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16 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J
N

scared to lose their friends. For 
me, hearing this was like, ‘Oh, 
my God.’”
Hearing firsthand about 
the antisemitism some Jewish 
students experience at their 
public schools and jobs has 
been eye-opening for the 
Shinshinim. 
“To me, it was shocking 
because as an Israeli I don’t feel 
a lot of antisemitism — all of 
my friends are Jewish, and I go 
to a Jewish school. But here it’s 
not the situation. It was such a 
shock,” Erela said. 
Every single time the 
Shinshinim have been asked 
to appear and speak around 
the community, they’ve said 
yes. The teens even built and 
ran a conversation circle pro-
gram taking place at various 
synagogues in the community 
called Cafe Dilemma, where 
they present dilemmas Israel is 
facing right now and dilemmas 
about the war. 

“That’s how we show our 
perspective,” Erela said. “
Also 
making people talk to each 
other about the situation 
because, yes, it’s been months, 
but it’s still going on. We’re 
here to remind them it’s not 
over and present that perspec-
tive from an Israeli.” 

WELCOMED WITH 
OPEN ARMS
The Shinshinim have received 
an unbelievable amount of 
support from the Detroit 
Jewish community since 
Oct. 7, from their worksites, 
host families, Federation and 
beyond. 
Before this gap year, Itay 
knew nothing about the 
Detroit Jewish community. 
But since Oct. 7, and even in 
the month before, he says it’s 
been an amazing place. 
“We get so many invitations 
for dinners and other things 
just to support us and talk to 

us, just because we’re Israelis,” 
Itay said. “It makes us feel bet-
ter when we are here and not 
at home.”
Immediately following Oct. 
7, Shahaf and Itamar could 
feel the love and support at 
Hillel. 
“You could feel the change 
in the school atmosphere,” 
Shahaf said. “Without even 
saying anything, you could 
feel everybody cared.”
Teachers will often stop them 
in the hallways, asking how 
they’re doing and asking about 
their families, Itamar noted.
“
And people around the 
community we’ve never even 
met, everybody wants to hear 
about the war, about what’s 
going on and about our fami-
lies,” Shahaf said. “The fact it’s 
months later and people still 
do this shows they truly care.”
Ofri’s experience at FJA in 
the days following Oct. 7 were 
similar, feeling the support, 

love and worth the students 
gave her and Itay. 
“
And it’s hard, because some-
times you have those voices, 
like what if I was home now 
with my family or friends in 
the army. But then you think 
to yourself, I won’t be any good 
there. I know what I’m doing 
here in this amazing role help-
ing the community understand 
what’s going on in Israel,” Ofri 
said. “Hearing an Israeli’s per-
spective opens minds and ways 
of thinking. It’s important that 
we’re here.”

LASTING COMMUNITY 
CONNECTION
The Shinshinim have had 
many impactful experiences 
the past few months, encap-
sulating the strength of the 
Detroit Jewish community and 
the support they’ve received. 
The Shinshinim led thou-
sands of community members 
in the singing of “Hatikvah” at 
the Oct. 9 solidarity event at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek. 
At the same event, Erela 
delivered heartbreaking testi-
mony from a friend who man-
aged to escape from the music 
festival. Itay also delivered a 
testimony from a friend. 
Ofri sang the Shir Hama’alot 
prayer at the event. Singing 
that prayer on stage in front of 
thousands of people, especially 
so soon after the attack and in 
a time of great mourning, was 
incredibly meaningful for her. 
“I’m so glad and honored 
I had the opportunity to do 
that,” Ofri said. “I think this is 
the moment I realized I’m so 
grateful and happy to be in this 
community.”
All five teens traveled to 
and took part in the March for 
Israel in Washington, D.C., on 
Nov. 14, where three planes 
full of nearly 1,000 Detroiters 
made their presence known. 
“Seeing that many people 
coming together on such short 

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

The Shinshinim 
celebrate 
Chanukah.

