BT MEMBERS: Please visit our "Support Israel" page for more information about local and Bet Torah gatherings, Bet Torah's clergy and community responses to the current situation, Resources and much more.
CLICK HERE FOR BT'S "SUPPORT ISRAEL" Content
Israel Committee
Bet Torah Israel Affairs Representative on the Board of Directors is Carol Haber-Cohen. To learn more about our engagement with Israel, and to see how you can help, please contact her directly: IsraelAffairs@bettorah.org
Visit Israel
Trips for Teens | Taglit/Birthright Israel
Our connection to Israel is as strong as ever, and our clergy- and staff-led family trips to Israel resumed post-pandemic, in December 2022. Contact Rabbi Brusso for more information.
SHinshinim
We are very excited to be part of the Jewish Agency for Israel's "Shin-shinim" program!
2025-2026 Shinshin: Arbel Ziv
Hi, I’m Arbel Ziv, a 17-year-old from Ein Yahav, a close-knit agricultural moshav in Israel’s Arava desert. Growing up here has been special, with quiet desert beauty, a strong community, and a family that means the world to me. I have two younger siblings, Marom and Iyar, and a cat named Tigi. We love board games, cooking, traveling, and movie nights together.
I’m lucky to have amazing friends, and when I’m not with them, I’m usually hiking the desert, cheering on Formula 1, tinkering with technology, or relaxing at a nearby watchtower with incredible views.
Giving back is important to me. I’ve volunteered with Magen David Adom for several years and am active in our local youth movement. At school, I focus on computer science and physics, which keep me challenged and inspired.
That’s a little about me, excited to meet you all!
2024-2025 Shinshin: Nadav Weiss
2023-2024 Shinshin: Noy Laufer
2022-2023 Shinshin: Sagi Shlesinger
2021-2022 Shinshin: Gilad Grinblat
2019-2020 Shinshinit: Brtukan Ezra
What are Shin-shinim?
The Shin-shinim program is the "year of service program" that offers Israeli high school graduates an opportunity to delay mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces and serve Diaspora communities for up to 10 months. The program allows communities to meet young Israeli ambassadors who perform meaningful service prior to entering the army. In 2014-15, 98 Service Year Shlichim served in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and other countries; this number grew to 114 in 2017 and 2018.
Jr Shaliach
We are very excited to have a Jr. Shaliach joining us this programatic year!
2023-2026 Eden Edrei
My name is Eden Edrei, and I am 26 years old. I was born and raised in Zefat, where my family used to live for 10 generations. When I was 7 years old, my family and I moved to Kibbutz Kaddarim, which is located in the Upper Galilee, in the north of Israel. As a family, we love to travel, go on vacations, listen to music, and spend time together. I am the middle child and I have one sister and one brother.
In my free time, I love to read books, watch theater performances, travel around the world, listen to music, and dance. I love animals, especially dogs. Since the age of 7 I have been participating in the youth movement Hashomer HaTsair. When I was 14, I even became a counselor for a group of 15 kids in grades 8 through 10. At the age of 17, I participated in an Israeli outreach mission aimed at connecting Jewish Israeli teenagers with the descendants of the German Nazis. During this mission our goal was to bridge the gaps between us and conduct a discourse on the Holocaust and its consequences using theater tools and skills. During regular service I served in the Navy where I worked as a coordinator and recruiter for reservists for two years. Later, in the permanent services, I was in the Air Force as personnel coordinator and squadron commander. In this capacity I was responsible for overseeing the recruitment and resource of 3,000 regular and emergency reservists, and managed an emergency recruitment office under pressure.
For the past two years I have been working as a youth director in my hometown. In this position I lead and train a group of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18. This significant work taught me a lot and helped me grow professionally. I recently completed my undergraduate studies at Emek Jezreel College, majoring in criminology and political science with a specialization in international relations.
Im looking forward to start this journey with you and looking forward to be part of your community, and bringing my own ''Israel'' to you.
See you soon,
Eden
If you'd like to get in touch you can reach me at edened@jafi.org!
What is a Shaliach/Shlicha?
A shlicha is an Israeli who is sent to a community to connect that community to Israel. Our current shlicha, Eden will be living in our community for two years under the supervision of local synagogues, Tzahal Shalom and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
As a shlicha, Eden will engage in educational activities incorporating learning materials about Israel, Judaism and Zionism. Together she will plan cultural events, learn Hebrew, bring in speakers/artists, hold activities on holidays and more, through informal education activities. In addition, she will be working with two other synagogues in our area continuing to develop relationships with the members of the community.