By Lahav Hyitner and Danielle Or Lev, ShinShinim for greater Ann Arbor
Lahav and Danielle in downtown Ann Arbor
Hello, Ann Arbor, Jewish community!
We introduced ourselves, the ShinShinim Danielle and Lahav, in the previous issue of the WJN. As we begin our year of service with the Jewish Agency here in Ann Arbor, we are excited to share the experiences we’ve had in the last month since we arrived. From settling into our new roles to adjusting to life in a new city, the transition has been both exhilarating and rewarding. We are grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received and are eager to update you on our adventures and milestones.
First and foremost, we’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to community members Sue and Larry Adler for their amazing hospitality during our first week. Their kindness and support made our arrival truly special and gave us the perfect start to this journey.
We are excited to share that we have moved in with our wonderful host families for the next six months. Lahav is staying with the family of Scott and Cindy Kellman, and Danielle is with Sarah and Rabbi Josh Whinston and their family. We’ve felt right at home with these amazing and welcoming families who embraced us from the moment we arrived, and we hope to create lasting memories with them that will shape this special year together.
Our first impressions of Ann Arbor have been nothing short of amazing. All the nature that is incorporated seamlessly throughout the city justifies the city’s name. There is a fantastic atmosphere here, especially around the University of Michigan. The people here are so warm and welcoming, and it’s comforting to know that we have a strong support system in the community.
Israel is going through very challenging times—an ongoing war, hostages being held, external threats, and deep political and social divisions internally. It’s heartwarming to see your unwavering support for Israel and the unity between American Jewish communities despite their great diversity—we can all learn from this.
We’ve also begun our work in the various institutions where we’ll be volunteering this year, including Hebrew Day School (HDS), KidZone and the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at the JCC, Temple Beth Emeth, and Beth Israel Congregation. The staff in these places have been wonderful, welcoming us with open arms. We’ve already had the pleasure of meeting many community members and working with the children. It’s been a joy to start building these connections.
We’re fortunate for the chance to explore and enjoy some of the local attractions. We visited the Henry Ford Museum, spent time in Kensington Metropark, and biked around Ann Arbor. We also baked challah with the HDS team, participated in an escape room with the staff of the Jewish Federation, had a fun axe-throwing outing with the ECC team, and participated in a few community-wide activities. These experiences have been both fun and enriching, helping us feel even more connected to the community.
We are incredibly proud to be part of the first cohort of ShinShinim in this wonderful and unique community. Our goal is to make the ShinShinim program an integral part of Jewish life here, and we hope to make a meaningful impact by bringing Israel closer to you. We also hope to return home as strong advocates for the Jewish diaspora and its significance to Israel by the end of this year.
If you have any ideas for our work, potential collaborations, or just want to chat or learn more about our work, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you and are excited to work together to make this year unforgettable. You can email us at shinshinim@jewishannarbor.org.
Thank you again for your warm welcome. We’re so happy to be here!
Best regards, Danielle and Lahav