Federation brings Israel to Rochester by welcoming a new cohort of ShinShinim each year.
ShinShinim—a Hebrew acronym for shnat sherut or "year of service"—are the best and brightest of Israel's recent high school graduates who defer army service for one year to become emissaries in Jewish communities around the world. They volunteer, engage people of all ages with Israel, build connections with community members, and bring Israeli culture to life through educational lessons, presentations, arts and crafts, and music.
The ShinShinim serve as a living bridge between the Rochester community and Israel. Each one brings their own unique energy, love of Israel, and fresh views to our synagogues, schools, preschools, JCC, and other institutions, both inside and outside the Jewish world.
Meet Our 2024 - 2025 ShinShinim!
We’ve handpicked this years four ShinShinim to be part of our Rochester community. We’re excited to have Ofer, Hadas, Ziv, and Yehonatan here in Rochester, and they can’t wait to meet you. Here’s a little bit about them:
Contact Us
Michal Spivak
Director of ShinShinim Programming
585.241.8611
Are you interested in becoming a host family or already are one?
Ofer Afik
Ofer lives in Gedera with his parents, younger brother, older sister, two cats, three quails and many fish. When he was 2 years old he lived in Athens, Georgia for two years with his family. Ofer graduated high school with a major in chemistry and theater. He loves doing outdoor activities and sports, including surfing, soccer and basketball, and also enjoys acting in plays.
Ofer has been a member of the Maccabi Tzair youth movement since 4th grade and has held many leadership roles over the years. He has served as a counselor to a group of eight 2nd graders with special needs and following this experience, he served as counselor to fifteen 6th graders.
This past year, Ofer volunteered as head of the 4h grade mentors, leading six 10th graders and mentoring them as madrichim. Ofer is grateful for the opportunities he had as a counselor, where he developed many skills and he can’t wait to bring these qualities to the Rochester community as a ShinShin.
What are three things Ofer loves about Israel? “First and foremost, the amazing views across the country, where everything is within close proximity, allowing you to see many sights in a single day. However, what truly makes Israel special is its people—the Israelis. They make you feel welcomed and valued, fostering a sense of belonging as part of one big family. Lastly, I love the diversity of the Israeli society. Israelis come from so many different backgrounds and roots, creating a rich melting pot of cultures."
Hadas Elyassian
Hadas lives in Modi’in with her parents, two older sisters, and her dog, Messi. She studied diplomacy, literature, and Jewish philosophy at Yachad High School, a mixed religious-secular school, which is considered a flagship of pluralistic education in Israel.
In her spare time, Hadas enjoys listening to music, traveling with her family, reading books and poetry, cooking, and spending time with her friends. She is also a fan of politics and regularly participated in Model UN.
Hadas has been involved with Noam (Israel's youth movement for progressive and conservative Judaism) since the fourth grade and has served as a counselor for the past three years. Having come from a religious Persian family, Hadas is very proud of her Jewish identity and Persian heritage.
What are three things Hadas loves about Israel? "I love the diverse food here, which reflects the blend of cultures and people, creating something uniquely Israeli. I love the holidays in Israel which help me feel a connection to our heritage and a bond with Am Yisrael. Another thing that amazes me about Israel is its unique and diverse climate and landscapes. From the hot deserts in the south to the cold snowy mountains in the north, along with our beautiful beaches, lakes, rivers, the Dead Sea, and so much more—all within such a small country."
Yehonatan Bigman
Yehonatan lives in our partnership city of Modi’in with his parents, older brother and younger sister. He attended Ironi Gimel high school, majoring in biology and anatomy & physiology. In his leisure time, Yehonatan loves to spend time with his family and friends, and enjoys working out in the gym, reading, hiking in nature, and playing video games.
For the past four years, he has dedicated himself to volunteering at " Yehonatan served as both lead counselor and trainer for counselors working with kids with special needs, and more recently was promoted to head coordinator for his local chapter.
Yehonatan was also part of the JFI (Journey for Identity) delegation, spending significant time in Rochester, Poland, and Israel. This experience, including visits to Polish death camps and a cultural exchange in Rochester with peers from the US and Israel, deeply impacted him. He believes these insights will enhance his contributions to the Jewish community during his upcoming year as I think our country has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, with such a variety of gorgeous sites and views. The people here are another reason I love my country—the sense of brotherhood and mutual support during times of need is very special. Finally, Israeli music holds a special place in my heart; the rich blend of cultures has created a vibrant musical heritage that, in my opinion, is truly unique."
Ziv Cohen
Ziv was born in Florida and lived there with her family until the age of 7. Her family then returned to Israel and moved to our partnership city of Modi’in. She has two older sisters, one who lives with them in Modi’in and the other lives in Germany. Ziv graduated from Mor high school, with a major in diplomacy. In her free time Ziv loves to travel, hike, hang out with her friends, listen to music and using her creative side with arts and crafts.
Ziv has been part of the Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) youth movement since 4th grade and has volunteered as a counselor for the past two years. This year, she has assumed the role of "Rashgadit", which means she is leading and mentoring other counselors and she is also responsible for the 7th graders. Ziv developed many wonderful skills through her volunteer experiences, and is looking forward to putting her skills and passion to good use as ShinShinit in Rochester.
What are three things Ziv loves about Israel? “I love the incredible unity during difficult times, where people across the country donate, volunteer, and support each other in times of need. Another thing I love is Israel’s diverse landscapes. From mountains and seas to rivers and deserts, each place offers unique experiences. Whether camping by the Kinneret or at Mitzpe Ramon, the views are always breathtaking. Finally, I love Israel’s cultural diversity. As a Moroccan-Egyptian, I love sharing Shabbat dinners with friends from different backgrounds."
Meet our past ShinShinim
Uri, Yael, Dana and Ron (2023-2024)
Aviv, Ori, Avishag, and Alon (2021/2022)
As a parting gift to the Rochester community, these ShinShinim created their own Israel Travel Guide. It’s filled with recommendations on their favorite places to eat and hike, how not to look like a tourist, and other tips for seeing Israel like a local.
Yael, Keren, Gilad, and Ori (2019/2020)
After returning to Israel, this first group of ShinShinim created an Israeli Recipe Book filled with details on how to cook their favorite dishes from home.
