We’re Looking for a Few Good Hosts!

For the past few years, BT has brought a little bit of Israel here to Baltimore through the Shinshinim Program. Shinshinim are informal educators who enhance our existing study of Israel and its people by serving as ambassadors, engaging our students in a personal exploration of Israeli life and culture through interactive programming and activities. Their role also includes serving as a resource to our faculty about all things Israel to enrich their own classroom lessons.

Our Shinshinim this year are Eden, from Tomer (a Moshav near the Dead Sea), and Nataly, from Givat Ze'ev near Jerusalem. We are searching for host families who live near Beth Tfiloh to “adopt” our Shinshinim from the end of January through June. The Shinshinim will be provided with a car and a cell phone. Your role as host is to offer a warm, nurturing environment, providing food and living accommodations where Shishinim will feel comfortable.

This is an exciting opportunity to expand your family’s own connection to Israel, and build lifelong friendships with these volunteers. Says Robin Neumann of her family’s experience as Shishinim hosts, “We had a WONDERFUL experience. Yarden became part of our family. He added so much to daily discussions and activities. Our dinners were fun and lively when Yarden was with us. And when he left, we were so sad.” When her son, Andy ’15, went to Israel with the Diller Teens Program, he and Yarden were able to get together. “Andy said he was unbelievably happy to see Yarden--they really feel like brothers.”

If you and your family would like to host Eden or Nataly, please contact Mr. Haggai Lavie at hlavie@btfiloh.org as soon as possible!