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shinshinim atlanta - jewish atlanta

We bring Israel and Jewish Atlanta together through human connections. Shinshinim are recent Israeli high school graduates taking a gap year in Atlanta before their military service.

Relationships that will endure for a lifetime.

The Schoenbaum Shinshinim program brings Israel and Jewish Atlanta together. Shinshinim are 18-year-old high school graduates from all over Israel who complete a year of service in Jewish Atlanta, fostering connections to Israel for community members of all ages. They infuse Israeli culture across the community through art, song, dance, and holiday observances. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the Jewish Agency for Israel partner to bring these amazing teens to Atlanta each year. By sharing themselves and their personal stories with us, they make Israel real!

Atlanta Host Families

The success of the Shinshinim program relies heavily on the generosity of the families in our community. Each Shinshin lives with two families for 4-5 months at a time during their time in Atlanta.  They bond quickly and deeply with their American families and the relationships they build are human bridges that will endure for a lifetime. Being a host family means you are willing to open your heart an home to one of these amazing teens and provide them with private bedroom, food for daily meals, and a nurturing home. Each Shinshin is provided with an insured car, a cell phone, health insurance and a financial stipend through Federation and the Jewish Agency.

Meet your 2024-2025 Schoenbaum Shinshinim!

Adi Lemberger

Shalom everyone !

My name is Adi, and I am thrilled to be joining you for a year of service through the Jewish Agency for Israel. I am 17 years old and live in Holon, Israel. I love spending time with my family and friends, and experiencing new adventures.

I come from a loving family. My mother is named Dalia, and my father is named Ofer, I have an older sister named Shani, and a cute cat named cape. I am also very close to my grandparents, who live just a ten-minute walk from my home.

One of the most significant parts of my life has been my involvement in the youth movement Krembo Wings. For the past five years, I have been deeply committed to this organization. I spent two years as a companion to a special needs participant, followed by two years as a counselor for a mixed-ability group of participants. This past year, I served as the special needs coordinator, a role that has been both challenging and rewarding.

In my free time, I enjoy staying active with sports, hanging out with my friends, exploring new places in Israel and flying around the world. I also have a constant soundtrack of music playing in my life, which keeps me energized and inspired. My favorite food is sushi, and I can never resist a good chocolate chip cookie.

In high school, I majored in biology, chemistry, Arabic, English, and math.

I look forward to meeting, see you soon!

Amit Ozeri

Hi everyone!

My name is Amit and I’m so excited to be a Shinshin in Atlanta this year.

I was born in and still live in kibbutz Ramat Yohanan, which is close to Haifa.

My mom’s name is Adi and my dad’s name is Israel.

I have 2 biological siblings, Roni (F, 23) and Gil (M, 20), and an “adopted” sister, Nina; she’s a lone solider in the IDF, and is originally from Massachusetts. My family hosts her, and we see her as one of our own.

During my free time I like cooking, drawing, listening to music, and more…

I’ve danced hip-hop for 6 years before I came to the U.S.

In high school I majored in Chemistry and Arabic, because I’m good with languages and I have an unexplainable love towards Chemistry.

I can’t wait to have lots of memories with your community for the next year…

Dana Boytner

Hello!! My name is Dana Boytner, I’m 18 years old. I live in Modiin which is in the center of Israel - between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. My mother’s name is Ronit, and she is very active in reform management and in the JNF organization as a director who represents the reform Jewish voice abroad. My father’s name is Guy, and he’s a lieutenant colonel in the navy reserve and volunteer with PTSD soldiers.

I have two older siblings - my sister, Yarden (27), who is a student at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. My brother, Nadav (24), is about to be a student next year at Ben Gurion University. He just finished his reserve service, which he started close to the start of the war as a combat soldier in a paratrooper unit. In addition to that, I have two cats!

On Friday nights, I participate in services of my reform synagogue with my mom and my friends.

In high school I majored in music and Israeli philosophy.
For the past 8 years I was in Noar Telem, which is the youth movement of the reform movement in Israel.

I volunteered for the Red Cross of Israel for two years.

In my free time, I love hanging out with my friends, going out to coffee shops, and watching movies with them!

I can’t explain how excited I am to start this year and to meet everyone in the community.

Gili Aisenberg

Hi everyone!

My name is Gili Aisenberg and I'm super excited to be a Shinshinit in Atlanta!!

I was born in Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek, and when I was 5.5, I moved to Kibbutz Megido, which is located in northern Israel in the partnership (P2G) region.

