NOVEMBER 21 • 2024 | 9
J
N

T

he 2024-25 Detroit 
Shinshinim arrived three 
months ago, and Shahar, Ori, 
Ofir, Shira and Nisan’s intentions 
are clear: They want to leave a 
lasting legacy here. 
The individuals in the 
Shinshinim (Young Israeli 
Emissary) program are 18-year-old 
high-school graduates who choose 
to defer their military service for a 
year of service abroad. 
 The ambassadors are carefully 
selected and brought over by the 
Jewish Federation’s Israel and 
Overseas Department to share 
their Israeli spirit, energy and 
unique perspectives in their work 
at Jewish day schools, synagogues, 
religious schools and more through 
educational lessons, presentations 
and personal connections with 
community members of all ages. 
The Shinshinim also participate 
in wide-ranging community events 
on a weekly basis. Their presence in 
the community is wide in breadth 
in an effort to present Israel in as 
many places as possible with as 
many perspectives and personal 
experiences as possible.
The Shinshinim cohort of five 
marvelous young men and women 
were selected out of more than 
2,000 applicants. 
“Our community is truly 
indebted to the Jewish Agency 
and our own Federation Israel and 
Overseas leadership for bringing 
such a marvelous group of special 
and impressive young people to 
work and uplift our community,” 
says Gary Torgow, president of the 
Jewish Federation of Detroit.

MEET THE SHINSHINIM
Shahar, from Givat Ella in the 
Partnership region in 
the Central Galilee, 
is the eldest daughter 
of three siblings. Her 
father is a diver in the 
IDF, and her mother 
is director of an 
association for bilingual 
kindergartens that includes Arabs 
and Jews from the region. She plans 

to be a diver for the IDF just like 
her father. 
Ori is from moshav Tel Adashim 
in the Partnership 
region. Her father is 
a freelancer, and her 
mother works in the 
Herzliya municipality. 
She has an older sister 
serving in the IDF as a 
paratrooper instructor 
and a younger sister in the eighth 
grade. 
She was a counselor in her youth 
movement Hatnua Hadasha for 
three years where she worked with 
kids of all ages. It was there that 
Ori says she found her calling. “I’m 

passionate about teaching,” she 
says. “I hope to be able to do that in 
the army as well. That’s kind of why 
I came here.”
Ofir is from Kfar Saba. His oldest 
brother has served as a 
major in the army for 
10 years and another 
brother is a teacher, is 
married and a proud 
father, making Ofir an 
uncle. 
His sister, who 
recently got married, is studying 
speech therapy. Ofir has always 
loved playing basketball and guitar. 
This is his first time outside of 
Israel.

Shira lives in 
Kibbutz Hanaton 
in the Partnership 
region. Her brother is 
currently serving in 
the IDF and studying 
at Hebrew University 
and her sister is in 10th 
grade. In Israel, Shira was a concert 
violinist and was very serious about 
it. She was a part of the Israeli 
Youth Philharmonic Orchestra 
and a participant of the Jerusalem 
Music Center programs for gifted 
musicians. 
“I decided to come here and kind 
of stop what I was doing because 
I see the importance in what we’re 
doing here that much,” says Shira, 
who still plays the instrument 
occasionally. 
Nisan was born in Chicago and 
spent his early years in 
Austin, Texas, before 
moving to Israel at 
8 years old, where 
he now lives in Hod 
Hasharon. His journey 
has been shaped by his 
“incredible” parents and 
two brothers, one older and one 
younger, as well as his involvement 
in the youth movement Hanoar 
HaOved VeHalomed. Nisan is an 
adventurous person and a big fan of 
extreme sports.

A SECOND HOME
The Shinshinim arrived in August, 
and they’ve been feeling the Detroit 
Jewish community experience every 
day since. 
They’re invited to dinner at a 
different family’s home every week. 
“It’s been incredible. I’ve been 
telling people I can’t believe this 
is an actual program we get to 
take part in,” Shira says. “Meeting 
so many people from so many 

continued on page 10

Ori

Shira

Shahar

Ofir

Nisan

JOHN HARDWICK

LEFT: The Shinshinim at the 
Oct. 7 commemoration event at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek. 
BELOW: Community members have 
been showing the Shinshinim a good 
time. Here they are at U-M. 
FACING PAGE: The Shinshinim 
at the Friends of the IDF dinner.