The New Shinshinit

“At first they told me I didn’t get in. I wanted to cry, it felt like it was the end of the world,” said Talia Shalom. “And then they were like “No, we’re just kidding like you got in." I just started screaming.”

Eighteen-year-old Talia Shalom said she was relieved and excited to learn that she would be the 2023-2024 DJDS Shinshinit.  

Shinshin is a Hebrew acronym for Shenat Sherut, meaning year of service. This is where Israeli high school graduates defer their service from the IDF to come and volunteer in different communities. However, while it might seem like an easy enough job, the process to get in is gruesome.  

Each Shinshin is chosen from a pool of upwards of 2000 applicants and has to go through an extensive process of interviews. During these interviews, they want to see how you communicate with other people, how well you can speak English, and how well you come up with new things. According to Jewish Colorado, this is the 9th year that they and their partners have brought this program to Colorado.

Shalom is from Be’er Milka, a small settlement in the Ramat HaNegev Regional Council; her parents were among the first settlers. She has four brothers, one of whom is in the army. Some of Talia’s interests are sports, such as running and weightlifting, and she also enjoys baking, especially rugalach. 

  While here, Shalom wants to convey her story and help people understand that Israel has people who are just like every other American high schooler. She also wants to show people how Israel has different sides, and so do the people there. She recalls her first interaction with DJDS students in Israel. 

 “So I met some kids from there [The 10th grade H.I.P trip] and then it was like an instant connection and I was like well, I want to come here and like influence students,” Shalom said. “Also The partnership that we have here in Denver is something really big.”

Talia attends DJDS on Wednesdays, but she also goes to other schools, including DU, CU Boulder, and Hillel. Talia also goes to pre-schools, religious schools, and Sunday schools. This is actually Talia’s first time, not only in the United States but also going abroad. In fact, this winter will also be the first time she sees snow. 

For Shalom, the most striking difference between the U.S. and Israel is the size of everything. 

“Everything here is so much bigger, it's like the views here and the lanes, it's like everything is so much bigger,” said Talia. Talia also wants to show others that the United States and Israel are very similar in many ways.