Shin Shinim

The annual young emissary program brings 18-year-olds from the Sovev Kinneret region to Milwaukee to spend a pre-army year doing volunteer service abroad, a “Sh’nat Sherut” organized in cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel. The Shin Shinim are involved in a variety of activities, connecting them to area public schools, to American teens, and to Jewish organizations such as synagogue religious schools, Hillel Milwaukee and Camp Interlaken. During the week, they work at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School and Gan Ami Early Childhood Education at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. The Shin Shinim stay with host families during their service year, forming close and often lifelong family friendships.

Meet the 25-26 Shin Shinim

Mia and Eitan

Eitan Ben Zeev comes to us from Moshav Shadmot Dvora in northern Israel. In high school, he majored in biology and agriculture, combining his love of science with his passion for working the land. Eitan has been a youth instructor for three years in the Tnua Hahadasha youth movement, where he leads activities and trips for elementary school children. He has also taught kids to sail and kayak. In his free time, Eitan enjoys playing piano, running, reading, exercising, and spending time with friends.

Mia Ostrovsky is from Haifa, where she lives with her parents and younger brother. In high school, she majored in chemistry and art, blending her interest in science with her love for creativity and drawing. Mia has been active in the Scouts since 4th grade and has taken on multiple leadership roles, including troop leader for 7th graders. She has also volunteered in her community, from supporting schools and community centers to helping with agriculture and donating baked goods to soldiers. Outside of Scouts, Mia enjoys Pilates, going to the gym, and spending time on her art and dance.

Both Mia and Eitan are excited to spend the year volunteering with organizations across Milwaukee, sharing their love of Israel, and building meaningful connections with host families and the community.

Be sure to follow Mia and Eitan on social media for all the latest updates!

Host a Shin Shin

Israel at Home

Become a host family and provide a safe space for Israelis to spend their year of service while connecting you and your family with a global Jewish community.

Make an essential connection to the people of Israel.

We’re looking for a family to host a young, vibrant, and passionate Israeli ambassador for a 5-month engagement. As a host family, you become part of a cherished Milwaukee Shin Shin family with a 20-year history of success. Lifelong bonds are made between you and the Shin Shin while becoming integral part of the longstanding Israel–Milwaukee connection.

Have a little extra room in your heart and home?

>> Yes, we have room to share!

In return, Shin Shinim make Israel come alive in your home. They bring ﬁrst-hand cultural access and impart a strong, positive understanding of Israel’s ideals to the Jewish people. This fosters a sense of pride and creates an authentic connection to our homeland for you and your family, while developing a personal relationship with a future leader of Israel.

Ready to open your home to Israel?

>> Yes, we’d love to learn more.

Host Family Testimonial

Watch the Carneol Family. They share their experience as a host family and how the Shin Shinim became new family members.

Want to talk to a past Shin Shin host family?

Contact Susie Rosengarten, Associate Director, Israel Center, at 414-390-5762.

Past Shin Shinim

2024-2025: Amit and Maya

Amit was from Moshav Salit, where he majored in chemistry and biology and enjoyed capoeira, swimming, cooking, and traveling. Maya was from Shoham and majored in biology and Bible; she was active in the Israeli Scouts and enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, arts, and photography. Thank you both for visiting Milwaukee!

2023-2024: Tom and Eitan

Thank you, Tom and Eitan, for visiting Milwaukee! We were so excited for them to connect with everyone in the Milwaukee Jewish community and beyond. Tom was from Moshavat Kinnert and majored in Biotechnology. Eitan was from Kfar Tavor and majored in Diplomacy.

2022-2023: Orri and Maya

Orri and Maya arrived in Milwaukee in August 2022! Orri is from Kfar Tavor (the same hometown as Gal!) and is majoring Communications & Cinema Diplomacy. Maya is from Ne’ot Golan in southern Golan Heights and majoring in Theatre, Biology, and Social Science.

2021-2022: Gal and Itay

Gal & Itay arrived in Milwaukee in August 19, 2021. Gal is from Kfar Tavor, a small village in the north of Israel, and Itay is from Hadera, a city between Tel Aviv and Haifa. Both Gal and Itay were involved in youth movements in Israel.

2020-2021: Noam

Noam joined our community virtually from Israel in September 2020. Noam is from Tzur Moshe, a moshav in the Sharon region. In school, Noam studied graphic design and biology. Noam enjoys baking, hiking and traveling as hobbies and volunteers as a first responder and counselor for Magen David Adom.

2019-2020: Khen and Omer

Khen and Omer arrived in Milwaukee at the end of August 2019. Khen is from Karmiel, a city in northern Israel, and Omer is from Kibbutz Degania Alef. In school, Khen studied electronics, physics and computer science while Omer studied Arabic, biology and music. Omer enjoys playing saxophone, piano, guitar and drums, playing in his band called “HaRaftanim” and playing sports.

2018-2019: May and Yogev

May and Yogev arrived in Milwaukee in August 2018. They have grown up in different communities – May from Tiberias and Yogev from a moshav called Moshav Arbel. May is studying psychology and sociology and loves hip hop dancing. Yogev is studying cinema and theater and enjoys traveling, photography and writing stories.

2017-2018: Omri and Amit

Omri and Amit were in Milwaukee from August 2017 until July 2018. Omri is from a village called Lehavim in the southern part of Israel, and Amit is from a moshav called Kidmat Tzvi in the Golan Heights. Orm studied physics, biology and agriculture in high school, has been involved in many youth movements in Israel. Amit studies biology and theater in high school, enjoys traveling and drawing and has been involved with the teen leadership program Diller.