Ahuzat 
Barak
School Majors: Art 
& Music
Interests: Playing 
piano, drawing
What is your favor-
ite Jewish holiday? Why? How 
does your family celebrate it?
“Sukkot, for many reasons 
— especially because I love 
decorating the sukkah with 
my brother. The weather is 
the absolute best, and we love 
spending a night outside in 
the sukkah that we build with 
our father. I also love the fact 
that Sukkot calls you to host as 
many people, family, friends 
or complete strangers. True, 
Sukkot does not have any spe-
cial foods, but it just means you 
can eat whatever!”

Itay 
Schwartz

ITAY SCHWARTZ
Hometown:
Shimshit
School Majors:
Economics/
Business and 
Theater
Interests: Sports, 

theater, photography
What is one special place for you 
in your area? Why is it special? 
Is there a story of a particular 
memory you have from that 
place?
“In Shimshit, there is a special 
place called ‘Hamitzpe’ (The 
Lookout). First of all, there is 
an amazing view of the fields 
which represent the Jezreel 
valley. Secondly, this is our 
‘meeting spot’ to sit down and 
hang together with friends. 
Therefore, a lot of my memo-
ries with my friends happened 
there, and that is why it is so 
unique.
”

Ron Harel

RON HAREL
Hometown:
Tzippori
School Majors:
Chemistry and 
Theater
Interests: Foreign 
languages, crafts, 
sports and cooking
What is one thing most people 
don’t know about you?
“I am very interested in learn-
ing and exploring new lan-
guages. Before COVID times, 
I did it through traveling. I 
fell in love with Spain around 
a year and a half ago when I 
first traveled there and decided 
to learn the language and the 
culture from A to Z, which 
I’ve done every day since then 
surrounding myself with the 
language 24/7. Plus, in paral-
lel, I began to delve into more 
languages, places and cultures, 
and the great majority of the 
people around me, other than 
my family and close friends 
don’t know this side of me. 
(Fun fact: I started the sortings 
for the Shnat Sherut in Spanish 
as well.)” 

20 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021 

MYJEWISHDETROIT.ORG

JOHN HARDWICK/FEDERATION

Noa Levi, 
Itay Schwartz, 
Ron Harel,
Amit Bellin

They’re here! Meet Detroit’s 2021-22 shinshinim.
From Israel with Love

