If you have spent time at Congregation Shaare Emeth, Kol Rinah, United Hebrew Congregation or Congregation B’nai Amoona, or have attended any of the multitude of events within the Jewish community, it is likely you have met, or at least seen or heard of, Yuval Cohen and Gal Roberman. 

Cohen and Roberman are two 18-year-olds from Israel who are spending the school year and upcoming summer contributing to Jewish life in St. Louis for people of all ages. They are part of the Shinshinim, a program that sends teens from Israel to other cities around the globe to teach about Israel through various programming. 

This is the first year St. Louis has participated in the program, which has been brought here by the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. St Louis’ Shinshinim have already attempted to make an impact upon the Jewish community, and still plan to contribute throughout the coming months. 

After high school graduation, teenagers in Israel typically join the IDF, the Israeli Defense Forces. However, some teenagers apply for the Shinshinim program, which is thought of as a gap year between high school and the army. It is not easy to be accepted into the program, as its impact is so respected throughout Israel, with many people hoping to one day join the organization. 

“One of the main reasons I wanted to do this program is because I think that the relationship between Israel and the Jewish communities abroad is an important thing that should always be there,” Cohen said. “Also, I think I will learn a lot about myself during this year, such as  [my own] independence for example.” 

These young people want to be part of the Shinshinim program so they can spread their love of Israel. They strive to share their passion for their home country in the hope that other countries will find it infectious and feel that same passion and love for Israel.

“The goal of Shinshinim is to educate people of all ages about Israel and Israeli culture and make them more connected to Israel,” Roberman said. “I love Israel with all my heart, and I will do everything for Israel. I think that the Shinshinim program is an amazing opportunity to show people ‘my Israel’ through my eyes and make them fall in love with Israel too.”

Cohen and Roberman have many roles within the St. Louis Jewish community this year. Cohen spends his time at United Hebrew and B’nai Amoona, and Roberman spends her time at Shaare Emeth and Kol Rinah. They also both attend a variety of community events.

“I’m involved in most of the congregations’ programs (including) preschool, youth groups, Sunday school, Hebrew school, and a lot of extra activities like retreats, services and children’s programs,” Cohen said.

The two Shinshinim have felt very welcomed here. Between living at host homes, meeting people from various congregations and making friends their own age, they feel the chance to really fit in while they are here.

“[The Jewish community here] is amazing,” Roberman said. “I was really nervous to come to a new place, especially a place that has never had Shinshinim before, but from the first second that I met everyone and started to work I felt at home. So many people here care about Israel and want to know more about the country and I think that is amazing.”

Staying in host homes is an integral part of the program. Each of the Shinshinim live with multiple families from the participating congregations throughout the year, for an average of about two months. The host families become like parents and siblings to them and help them to adapt to American culture.

“Living in host families is a special experience,” Roberman said. “You live in a family that didn’t have to host you, but they truly host you with all their heart as if you were part of the family. More than that, it is an experience to see a different culture than your home and to know different people at a very close level. I’m sure that I will be in touch with my host families for the rest of my life.”

Hosting one of the teens from Israel is typically a special experience for members of the host families who are similar in age. They have the chance to meet someone at a similar walk of life as them from another culture.

“[When I found out we would be a host family,] I was actually staying with my grandparents in Israel,” said Noa Hahn, a junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School and member of Shaare Emeth.

I FaceTimed my mom, and after she explained the Shinshinim program and how we got involved with it, I felt pretty excited. After all, I had always wanted to host a foreign exchange student, but a teen from Israel was even better,”  said Noa. 

Hosting a teen from another country is also a great learning experience. Seeing how a teen from Israel lives can have a large impact on a host family’s perspective.

“Being a host family is a lot of fun, and I’ve had to learn a lot, too, Noa said. “Despite being half Israeli, I’m very much an uptight American, so living with an Israeli in her purest form has taught me to be more flexible.”

Roberman and Cohen definitely recognize differences between American and Israeli culture. The culture here opens their eyes to what it is like to live in a place where the Jewish community is much smaller.

“Israel is the only Jewish country in the world,” Roberman said. “There is something special about Israel because when you walk through Israel you feel at home. Because you know that it is a Jewish country and everything in the country is according to Jewish beliefs, and everyone around you is Jewish, everyone is like a big family,” 

Though St. Louis is not their real home, the experiences they have here make it feel much more like home than it would otherwise. They do not only spend time within the Jewish community- they also get the chance to explore the city in their free time.

“My favorite thing that I have done is go to The Arch. It was an amazing experience for me. To go up and absorb the whole city was truly amazing,” Cohen said.

Cohen and Roberman have only been here a short time and are looking forward to all that is to come throughout the year. The Shinshinim program is truly a once in a lifetime experience and they are thankful for all of the experiences they have had already.

“Every weekend when I’m thinking about the week I just had, I feel happy that I did so many important things and that I have this opportunity to do it,” Roberman said.