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The Community
The success of the ShinShinim program depends greatly on the commitment and leadership of our community partners.
Local and Organizational Supervisors play crucial roles in mentoring, managing, and guiding the ShinShinim throughout their service year. Their involvement ensures a meaningful and impactful experience for both the Shinshinim and the host community.
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The Supervisor’s Role
Supervisors are at the heart of the ShinShinim support system. Their role is both challenging and rewarding, involving oversight, guidance, and care throughout the year.
Position Description – Regional Supervisor
Role Overview:
The Regional Supervisor supports and oversees multiple communities and/or organizations where ShinShinim are placed. As the main liaison between The Jewish Agency, local supervisors, and host organizations, they ensure consistency, provide professional guidance, and manage escalated issues.
Key Responsibilities:
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Support local supervisors with resources, feedback, and mentoring.
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Address systemic or unresolved issues.
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Hold monthly check-ins with each local supervisor.
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Communicate updates and guidance from The Jewish Agency.
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Facilitate regional training and professional development.
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Collect and assess feedback to improve program quality.
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Ensure program guidelines are followed.
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Monitor ShinShinim’s well-being with biweekly check-ins.
Mentorship and Support Guide for Year of Service (ShinShinim) Emissaries
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Why is Mentorship Important?
The Year of Service program abroad presents unique challenges. At just 18 years old, the emissaries leave home, often for the first time, and move to a foreign country. They face linguistic and cultural differences, live with host families, and are suddenly expected to meet the responsibilities and expectations of full-time work.
All these factors create different challenges, both personal (identity crises, loneliness) and professional (distance from home, teamwork under pressure, and questions of meaning).
That’s why continuous mentorship and support are essential for a successful service year.
What Is Effective Mentorship?
At the Jewish Agency’s Shlichut Unit, there’s a well-known saying:
“Shlichut = Person + Mission.”
This principle guides our approach to mentorship.
For a Shlichut to succeed, we must see and address the emissary’s personal needs, while helping them fulfill their mission.
Mentorship is an active, supportive presence, a continuous learning process based on a meaningful relationship between the supervisor and the emissary.
Its goal: to help the emissary navigate the challenges of their service, develop confidence, and act professionally.
A successful Shlichut is one in which:
- The community is satisfied with the program.
- The emissary experiences a positive, meaningful year and wishes to stay involved in the future.
Who Provides the Mentorship?
The support process operates through three interconnected circles:
1. The Local Circle – The local supervisor serves as the emissary’s daily point of contact, familiar with the institutions, host families, and community. Available both in routine and emergencies.
2. The Regional Circle – A regional emissary coordinator or senior supervisor who offers a broader perspective, oversees several communities, and brings experience from mentoring multiple emissaries.
3. The Israel-Based Team – The regional coordinator, social worker, and dispatch manager who provide professional, emotional, and administrative guidance from Israel.
The Four Dimensions of Mentorship
1. Logistical and Organizational Support
- Coordinating schedules
- Communication with institutions
- Practical arrangements
2. Emotional Support
- One-on-one meetings
- Assistance in times of crisis
- Communication with parents
3. Educational Guidance
- Direction and role modeling
- Activity development
- Connecting to educational content and sources
4. Social Mentorship
- Group dynamics
- Teamwork
- Relationships with host families
Structure and Frequency of Mentorship
To be effective, mentorship must be consistent and scheduled according to the emissary’s and supervisor’s routines.
- Weekly: Personal Meeting
A space for personal connection, sharing, and reflection on the emissary’s experience and growth.
- Biweekly: Professional Meeting
A focused work session on educational planning and teamwork.
Conducted with all emissaries in the local group (pair or more), addressing professional issues and shared challenges.
- Monthly: Professional Supervision
Led by the educational supervisor.
- Quarterly: Group Development Session
Led by the track’s social worker, focusing on strengthening teamwork and group dynamics.
Recommendation:
If possible, set aside a fixed “office/federation/hub day” each week dedicated to mentorship. Personal conversations, team meetings, professional training, and preparation for upcoming activities.
Adaptation Curve – The Annual Journey
A service year is long and full of ups and downs. Emissaries will experience a wide range of emotions: sometimes even contradictory ones.
We present this through an adaptation curve, illustrating the dynamic rhythm of the year, much like an EKG, a living, emotional pulse.
Understanding this curve helps mentors normalize these experiences for the emissaries and reassure them that fluctuations are a natural part of the process.
