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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