“Shin Shin.” If you say that to an Israeli, he or she will know just what you mean. To Hebrew-savvy Americans, shin is the letter of the alphabet that comes between resh and taf.
But shin is also the first letter of the three-word title of Shnat Sherut Shlishit (third year of service), a volunteer program for Israeli youth before or after their mandatory army service. And Shin Shin is the common name for participants of that program.
Shin Shin commonly work with people in need throughout Israel, such as the homeless, drug-addicted and orphaned. These youth volunteers may also choose to spend their year outside Israel as cultural ambassadors in the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Young Emissaries Program.
For the first time, Milwaukee has received its own young emissaries through that program and the combined efforts of the Israel Center of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, the Milwaukee Jewish Day School and the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.
After careful screening and training by JAFI, Shai Revivo, 18, and Alina Yermonenok, 19, arrived at the end of August and have already jumped deep into communal life.
Revivo and Yermonenok both come from kibbutzim in the Sovev Kinneret, Milwaukee’s Partnership 2000 region near the Sea of Galilee. P2K, another JAFI program, is also supported by the MJF. Both women have completed high school and plan to begin their army service next fall.
In the mornings, they work for local Jewish institutions; Revivo in K4 at MJDS and Yermonenok in a preschool class at the JCC’s early childhood program. And both are eager to get involved with the greater Jewish community.
Pnina Goldfarb, JCC assistant director, said that Yermonenok has already enriched the classroom with her unique Israeli perspective in such areas as songs and Hebrew-language Sukkot decorations.
“I’m hoping that [they bring] that Israel connection to our children, to their families and to the members of the JCC,” she said. [The Shin Shin] make Israel not just an abstract idea but real people with a real culture.”
Rabbi Philip Nadel, co-director and Jewish studies principal of MJDS, agrees that this year is a great opportunity to educate about Israel and about the Sovev Kinneret region in particular. “Their goal is to bring Israel here,” he said.
Both Revivo and Yermonenok have been to Milwaukee before, as participants in the P2K Mifgashim program, which brings groups of teens to visit their peers in the summer.
Though the transition to life here has been a bit difficult said Revivo, she said she “really wants to give. I really want to help. People aren’t going to Israel now [but Israel has a beautiful view and kind people.] It’s a shame. Maybe I can change their point of view.”
Yermonenok expressed the same sentiment. “It is my goal to be a special connection to Israel,” she said.
Revivo and Yermonenok are staying with local families throughout the school year and will be counselors at the JCC’s Steve and Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken this summer.
Nir Barkin, community shaliach and head of the Israel Center, sees this year as a chance to involve another layer of Israeli delegates in Jewish communal life.
Throughout this year, Barkin explained, the young women will be getting involved in various community organizations, such as Hillel Foundation-Milwaukee, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and the Jewish Home and Care Center.
The public is invited to attend a reception for Revivo and Yermonenok on Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m., at the JCC. For more information, contact Barkin at 414-390-5705.
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