We're Bringing Israel to Fairfax...Meet the Shinshiniot!

Meet Our Fairfax Shinshiniot!

Congregation Olam Tikvah and Gesher Jewish Day School are thrilled to welcome a pair of young women, Ella and Brit, to share their Israel with us as part of the Shinshinim program. The program is made up of high-school graduates who choose to defer their military service for a year of service abroad. They are carefully selected, recruited, trained, and sent to Jewish communities around the world.

Our Shinshiniot will live with members of our community (more on that below) and will work within a number of spaces in our Jewish world. They'll engage with students at Gesher Jewish Day School and OTRS, provide leadership and programming for the OT Kadima and Machar youth groups, interact with families at community events throughout the year, and more!

Now...let's meet Ella and Brit!

Meet Ella!

Ella is from Kiryat Tivon, a town near Haifa. She's the youngest of three and both of her older brothers are serving in the IDF. She's a very active member in her tzofim (Israeli scouting) group where she proudly serves in a leadership role. Last summer she joined a Tzofim Summer Delegation and was a madricha (counselor) at a Young Judea overnight camp in Wisconsin. In her free time, Ella loves to create art, play sports, and spend time with family and friends.

Meet Brit!

Brit lives in Herzliya, a city near Tel Aviv, with her parents and sisters (she's a triplet!) She lived in California for a few years when she was in elementary school and she's looking forward to returning to America. For the last six years Brit has been a member and leader in Krembo Wings, a unique youth movement the serves kids with and without special needs. Brit loves to read, to travel, and to play sports.

Bring Israel Into Your Home by Hosting One of Our Shinshiniot!

The success of this program relies heavily on the generosity of the families in our community. Each Shinshin lives with a family for about 4 months. Being a host family means opening your heart and home to one of these amazing teens and provide them with a private bedroom, food for daily meals, and a nurturing home. The sponsoring organizations provide the Shinshiniot with an insured car that they share, cell phones, health insurance and a financial stipend.

Interested in learning more? Please fill out our Host Family Interest Form and we'll be in touch with all the answers.

This program is made possible through partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), with funding support from the Zeff Family, and through generous contributions from both the Olam Tikvah and Gesher communities.