The ShinShinim are mature, motivated 18-year-old Israelis who have deferred their army service for a year of volunteering around the globe within various Jewish communities, including Toronto. The UJA ShinShinim work at a variety of Jewish organizational institutions, such as schools, synagogues, and youth movements, to engage our community in meaningful programming focused on contemporary Israel.
To welcome a UJA ShinShin into your home. This means creating a supportive, warm, and safe environment for their stay in Toronto.
We're seeking families who are open to spending quality time with the UJA ShinShin, whether it's sharing meals, engaging in activities, or offering a listening ear and moral support. Please take into consideration any family events, upcoming trips, or other commitments that might affect your ability to host. If you do need to be away, we can provide support for temporary coverage
All Jewish families are invited to apply! You don’t need to be affiliated with a Jewish institution or have young children at home. But you should have a private room the UJA ShinShin can call their own with access to a bathroom close by, as well as internet access and a seat at your table.
UJA ShinShinim are placed with Host Families for three to seven months. The UJA ShinShinim typically go home for two weeks over the winter holidays.
We have two hosting sessions running from:
- Approximately the end of August/beginning of September to the end of January/beginning of February
- Approximately the end of January/beginning of February to the end of June, with a ten-day break for Passover.
You have the choice of committing to one or both sessions. Ideally we aim for the UJA ShinShinim to stay with two host families over the course of the year.
No, hosting a UJA ShinShin is a purely volunteer experience. However, we do offer a cheque exchange program, which provides a donation tax receipt of up to $5,000.
You’ll have full support from our UJA ShinShinim team as well as local Lay Leaders. We have a complete onboarding process and resources to set you up for success from day one.
Please click here to submit your application. Once submitted, there is a qualification process after which we’ll let you know if you’ve been accepted.