Quarter 1: Settling In (September–November)
- Getting to know the community
- Adjusting to institutions
- Building relationships and routines
- Regional and international opening seminars
Quarter 2: Reality (December–February)
- Establishing work routines
- Developing personal projects
- Transitioning to a new host family
- Home leave in Israel
- Preparation for national days
Quarter 3: The Peak (March–May)
- Leading national day events (Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut)
- End of the school year
- Summer camp interviews
- Farewell planning with the community
Quarter 4: Beginning Again (June–August)
- Participation in summer camps
- Preparing and training incoming emissaries
- Saying goodbye to the community and returning home to Israel
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Organizational Supervisor
The organization Supervisor plays an important role in the success of the Shnat Sherut in the community. They serve as the contact person within the organization where the Shinshinim work. They are responsible for providing them with professional support throughout the year within the organization's activities, assisting in building a schedule, and solving problems and issues during the year related to the organization.
Position Description – Community/Organizational Supervisor
Role Overview:
The Community or Organizational Supervisor provides daily guidance and support to ShinShinim within a specific community or organization. They are responsible for local program implementation, mentorship, and coordination.
Key Responsibilities:
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Engage staff and volunteers; promote the program internally.
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Build weekly schedules and track performance.
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Recruit and support host families.
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Offer regular feedback and personal/professional support.
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Handle logistics such as workspace, supplies, and communication with regional supervisors.
Weekly Schedule Guidelines
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A structured weekly schedule is essential for a successful Shnat Sherut experience. Each ShinShin should work with 3–5 organizations weekly, engaging with various audiences and activities aligned with their mission.
The weekly schedule should include:
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Ongoing roles in assigned organizations
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One-time volunteer events
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Community-wide programs
Scheduling Tips
When creating the weekly schedule, please ensure the following:
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Day Off: One full day off per week is required.
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Learning Time: One morning per week for planning and rest.
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Balanced Days: Include both morning and afternoon activities where possible.
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Community Involvement: Encourage participation in events.
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Designated Contact: Each organization must appoint a supervisor for the ShinShin.
(Note: The day off may be any day that works best for the community and Shinshin.)
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Weekly Schedule Guidelines
A structured weekly schedule is essential for a successful Shnat Sherut experience. Each ShinShin should work with 3–5 organizations weekly, engaging with various audiences and activities aligned with their mission.
The weekly schedule should include:
-
Ongoing roles in assigned organizations
-
One-time volunteer events
-
Community-wide programs
Scheduling Tips
When creating the weekly schedule, please ensure the following:
-
Day Off: One full day off per week is required.
-
Learning Time: One morning per week for planning and rest.
-
Balanced Days: Include both morning and afternoon activities where possible.
-
Community Involvement: Encourage participation in events.
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Designated Contact: Each organization must appoint a supervisor for the ShinShin.
(Note: The day off may be any day that works best for the community and Shinshin.)
Communication & Supervision Guidelines
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Clear, timely communication and consistent supervision are essential to a successful Shnat Sherut experience — for both the Shinshin and the community.
Response Expectations
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ShinShinim should respond to communications within 24–48 hours (except during holidays).
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The 360 app allows supervisors to monitor and contact ShinShinim in emergencies.
Supervisor Availability
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Be accessible at all times for emergencies.
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Clarify preferred communication methods at the start of the year.
Setting Expectations at the beginning of the year:
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Define the preferred methods of communication (e.g., email, WhatsApp, phone).
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Clarify availability expectations, response time, and who to contact in different situations.
Weekly Check-ins & Mentorship
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Hold weekly meetings with the site supervisor. These conversations may include:
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Reviewing the Shinshin’s schedule
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Planning future activities
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Provide ongoing, culturally sensitive feedback.
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Brainstorming ideas and addressing challenges
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Informal Support
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Build informal connections (e.g., coffee chats) to support emotional well-being.
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These casual moments help build trust and give space to check in on the Shinshin’s emotional well-being.
Feedback Culture
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Feedback should be ongoing and immediate: both for areas of improvement and for recognizing success. (Mind the cultural differences, Israelis need clear and direct feedback)
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Timely feedback promotes growth and ensures the Shinshin can better serve the community.
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Don’t wait! Feedback is most effective when it’s close to the moment.
Problem-Solving
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Escalate unresolved issues to the JAFI team.
Attendance & Travel
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Notify supervisors promptly if missing an activity.
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Submit a Vacation Request Form for travel outside the city.
The Role of the Shinshin in Schools
Shinshinim bring the spirit of Israel into the school community through a combination of structured classroom activities and informal interactions throughout the school day.
