Jewish Ottawa recently welcomed two Shinshinim, Noya and Kai, for the 2026-2027 academic year. They will be present in all facets of Jewish life in Ottawa, from spending time with students at community day schools and supplemental schools to interacting with the community more widely at special events, they will be present at events across the city.

“One of the greatest aspects of this program is that we have the opportunity to integrate young Israeli emissaries into every aspect of Jewish life in Ottawa,” said Eriel Ben-Gal, PJ Library and Young Families Manager at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa. “Shinshinim help build gesher chai, a living bridge, between Ottawa and Israeli society for people who may have never had that exposure before.”

Recently, the Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin was able to catch up with Noya and Kai to learn more about them and to see what their first impressions of Ottawa and Canada have been so far.

E-Bulletin: What made you decide that you wanted to become a Shinshin?

Noya: For me, some of my counsellors in my youth group did this program. Some of them came to Canada and had a really good experience. I only heard good things about this program and the experience of living abroad.

My brother also went to boarding school in the U.S. for two years to play football. When he came back to Israel, I saw the good impact it had on him and heard all about the memories he made during his time there.

Ultimately, I always knew that I wanted to do a gap year and volunteer, and this program was the right fit for me.

Kai: Similarly to Noya, many of my friends did this program. I had thought about becoming a Shinshin since I was 15. When my friends came back with all of the stories of their experiences and the memories they made, I knew I wanted to do something similar.

E-Bulletin: Why are you passionate about this kind of work? What about working in the Jewish diaspora interests you?

Noya: I have a lot of experience working with children. I have worked as a camp counsellor for the last few years, which I really enjoyed. I knew wanted to do something similar during my gap year, and this program allows me to do so while also getting to experience a new culture.

Kai: When deciding what to do for my gap year, I knew I wanted to work in education in some capacity.

I’ve been drawn to education from a very young age. I believe it’s one of the key elements of building a better society. I’ve also worked with kids for most of my life and have volunteered for eight years with a program called K’nafaim shel Krembo, Krembo Wings, which is program for children with special needs.

E-Bulletin: What are you hoping to gain from this experience? What are you hoping to learn?

Noya: I really want to connect with people and be the best emissary I can be for my home country. I want to be able to share Israeli culture and help young people learn about the connections we have with one another. I hope that the people I meet here feel like they have a friend in Israel and that if they ever come visit, they know they can reach out to me.

Kai: Beyond getting to know the Jewish community of Ottawa, I’m excited to learn about Canadian culture. I hope that I will better understand society after my time in Canada. I’m also looking forward to learn about Jewish identity from the Canadian perspective.

E-Bulletin: What have your first impressions of Ottawa been?

Noya: When I first learned about Ottawa, I thought it was going to feel more like a small town. I had heard the rumours that Ottawa was boring, but I have found that it is the opposite. From karaoke nights to museum parties to the markets downtown, there is so much to do. 

I’ve also been taken aback by how big the city is in terms of its size. There are so many trees and forests, and there’s so much space. 

Kai: I really like Ottawa. I had also heard that the city was boring and that there was nothing to do, but once I got here, I absolutely fell in love with it. I like the pace of life here, which is much slower than it is in Israel. When I take my morning walks, people are always smiling and stopping to chat. In Ottawa, it feels like people take the time to enjoy each other and to see each other.

Also, I love the nature in this city. The trees are huge and there is so much green space.