Ori Shechter is an 18-year-old who graduated from high school last year, focusing on physics and computer science. Ori lives in a small village called Kfar Hahornim next to Modi’in. He has been active in the youth movement called Ihud Haklai and has a band called The Bunker. In his free time, Ori climbs indoors and outdoors.
ShinShinim
ShinShinim are a select group of promising Israeli high school graduates who choose to defer enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces to spend a year in Jewish communities around the world—a year known as Shnat Sherut (Service Year) or ShinShin for short. The Jewish Agency’s ShinShinim initiative enables community organizations worldwide to host these young Israelis locally, connecting global Jewish communities to the Jewish homeland.
We welcomed our ShinShinim Ori, Lirit, and Tene to our community in August 2025, for one year. They will be volunteering in all our supplementary schools, day schools, and local educational programs.
There’s no more effective way to strengthen vital ties between Israeli and Jewish communities around the world than with authentic, interpersonal relationships between World Jewry and Israelis themselves. While ShinShinim spend the year teaching, connecting, and experiencing life in a Jewish community abroad, locals have the unique opportunity to learn about Israeli life. Upon returning to Israel, after immersing themselves into the complexities of Jewish life outside the Jewish State, exploring their own Jewish identities and gaining new perspectives, ShinShinim become change-makers in Israeli society.
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MEET ORI
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MEET TENE
Tene Naor is an 18-year-old who just graduated from an environmental education boarding school that teaches environmental science and independence, which is located in the Negev Desert. Tene lives in a small village called Bat Hefer. and growing up was active in the B'nai Akiva youth movement. In his free time Tene likes to hike and do sports.
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MEET LIRI
Liri Levitats is an 18 - year - old who graduated from high school last year, focusing on Biology and Diplomacy. Liri is from Kadima, a small town next to Natanya. She has been active in the scouts since she was 8. In her free time, Liri likes to bake, dance, and listen to music.
A Message from One of Our Wonderful Hosts
What an incredible gift it has been to host Shinshinim in our home over the past two years.
From the very beginning, their presence brought energy, purpose, and so much joy into our lives. They became part of our rhythm, part of our daily routines - and most importantly, part of our family.
There's a beautiful line by Israeli singer Ishay Ribo that I love so much and has such a dip meaning:
"צָפ ף לִרְוָחָה" "crowded, yet wide open." It reminds us that when the heart is open, there's always space.
And that's exactly what happened - the house filled with laughter, conversation, connection, and meaning. We were honored to offer our Shinshinim not just a place to stay, but truly a home away from home. We watched them grow, lead, contribute, and share their love with the community - and in return, we were deeply enriched.
And to anyone in the community thinking about hosting: Open your home - and you'll find your heart opening even wider. Because when you welcome a Shinshin, it's not just having a guest - it's inviting a piece of Israel into your life.
Thank you, Jewish Federation, for the trust, the opportunity, and the unforgettable memories. Our home is always open, and we can't wait to host one of the new Madrichim for Camp Givah this summer. And to our dear Shinshinim Yael & Dan, and Mia that we hosted last year, thank you for filling our home with love and warmth, making it beautifully crowded and wide open, just as a home should be.
The Bahir Family
June 17, 2025
For more information about our ShinShinim, contact:
KB Goodkin
(518) 783-7800 ext. 222
kbgoodkin@jewishfedny.org