Tidewater is entering its fourth year of collaboration with the Jewish Agency for Israel to host Shinshinim (Israeli Emissaries) on their mission to share Israeli culture, knowledge, and experiences with community members of all ages. Shinshin is an acronym for Shenat Sherut—a year of service by an elite group of kids between high school and their mandatory army service in Israel.
On Monday, August 18, Jewish Tidewater will welcome Noga Yaniv (pictured left)and Yarden Lahan (pictured right) to the community.
Noga Yaniv is 18 and lives in Kfar Saba with her parents and older sister. She loves spending time with her family and attending musicals and plays with her sister. In high school, she majored in cinema and geography with a focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She says she loves writing, directing, and creating films. In her free time, she reads, cooks, bakes and participates in physical activities. For the past two years, she has been a counselor at Ruach Amiti, where she instructed grades 4 through 8.
Yarden Lahan is 18 years old and lives in Kiryat Ono, near Tel Aviv, with her younger brother, parents, and 19-year-old cat Gooey. Following in her mom’s artistic footsteps, she majored in arts and design and literature. She has been interested in art her entire life and loves learning new techniques in it, as well as writing. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, reading, and attending concerts. For the last three years, she has been a scout leader, helping mentor middle school-age kids.
Excerpts from a recent interview with the Shinshinim:
Nofar Trem: What made you apply for the Shinshinim program?
Noga Yaniv: I was introduced to this program by my youth movement coordinator, and since then, it has been my goal to be a part of it! I believe this role plays a vital and inspiring part in strengthening the bond between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.
Yarden Lahan: It has been my dream since I was in 9th grade, when I first heard about this program. I think it is such an important and amazing job to maintain the connection between Israel and the Jewish communities around the world.
NT: What previous experience do you have in America?
NY: As a gift for both my sister’s and my bat mitzvah, we traveled to the United States.
In 2016, we visited California and the West Coast, and in 2019, we went to New York and the East Coast. I loved everything about these trips, and I can’t wait to be back very soon!
YL: I have never been to America, but I do have some family in San Francisco. I am so excited to see with my own eyes all the wonderful things I’ve heard about!
NT: Is there anywhere you would like to visit while you are in America?
NY: I want to see the small towns and unique spots that most people overlook.
YL: I really want to see the beaches, the mountains, and of course, Sephora!
What would you like the community to know about you?
NY: I am so eager to arrive in Tidewater! I can’t wait to meet everyone, explore, engage, and learn.
YL: I am not the best at English so if at first, I stutter a little bit or ask you to repeat what you said, please be patient with me, I promise I’ll get used to it!
The community is encouraged to meet Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan at PJ Library in Tidewater’s End of Summer Shabbat on Friday, August 22. Register and purchase tickets at JewishVA.org/EOS-Shabbat.
Those who are interested in taking the girls out on an adventure, hosting them for a meal, bringing them to an organization, or getting to know them better over coffee, go to JewishVA.org/Shinshinim or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org. Keep up to date on the exciting things they have in store for Tidewater on the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Facebook page.