By Lahav and Danielle, Ann Arbor ShinShinim
Danielle and Lahav arrived in Ann Arbor in August 2024 as volunteers on a year of service from Israel before their army service, through the ShinShinim program of the international Jewish Agency for Israel.
October has been a month filled with activity and excitement for us, the ShinShinim, here in Ann Arbor. With so much planning and preparation for the Jewish holidays, alongside our regular schedules at the local institutions, we were constantly on the go. Despite how busy it was, our work and interactions with the community have been incredibly fulfilling and energizing. It’s amazing to see our plans come to life and to witness the positive impact we’re making on so many kids throughout the area!
Settling into Routine at Local Institutions
This month, we continued to establish our roles and responsibilities within the community institutions. At the JCC’s Early Childhood Center (ECC), Danielle started teaching Israeli children’s songs that combine dance and Hebrew language learning. She also launched a special weekly class called “Israeli Music and Dance” where children can join her to enjoy singing and dancing to Israeli music. These engaging activities foster a fun and vibrant atmosphere, allowing the kids to immerse themselves in Israeli culture while promoting physical activity and social interaction.
Meanwhile, Lahav kicked off Hebrew lessons at Temple Beth Emeth (TBE), where he introduced the kids to the Hebrew alphabet through games and activities, sparking their curiosity about Israeli culture and language.
Reflecting on September: The Temple Beth Emeth Retreat
We ended September with an unforgettable weekend retreat in Howell with 4th and 5th graders from Temple Beth Emeth (TBE). This retreat gave us the opportunity to connect more deeply with the kids and the educational team, as well as learn about the unique activities of the synagogue. We experienced classic American outdoor adventures, including a climbing tower and skipping stones on the lake, all while enjoying the beautiful nature surrounding us.
One of the highlights of the retreat was the Talent Show. The boys at the retreat, with Lahav’s choreography, put on a comedic ballet performance that had everyone laughing. It was a delightful memory that we and the kids will cherish for a long time!
At the end of the month, we participated in York’s Jivia (“Jewish Trivia”) community event. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people from the community and experience the welcoming spirit that truly defines the Ann Arbor Jewish community.
Celebrating the High Holidays
As October began, we dove into various activities in celebration of Rosh Hashanah.
At TBE’s Religious School, we led music lessons for children aged 3-10 and a class for 7th graders where we discussed the differences between how Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Israel compared to the Diaspora. For example, in Israel, everyone celebrates on the same date, the entire country enjoys a break from school, and families gather for festive meals at the exact same time, which results in heavily congested roads!
In the 7th grade class, we also baked honey cakes with the children – one for each child to take home to their family. This activity was inspired by one of Danielle’s family traditions. Every year, her family bakes honey cakes and places them in the lobby of their apartment building, along with a New Year’s greeting encouraging their neighbors to take a sweet slice for a “Shana Metuka” (sweet year). It felt special to share this tradition with the kids and to help them create a similar experience for their own families.
At the Hebrew Day School (HDS), we conducted a range of activities for Rosh Hashanah, as well. With the older students, we discussed leadership, drawing inspiration from the symbolic saying “Be the head and not the tail.” We explored questions like “What makes a good leader?” and “Who can be a leader?”
For the younger students, we focused on the traditional symbols and blessings of the holiday through interactive activities, similar to those used in Israeli youth movements. At the end of these activities, each child created a personalized bookmark with their own wish for the upcoming year – a wish they can revisit every time they open a book, serving as a reminder to make it come true.
On the same day that we led these Rosh Hashanah activities at HDS, we learned about the early October Iranian attack on Israel. It felt strange and difficult not to be home during such a challenging time, knowing that our family and friends were in shelters while we continued our work here. Despite the heartache, we understand that our mission of strengthening the bond between Israel and the Diaspora is crucial, especially during these moments.
Celebrating Sukkot and More
We continued to celebrate the Jewish holidays with more educational and engaging activities. For Sukkot, we did a music-based activity at TBE where the children learned about the tradition of building a sukkah. We also introduced them to the iconic Israeli song “Shlomit Bona Sukka” by Naomi Shemer. Her work is deeply embedded in Israeli culture. To make the lesson even more fun, Lahav played the role of a biblical character who had been wandering in the desert for 30 years, helping the kids understand the origins of Sukkot and the historical journey of the Israelites.
Spending the holidays away from home felt different – there was a sense of longing as we saw photos and joined video calls with our families during the festive meals. But it was also a unique experience to celebrate the holidays in a new way with different traditions and with our host families, who made sure we felt as comfortable and welcomed as possible.
Honoring October 7th
On October 7th, we attended a ceremony on the UM Diag and joined a commemoration dinner at Hillel. We also organized a special ceremony at HDS, where we shared stories about the volunteers in Israel during the war, sang songs with the students, and created yellow lantern-shaped origami with messages of hope, encouragement, and solidarity. We sent these lanterns to Nahalal Elementary School in Ann Arbor’s partnership community of Moshav Nahalal, to spread light during these dark times.
In addition, Danielle gave a speech on October 6th during the day-long “Reflections” art exhibit commemoration at the JCC. There, she shared her personal story from last year’s October 7th and spoke about Noa Price, who was the cousin of her best friend Roy. Noa, an observation soldier stationed at Nahal Oz, tragically lost her life on that fateful day. Her final message to her family was, “I love you,” and then the contact with her was lost. Danielle shared that Noa’s story touched her deeply, and that sharing it with the community was a very meaningful moment for her.
Looking Ahead
October has been a truly meaningful month for us. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community, and we look forward to the months ahead as we continue to learn, grow, and share Israel’s culture with all of you. We invite you to reach out to us on Instagram at shinshinim_annarbor, where we regularly share updates on our ongoing activities so you can stay connected throughout our time here. You can also contact us via email at danielle@jewishannarbor.org and lahav@jewishannarbor.org. We would love to hear from you and continue to build this connection together!