UJA's Israel Engagement Shinshinim

UJA’s Israel Engagement ShinShinim are young Israeli leaders who have just finished high school and come to the GTA for one year to volunteer in our community. Each year, the UJA ShinShinim are hosted by local Toronto families, and engage more than 3,000 Jewish community members with cutting edge programs focusing on contemporary Israel.are young Israeli leaders who have just finished high school and come to the GTA to volunteer in our community for one year. The UJA ShinShinim are hosted by local Toronto families and engage more than 3,000 Jewish community members through cutting-edge programs focusing on contemporary Israel.

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto has one of the largest delegations of ShinShinim in the world. The program—a collaboration with the Jewish Agency for Israel—is active in over 40 day schools, synagogues, supplementary schools, youth movements, community programs, and summer camps. UJA’s ShinShinim lead thousands of experiential education programs each year that focus on contemporary Israel and bring an authentic Israel experience to the Toronto community.

"An amazing experience! More than we ever expected. Our ShinShinit is like a daughter to us now and especially like a big sister to my daughter. We can't wait to visit her in Israel!" - 2014 ShinShinim Host Family
500+
families have opened their home to ShinShinim since 2006
85%
of host parents keep in touch with their ShinShin
Partner Institutions
Day Schools
  • Netivot Hatorah Hebrew Day School
  • The Leo Baeck Day School
  • Montessori Jewish Day School
  • Robbins Hebrew Academy
  • Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School
  • The Toronto Heschel School
  • Bialik Hebrew Day Schools
Synagogues
  • Congregation Ayin L’Tzion
  • Beit Rayin Synagogue
  • Temple Sinai
  • Holy Blossom Temple
  • Beth David B’nai Israel Beth Am
  • Beth Sholom Synagogue
  • Beth Tzedec Congregation
  • First Narayever Congregation
  • City Shul
  • Temple Emanu-El
  • Temple Har Zion
  • Adath Israel Congregation
Youth Movements & Community Centres
  • JCC
  • BBYO
  • Canadian Young Judea
  • Downtown Jewish Community School
  • Torah High
Welcome and good luck to the amazing team of ShinShinim 2022-2023!
  • Lotem Yosef
  • Hagar Nudelman
  • Noa Rose Sofer
  • Yaara Gafni
  • Tamar Hayke
  • Uri Kol
  • Maya Volpo
  • Rom Banay
  • Ella Payorski
  • Itay Bershtein
  • Mika Segev
  • Hila Meltzer
  • Yuval Malach
  • Reut Rosenstock
  • Niri Weinstein
  • Tamar Sommer
  • Amit Mizrachi
  • Lihi Levy

For more information, please contact Israel Engagement at israelengagement@ujafed.org or call 416.635.2883 x 5816.