Shinshinim are a ‘living bridge’ between Ottawa and Israel

Shinshinim Hila Beldoch (left) and Shai Sagi. “When you come here, you come as you, but you also represent your country,” said Shai. “It’s a lot of responsibility.” (Dana Simpson)

By Dana Simpson 

On August 26, 2019, two recent high school graduates got on a plane and flew nearly 9,000 km from Israel to Ottawa.

Leaving behind friends, family, and better weather, Hila Beldoch and Snir Dachboach began their year of voluntary service, as the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s newest shinshinim. The shinshinim program sends recent Israeli high school graduates – on a gap year before entering the Israel Defense Forces – to serve in Diaspora communities.

Unfortunately, due to a back injury, Snir returned home to Israel in October.

In his absence, Shai Sagi, who is from Ramot HaShavim in central Israel, stepped up to the plate as Ottawa’s newest shinshin. She arrived here on November 24.

Since 2016, the Federation’s Shinshinim program has operated with the goal of building a gesher chai (living bridge) between Israel and Ottawa’s Jewish community.

“Here it is harder to be Jewish,” said Shai. “I think you have to do more things to feel Jewish than you need to do in Israel.”

That feeling is shared by both shinshinim.

“They need to decide every day to be a Jewish person, to have a Jewish life,” said Hila. “And here I think they have more appreciation than us. They have to put more money in, they have to learn more, drive further away to the kosher grocery. It’s way harder.”

Despite many differences between Israel and the Diaspora, the shinshinim are pleasantly surprised with the level of cultural and historical knowledge held by the Ottawa Jewish community.

“The topic this week was Israeli inventions and even kindergarten kids knew a lot,” said Shai.  “It’s so incredible to hear that people here know so much about Israel.”

This feeling of connection is particularly inspiring to Hila. She is excited to return home to tell her community of Ottawa’s bond to Israel.

“It’s important to bring kids and communities the feeling that they’re not alone,” Hila said. “It’s good to have partners.”

Both shinshinim said that coming to Ottawa was part of their desire to build better global connections for the future.

“When I go back maybe I’ll think about how, from the Israeli side, we can do more,” said Shai.  “The connection right now, I feel, is a bit one-sided. And it is so important that in Israel we do something to know about Jewish culture around the world.”

And while their experience hasn’t been without its challenges – most notably the weather and having to make new friends – Shai and Hila say they have learned so much by exploring a new culture and sharing their own.

“When you come here, you come as you, but you also represent your country,” said Shai. “It’s a lot of responsibility.”

“I never went to synagogue [in Israel] and now I’m there at least once a week,” said Hila. “Maybe it is something I will look for in Israel: to have my Jewish community that’s not specifically about being Israeli, it’s about being Jewish.”

Kara Goodwin, director of Community Collaboration at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, said she is always impressed by the shinshinim.

“They care a lot about making sure that the program continues on,” said Goodwin. “They really have a mandate and a passion to teach people about Israel.”

Meet Hila Beldoch and Snir Dachboach: Ottawa’s new shinshinim

Newly arrived Israeli Shinshinim Snir Dachboach (left) and Hila Beldoch enjoy a moment in the sun outside the Soloway Jewish Community Centre, August 29. (Matthew Horwood)

By Matthew Horwood

Ottawa’s new shinshinim, Hila Beldoch and Snir Dachboach, arrived here August 26 to begin a year of volunteer service in the Jewish community.

Hila, from Haifa, and Snir, from Barken, are Ottawa’s fourth pair of shinshinim. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s Shinshinim Program brings young Israeli emissaries – on a gap year between high school graduation and the beginning of their military service – to Ottawa for a year of volunteer service. They work with young people in Jewish schools, congregations, and camps to help enhance their Jewish identities and ties to Israel.

Hila said that while travelling with her high school’s delegation to Uruguay and Argentina, she met shinshinim there and was inspired to join the program.

“I never knew about the whole Jewish world outside Israel, and I got very interested in it,” she said.

Snir said he heard about the Shinshinim Program from a friend who was doing a year of service in Baltimore.

“What attracted me most is the fact that I can connect with a variety of Jewish communities here in Ottawa, and connect them to Israel,” Snir said.

Hila said her first impression of Canada happened while she was still at the airport in Israel, when she was warmly welcomed by Ottawan Nicole Goldstone and staff from the Jewish Agency.

“She came over to us and said everyone in Ottawa was so excited to meet us. I felt like a celebrity,” Hila said.

Snir said his Israeli friends told him about Canada’s “polite and warm culture,” and he has already witnessed this first-hand while in Ottawa.

“We met with the Federation staff today, and after having met them I feel very confident approaching people to talk with them,” he said.

The shinshinim stay with host families while they are in Ottawa, becoming part of the families and their day-to-day lives. Hila’s first hosts are Sari Zelenietz and Alec Mills, while Snir’s are Mira and Ari Breiner.

