Meet Our New Shinshinim – Cultural Emissaries from Israel

Federation is proud to host Shinshinim in Jewish Palm Beach! Shinshinim are cultural emissaries who have graduated high school but have not yet begun their Israeli military service.

Shinshinim energize our community’s connections to Israel through programming at our synagogues, with our teen community, with our partner organizations and with their host families. These dynamic teens are excited to bring their unique perspective to our community and give us a chance to get to know Israel through their eyes. It is a true cultural exchange: They are teaching us about Israel and what teen life is like there, and they are learning from teens and adults in the Palm Beaches about what it’s like being Jewish in the Diaspora – knowledge they will bring back with them to Israel.

We are thrilled to introduce you to the 2024-2025 Shinshinim:

Welcome Israel into Your Home!

We are looking for host families for our 2024-2025 Shinshinim and for our 2025-2026 Shinshinim!

Opening your home to a Shinshin is an incredible opportunity to build a unique relationship that will last a lifetime. 
 
As a host family, you provide a spare bedroom, meals and a welcoming and inclusive home. Transportation will be provided for your Shinshin during their stay. Each Shinshin has three Palm Beaches host families, staying with each for several months at a time.

If you are interested in hosting one of the teens, please read through the General Host Family Guidelines and complete the form below.

Once your form is submitted, we will reach out to you to discuss the program and the role of the host family.
Throughout the application, there will be questions related to Jewish home observances, language, pets, allergies, etc. Please note, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. We are looking for ALL types of homes.

If you have any questions, or are interested in hosting Shinshinim in the future, please contact Marla Topiol at marla.topiol@jewishpalmbeach.org.

General Host Family Guidelines

1. The Shinshinim will be placed in warm, loving Jewish homes of all types. This includes families with or without children currently living in the home. 
2. Family members should have time to dedicate for spending with their Shinshin. Regular family meals and activities are very important.
3. Consider your family’s schedule and when you are available to include the Shinshin as part of your family. The Shinshin will be very busy with their community involvement, but the host family experience is also a crucial component of the program’s mission.
4. The Shinshin will have a day off every week to spend with the host family and will generally be home/available during the evenings and at dinner time.
5. The Shinshin must have a dedicated bedroom that is not used for other family needs (such as the family computer, the family TV, tutoring, etc.). During their stay, it’s preferred that the bedroom be a guest room or other unoccupied space so that they are not displacing a member of the family. Additional private space, such as a bathroom or living area, is a plus but not required.
6. The Shinshinim program will provide transportation for the Shinshin, and all expenses other than room and board will be covered by the program.
7. Please let us know whether you would like to host a male or a female Shinshin.

APPLICATION

Host family, Adult 1 *

First

Middle

Last

Adult 1 email *

Adult 1 cell phone *

Adult 1 work phone

Host family, Adult 2 *

First

Middle

Last

Adult 2 email

Adult 2 cell phone

Adult 2 work phone

Host family home address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

--- Select state ---AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingState

Zip Code

Host family home phone number

How many children live in the houshold?select one1234 or more

Child 1, name, age and gender

Child 2, name, age and gender

Child 3, name, age and gender

For each additional child, please list name, age and gender

Each Shinshin will stay with her host for four months. What dates are your family open to hosting? Dates are currently approximate. More specific dates will be provided before you are asked to commit. Please choose all that apply: *

• Mid-August – November 2024
• December 2024 – March 2025
• April – August 2025

Are there other people who live in the home? *

• Yes
• No

Why are you interested in hosting a Shinshin? *

When is your whole family together, and what are some things you do together (including meals, hobbies, outings, errands, etc.)? *

What are your community affiliations, both Jewish and secular (synagogues, schools, agencies, etc.)? *

Your home is (please choose all that apply):

• Strictly kosher
• Kosher style
• Not Kosher
• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten Free
• Has somebody with serious food allergy

Does your family have any typical Shabbat practices (please choose all that apply)? *

• Shomer Shabbat (strictly observant)
• Attend services
• Celebrate Shabbat dinner together
• Does not use electricity
• Does not drive
• Family time
• Other

Do you have a pet at home?

• Yes
• No

Does anyone in your household speak Hebrew? *

• Yes
• No

Is there anything else you think we should know about your family? *

Please keep my information on hand. If all current positions are filled, I would like to be considered as a host should the need arise.

• Yes
• No

Submit

Discussion Questions

The following are more detailed questions we may ask during an interview with prospective host families. You do not need to answer them on this form.

1. Briefly describe your parenting style.
2. Have all members of the family been included in the decision to host a Shinshin?
3. Where will the Shinshin be sleeping in your home? Will any additional spaces be available (bathroom, den, etc.)?
4. Have there been or do you anticipate any major life events in your family within the next year (moving, house renovations, birth, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.)?
5. Are there fixed times during the week that would be important for the Shinshin to be present with your family?