In the Classroom
As informal educators, Shinshinim serve as “experts” on Israeli life and culture, engaging students in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.
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Act as informal educators, visiting each class 2–3 times/month.
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Tailor activities to students’ ages and the school curriculum.
Beyond the Classroom
Outside the classroom, Shinshinim build personal connections with students, staff, and parents, helping create a warm and engaging learning environment.
Their responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):
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Interactive Israel Board: Creating and maintaining a visual, interactive bulletin board to engage students with current events and cultural insights from Israel.
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Playtime Activities: Playing Israeli games and Hebrew-language activities during recess and breaks.
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Accompanying Trips: Joining school outings and special trips, especially with older students.
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Daily/Weekly Israel Moments: Sharing Israeli music, holidays, news, or fun facts to create a regular connection with Israeli culture.
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Parent Engagement: Connecting with parents through updates, events, and showcasing what their children are learning about Israel.
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Teacher Involvement: Creating an Israel-themed board in the teachers’ lounge or contributing Israeli content to staff meetings.
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Holiday Integration: Bringing Israeli customs, costumes, and traditions into school holiday celebrations.
Above all, the Shinshin aims to bring the Israeli spirit into every corner of the school: fostering curiosity, building relationships, and strengthening ties between the school community and Israel.
The Role of the Shinshin in Synagogues, Youth Movements, and Informal Frameworks
In synagogues and informal educational settings, Shinshinim play a vital role in connecting the community: especially youth and families, to Israel through personal relationships, engaging content, and experiential learning.
Their presence is most felt on Shabbat, holidays, in Hebrew/Sunday schools, and in youth movement activities, where they bring Israeli spirit, language, and culture into everyday moments of Jewish life.
Core Areas of Engagement
In the Classroom (Hebrew/Sunday Schools):
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Developing and leading fun, meaningful, age-appropriate activities
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Sharing personal stories, Israeli holidays, and current events in dynamic ways
In the Synagogue Community:
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Giving a Dvar Torah or sharing weekly updates on news from Israel during services
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Running or co-leading family or youth services on Shabbat and holidays
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Writing Israel-themed content for the synagogue newsletter or website
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Participating in the Israel Committee, contributing ideas for deepening Israel engagement across synagogue life
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Supporting or leading young adult education programs related to Israeli society, culture, or history
In Informal & Youth Education:
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Organizing and participating in youth movement activities, bringing Israel into informal spaces through games, music, discussion, and creativity
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Facilitating informal Hebrew learning through play-based and immersive methods
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Building personal relationships with youth and teens, serving as a role model and a cultural bridge
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Taking part in synagogue-led volunteer projects, modeling values of social action and community involvement
Through these diverse roles, Shinshinim create powerful educational and emotional connections to Israel, enriching synagogue life and nurturing a love for Israel among children, teens, families, and adults alike.
Welcoming Your Shinshinim: Orientation & Ongoing Support
The first days in a new community are critical for setting the tone of the Shlichut year. A thoughtful, well-planned orientation helps the Shinshinim feel supported, connected, and ready for their new role.
Orientation Week
During the first 1.5 to 2 weeks, we recommend organizing a structured orientation to ease the Shinshinim into their new environment and responsibilities.
Key components of a strong orientation:
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Introduce Institutions & Teams: Visit all partner organizations and institutions where the Shinshinim will be working. Arrange introductory meetings with directors and staff.
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Expectation-Setting Meetings: Schedule conversations to clarify roles, goals, and day-to-day expectations.
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Team-Building Activities: Facilitate bonding between the Shinshinim and your team, as well as with other relevant staff or community members.
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City Tour: Help them become familiar with the local area: transportation, grocery stores, key community landmarks, etc.
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Overlap Period (if possible): If your outgoing Shinshin is available, consider organizing a short overlap period to allow for peer-to-peer guidance and smoother transition.
Ongoing Support
From the moment the Shinshinim arrive, the supervisor plays a key role in their continued development and well-being.
Supervisory responsibilities include:
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Providing ongoing mentorship on how to navigate roles in each institution
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Supporting healthy team dynamics between multiple Shinshinim or staff
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Encouraging open communication: inviting Shinshinim to share feelings, questions, and experiences
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Maintaining regular check-ins and ensuring alignment with expectations outlined in the “Supervisor’s Role” section
A strong start and consistent support throughout the year ensure that Shinshinim can flourish, and that your community benefits fully from their presence.
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