JANUARY 4 • 2024 | 17
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notice was incredible,” Shahaf
said. “It was a moment of real-
izing the Detroit Jewish com-
munity has a lot of impact and
power and they care so much
about Israel.”
A moment of great gravity
for the Detroit Shinshinim
was the community vigil for
the hostages at Adat Shalom
Synagogue. In front of 1,000
people in attendance, the
names of each of the 242 hos-
tages were read out loud by
the five Shinshinim. It was one
of the hardest things they’ve
ever had to do, they said, but
also one of the most powerful
moments they’ve ever had.
During these few months,
the Shinshinim have learned
a lot. Erela says gaining per-
spective of life has been key in
this time.
“You understand what’s
important and what’s not,” she
said. “I just see things differ-
ently now. I feel like my life is
before the war and after the
war. It changed a lot.”
Itamar learned, quickly, the
importance of the meaningful
connections made here in the
community.
“
After we go back, they’ll
have their friends from Israel
that they’ll always remember,”
Itamar said. “They’ll have this
connection they feel where
Israel is not just a coun-
try, Israel has a face — the
Shinshinim. We bring a face
to Israel.”
For Ofri, it was about
understanding the amount
of hate there is toward the
Jewish people and, in turn,
the importance of spreading
awareness about antisemitism
in public schools or areas that
are not Jewish.
“
And even in Israel, for
them to understand what
Jewish people are going
through here,” she said.
Itay says he’s learned how
important Israel is for so many
people in the United States.
“I knew people cared about
Israel, but I can see it in their
actions now that I’m a part of
this community, and it’s very
heartwarming to see,” he said.
The Shinshinim have been
in constant contact with their
loved ones back home since
Oct. 7. The conversations have
varied in tone as time has
gone by.
Ofri says, at first, the con-
versations with family and
friends felt “very down” with
a sense of sadness and uncer-
tainty. Lately, that’s changed.
“I can see the spirit is going
up. I can tell the atmosphere
in Israel is rising,” Ofri said.
“They have hope.”
Before the gap year ends in
August 2024, the Shinshinim
have a two-week break in
Israel starting in mid-Febru-
ary. Each of them is looking
forward to everything they’ve
missed, seeing family and
friends, talking in Hebrew
24/7, Shabbat dinners and
more.
But apart from those two
weeks, the Shinshinim are
looking forward to continu-
ing their work in the Detroit
Jewish community — a com-
munity they’re fully invested
in, a community that’s fully
invested in them, and a com-
munity that’s now a second
home to the five courageous,
impactful Israeli 18-year-olds.
“We know so many people
here who care about us and
help us, and we actually have
a second family now, which
is incredible,” Shahaf said.
“Those connections here are
something I would have never
expected to happen so quickly.”
“It’s like the most meaningful
year,
” Erela added. “It turned
out to be totally different than
what I thought it would be, but
actually for the best.
”
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