By: Elsie Crawford- P2K Coordinator in Milwaukee

To give you an update on Maor Edry and Einav Nahum, I can tell you that these past few months they have both grown almost beyond their job as a Shin Shin. Since January/February they show a confidence in their work as well as in their spare time, it looks like they now ‘own’ Milwaukee. Maor and Einav now end our weekly meetings short because ‘they’ve got things to do’. They are my first Shin Shin experience and it feels like my children are leaving home.

The community adores them, they know about them and their mission. Even if people who are not affiliated with synagogues and even Jewish schools, they all know Maor and Einav. They have also established a good relationship with the non-Jews on their path. They are very flexible, easy-going and well willing teens. The synagogue schools are very satisfied with how they worked with the individual classes, there seems to be a nice rhythm going. Everybody knows more now than they did last year, of how to use a Shin Shin best.

At the JCC there are some small changes put in gear that work better for our Shin Shin, and we are working slowly but surely towards creating even a better working environment. MJDS seems to have found the way to work with some kind of a program for our Shin Shin, it works very smoothly and is being adapted to further enhance it. The effect on the children both at the JCC and at the MJDS by Maor and Einav is almost unmeasurable. The kids simply adore them and yell from afar when they see them.

People from different backgrounds have stopped me on the street saying how wonderful it is to have Shin Shinim in Milwaukee and especially Maor and Einav. At first they (Maor & Einav) were not so sure that their mere presence would sort any effect, now they understand that simply by being here and being seen, they are the first tangible link to Israel for many. The distance to Israel is big in miles/kilometers, Maor and Einav make Israel into a reality instead of a theory.

The feeling Maor and Einav had in the beginning, that they weren’t doing enough or making enough of a difference has changed totally. They see the results of their work and effort.

The last few weeks with the Yamim, both did a tremendous amount of work and did various projects with the children. As they will do again on the Israel@60 community walk on June 1st. They are truly ambassadors for Israel.

We were lucky that the host families for both of them were a great pick. They have grown very attached also to the second host family and are reluctant to have to leave so soon for Camp Interlaken. You can tell they are dreading the moment to say goodbye. Both Maor and Einav told me separately that they love their host families and it feels like being with their own family. The host families from their part told me that they hate to see them go, that they are such a great part of their families, it will be for them as if having a child leave home again. Hopefully we can accomplish the same kind of connection for the next Shin Shinim and their host families!

That’s all for now,