About the Shinshinim Program
The Shinshinim program brings the vibrancy and perspective of young Israeli leaders into Jewish Edmonton, enriching our community through authentic connection and shared experience. Through this initiative, Jewish Federation of Edmonton welcomes outstanding Israeli high‑school graduates who choose to postpone their mandatory army service in order to volunteer abroad. These young emissaries, our Shinshinim, offer a personal window into contemporary Israeli life and help strengthen the ties that connect Edmonton to Israel and the global Jewish community.
Each Shinshin arrives with strong leadership experience and a deep commitment to service. Before coming to Edmonton, they participate in extensive training that prepares them to engage with diverse communities, lead educational programming, and represent Israel with maturity and insight. Their role is not only to teach, but to build relationships that foster understanding, curiosity, and a shared sense of Jewish peoplehood.
In Edmonton, the Shinshinim become part of daily community life. They collaborate with Talmud Torah School, synagogues, youth groups, PJ Library, and other local partners, contributing to programs that celebrate Jewish identity and bring Israeli culture to life.
Through their stories, creativity, and genuine connections, they inspire children, teens, and adults, helping our community experience Israel in a personal and meaningful way. Their impact is felt not only in the programs they lead, but in the relationships they build, relationships that continue long after their year of service ends.
Meet our Shinshinim
Ofri comes from a warm, close-knit family grounded in love and strong values. She shares a particularly close bond with her younger sister and a supportive, friendly relationship with her brother.
She has experience as a madricha through the Mashatzim hiking and outdoor leadership program in Israel, where she developed skills in group facilitation, program planning, and experiential outdoor education.
In her free time, Ofri enjoys reading, hiking in the Golan and Galilee regions, training at the gym, and spending time with friends at local coffee shops.
Ofri is passionate about helping others connect more deeply with their Jewish identity and hopes to inspire those around her to embrace Judaism in a personal and genuine way.
Alma comes from Rosh Pinna in northern Israel, where she grew up in a family with diverse cultural roots and strong ties to community, and tradition.
Alma is a trained first aid volunteer with Magen David Adom (MADA), Israel’s national emergency response organization, where she learned to stay calm under pressure and provide effective care in urgent situations. Following October 7, she also volunteered in a northern Israel kitchen initiative that prepared hundreds of hot meals daily.
She is passionate about being a bridge between Jewish communities and Israel, so that when young people hear news about Israel, they think of her and what she represents rather than only what they see in the media.
In her free time, Alma enjoys aerial acrobatics, music, cooking, and baking. She plays guitar and has a strong interest in medicine and biology.
Become a Host family
Opening your home to a Shinshin is an opportunity to experience Israel through the eyes of a passionate young emissary. Host families provide the stability and support that help Shinshinim settle into life in Edmonton and participate fully in community programming.
In return, families experience meaningful day to day exchange through simple but important moments such as conversations around the dinner table, shared routines, celebrations, and everyday household life. Many hosts describe the experience as gaining a new family member while also seeing their own community from a different perspective.
Hosting takes place in two periods
Block One: September to early January, including a short winter break period in December, excluding a short winter break period in December when the shinshinim return to Israel for a trip home to see their family.
Block Two: Early January to May departure for Camp BB Riback.
Full details on what is expected of host families in their day-to-day role are provided in the Host Family Guide. To express interest or learn more, please contact Chloe Soibelman at chloes@edjfed.org
Together, we strengthen community
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