My parents' names are Ruth and Boaz (like in the bible), and I have one younger brother who's 16 years old, named Eyal. My mother is an economist in a bank, and my father is a sports teacher and coach. We love to spend time together as a family, especially by traveling around the world during summer breaks, meeting our extended family, and going to Hummus restaurants (which are our favorite).

During my free time, I like to bake; especially birthday cakes for my family and friends' birthdays. I also really like sports, especially running, and in the past I was a fencer for 7 years.

In addition, I was a counselor in the “Hashomer Hatzair” youth movement, and from 7th to 12th grade, I was part of an informal youth center of this movement called “Shomria”. “Shomria” is an informal youth center for teenagers from the Megido area that is based on the method of “youth educates youth” (meaning that almost everything in Shomria is organized and produced by its members), and on the Kibbutz education and values.

I'm so glad to have the opportunity to be part of the community, share with you my Israeli story, and learn about your life in Atlanta. Can't wait to meet you all soon!

Nadav Cohen

Hello everyone,

My name is Nadav Cohen, but you can also call me Nadi.

I am 18 years old from Mitzpe Hila, and I will be your Shinshin for the coming year. For the past three years, I have been studying at the military boarding school for leadership near the Reali School in Haifa.

My parents are Yossi and Li-At, and I have three siblings: Einav (26), Alon (23), and Yuval (16). I also have a cute dog named Gidi.

I really love sports, especially basketball, and I also enjoy hiking, trying new foods, listening to music, and spending time with friends. I am a big fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv in both soccer and basketball, and I would love to watch games with you.

I am very excited, and look forward to meeting all of you. Feel free to text me at +1 (470) 421 3891.

It’s going to be an amazing year!

Noga Banner

Hi! I'm Noga Banner. I was born in Haifa, and when I was two years old, we moved to Yokne'am Illit - which is the twin city of Atlanta. I live with my parents - Idit (a science teacher) and Ron (a high-tech engineer). I have two younger brothers - Yair, who is 15, and Yahav, who is 13. Our family loves to travel together in Israel and go on vacations.

‏I work at a kindergarten for children aged two and three, and I really enjoy it! Sometimes it's a bit challenging, but the connection with the children and working with them totally makes it worth it! Additionally, I love sports - pilates, strength training, and sometimes running. I make sure to train at least three times a week.

‏I spend most of my time in Tzofim (my youth movement), specifically in the "Shachar" tribe in my city. It's like my second home. I've been a counselor there for 3 years; I've led classes 4 and 8, and this year I'm the head of the units for grades 6.

‏I'm very excited to start my shlichut in Atlanta. I want to meet new people, tell my story as an Israeli, and hear stories from other people.

Noga Netanel

Shalom everyone! I'm Noga Netanel, a new Shinshinit for 2024-2025.

I live with my parents and my three siblings in Kfar-Yona, which is a small town in the Sharon area. Our house is a neighborhood in the town that is called Givat-Alonin. In this area, there are a lot of orchards and agricultural fields, so this place looks more rural. My family and I love to go on walks in the fields and to travel in nature, in general.

In my free time, I like to cook, bake, and do various forms of art, like drawing, painting, and sculpture. I also have a big passion for acting, and I like to go watch a play any time I have a chance.

In the afternoon I go to the scouts. In the last three years, I have been a guide and a troop leader for many different ages.

This place has become my second home, and the place where I made the best memories.

Can't wait to come to Atlanta to meet you all and share my Israeli story with you, but most importantly, to make some new great memories during this Shnat Sherot!

Yali Bar

Shalom!

I'm Yali Bar, your next Shinshin in Atlanta.

I was born and raised in Petah Tikva, a city really close to Tel Aviv.

I'm the youngest child to my dad, Ronen, and my mom, Inbar. I have 2 siblings - my brother, Doron (22), and my sister, Ziv, (25). We also have a cute dog called Tommy.

In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends and family, play soccer, play the guitar, going to concerts, and training in the gym. In high school, I majored physics and computer science.

My Youth movement is the Tzofim (Israeli Scouts). I have been taking part in the Tzofim since I was 10 years old, and in the past year, I was the coordinator of my shevet (my scout center). My Shevet is called "HaMoshava".

I'm very excited to meet you all, bring my Israeli story, and start my adventure in Atlanta.

40+

Organizations Shinshinim Atlanta has partnered with

8,100+

unique interactions with Atlantans

4+

years in Atlanta
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