Hila said she initially felt overwhelmed when she arrived in Canada, but her host family has showed her around the community and made her feel welcome. Snir said his host family has also given him a warm welcome, and he feels “almost like I am at home in Israel.”

Federation Director of Community Collaboration Kara Goodwin said Hila and Snir will be a great asset to Ottawa’s Jewish community.

“Like the rest of the community, I look forward to building a strong relationship with them and learning more about Israel and Jewish life by being their friend and co-worker,” she said.

Hila said while in Ottawa, she would like to get to know people in the community and become involved in as many different projects as possible.

Snir said his main goal while in Ottawa is to “represent Israel the best I can,” and said he also has a “big dream” of bringing all the different Ottawa synagogues together for an activity. Snir encouraged Ottawa Jews to visit with the shinshinim and “not be afraid to ask things about Israel or about us.”

“I am sure we will have a good year. I’m very excited,” Snir said.

Counsellors bring Israeli flavour to Camp B’nai Brith

A record number of young Israelis are working as counsellors this summer at Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa. Bulletin reporter Matthew Horwood visited the camp and spoke with three of them.

There is a distinctly Israeli flavour to Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa (CBB) this summer as campers interact daily with 17 Israeli counsellors – the largest ever group of Israeli counsellors at CBB.

Iris Fainberg, who hails from Jerusalem, said for many campers the presence of Israelis at CBB “is in and of itself an association with what Israel is.”

“I find it so interesting to be that person who can be a bridge to Judaism and Israel, even for something like translating a prayer,” Fainberg said. “Kids sometimes say [Hebrew] words and have no idea what they mean, but being able to explain them is an amazing thing.”

Nitzan Haviv, from Bat Yam, said the Israeli counsellors are being given “the opportunity to empower connections between Israel and the Jewish community, and for the next generation of the community.”

Liam Afota, from Nesher, who is at CBB completing his year of service as one of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s shinshinim, said “the fact I am here sharing my experiences makes the campers feel more connected to Israel. They will remember the Israeli counsellors they had.”

Afota’s shinshinim partner, Inbar Haimovich, is also at CBB as a dance specialist and counsellor.

CBB has numerous programs and activities, including athletics, waterfront and arts. Fainberg said there are activities that would appeal to any type of child.

“Whether the child is artistic or sporty, shy or outgoing, this is their opportunity to try new things and to shine,” she said.

Haviv said for him, it is “really important that my campers try new things.”

Some of the camp’s activities and events relate specifically to Judaism and Israel. For example, on Fridays, the campers come to Shabbat dinner “in beautiful white clothing,” said Fainberg.

On Saturdays, the Israeli counsellors host Shabbat programs to help campers learn about different aspects of Israel, including culture, food, and games, according to Afota.

Asked about some of the notable interactions the Israeli counsellors have had with campers, Fainberg recalled a “special moment” during an activity when the kids were asked to write about or draw things they associated with home. Fainberg said many of the kids wrote down “Israel,” despite none of them having lived there.

“That was very powerful to see,” she said.

Afota said that for him, it is the “small moments that make our impact much bigger,” such as bonding with the campers during activities and while waiting in lines for events or meals.

“They ask questions about what I will be doing in the Israeli army, about Hebrew and blessings, and about the differences between our two countries,” Afota said.

Haviv said he enjoyed teaching the campers Hebrew words and then witnessing them have competitions on who could pronounce them better.

“It can be very funny, and is a lot of fun,” he said.

Fainberg said CBB is a place where “it’s cool to be Jewish,” where the campers can talk about Judaism without feeling self-conscious.

“It feels so oddly natural. This little place felt like home for me within a day. It is exhausting work, but really fun,” she said.

Haviv said it was his “pleasure” to have been picked to come to CBB.

Afota said that in a generation where many kids are addicted to cellphones and computer screens, 

CBB allows them to “have personal connections to each other and just have fun.” Cell phones, he added, are off limits at camp.

CBB Director Cindy Benedek said the camp recruits counsellors from Israel to help ensure the kids get “a real connection to Israel, as opposed to just talking about it or doing programing.”

Benedek said the camp has “always had some form of an Israeli delegation,” but in past 10 years they have been working with Jewish Agency for Israel, to get “direct hires, instead of going through an organization.”

Benedek said CBB would typically receive three to six Israeli staff. But this year, with shinshinim from Ottawa and Toronto, and others recruited via Jewish Agency, CBB is enjoying its largest ever delegation of Israelis at 17.

Benedek said having camp staff from Israel allows the children to “make real life connections and hear how Israel is the same but different” as well as “see Israel as a part of who we are as Jewish people.”

Photo: (From left) Iris Fainberg, Liam Afota and Nitzan Haviv are three of the 17 young Israelis enjoying the summer while working as counsellors at Camp B’nai Brith of Ottawa. (Matthew Horwood)