On behalf of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), we are excited to share that we are once again welcoming Shinshinim to our community. We hope that you will find their time here to be educational, engaging, and that it will strengthen your personal connection to Israel.

We are thrilled to present our Shinshinim for the 2024-2025 year!

What is a Shinshin? 

A Shinshin (ש”ש), or Shinshinim in plural, is an acronym for Shnat Sherut (שירות שנת), or year of service in Hebrew. The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)’s Shinshinim program consists of high-school graduates who choose to defer their time in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to serve in a Jewish community in Israel or abroad. The Shinshinim bring Israel to life through educational activities and discussions around Jewish and Israeli culture, holidays, Hebrew language and more. During their time in the program, they will be educating, connecting and experiencing Jewish life in South Palm Beach County.

Our Former Shinshinim

Ella & Rotem

Amit & Shahar

Where will they live?

Each Shinshin lives with a host family in our South Palm Beach community for four to six months at a time. They bond quickly and deeply with their American families and the relationships they build are personal bridges that we hope will endure for a lifetime.

How long will they stay?

Each year, the young ambassadors arrive in August. They will stay in the South Palm Beach community for 12 months working with various institutions during the school year and with the Levis JCC Marleen Forkas Camps over the summer. They return to Israel the following August after completing their year of service.

We are thrilled to share with you that Chen & Uri will be working at various synagogues throughout our South Palm Beach County community, in addition to the numerous agencies found on the Federation campus.

We encourage you to get to know them! Feel free to invite them to share a meal at your home or a Shabbat at your synagogue. To connect with Chen or Uri, please contact Alysha Goldstein Erez at alyshae@bocafed.org.

We look forward to sharing with you all the enriching experiences that they will bring to and be involved with in our community! Please join us in wishing Chen & Uri a B’hatzlacha (best wishes) to a wonderful year!

Welcome Israel Into Your Home!

We are looking for host families to help welcome the Shinshinim to our community. Families provide a spare bedroom, meals, and a welcoming and inclusive home environment for them. In return, they form incredible relationships that will endure for a lifetime. Do you want to host a ShinShin in your home? Click below for the application.

For more information, contact Alysha Goldstein Erez alyshae@bocafed.org or 561-852-3218