A group of teenagers from Canada came to Israel to volunteer through an initiative by the Jewish Agency.
Following the horrific attacks by Hamas on October 7 and the start of the Swords of Iron War, the city of Eilat and the Eilot Regional Council took in tens of thousands of evacuees from Gaza border communities and towns under fire.
The Eilot region is paired with the Jewish community in Toronto as part of The Jewish Agency’s Partnership2Gether program, which connects Jewish communities around the world with communities in Israel.
Because of this partnership, three 18-year-olds from Toronto arrived in September to complete a year of service as Reverse ShinShinim (emissaries) in Eilat.
Typically, Jewish Agency ShinShinim are young Israeli emissaries serving Jewish communities worldwide in their gap year between graduating high school and beginning their army service, but Reverse ShinShinim sends Jews from the Diaspora to their Partnership2Gether paired cities to volunteer for a year in formal and informal education settings in the community.
The three young Canadians - Liora Protchi, Yair Goral and Razi Derrick - landed in Israel just a month before the Israel-Hamas war began, never imagining what would befall Israel and how Eilat would soon be the temporary home for thousands of evacuees.
"Suddenly I realized how much life can really change in one second,” said Razi. “But I also realized that this is the place for me, and this is the opportunity for me to be with my people in their difficult time."
Helping the evacuees
Since the evacuees began arriving in Eilat, The Jewish Agency's Canadian ShinShinim have devoted most of their time to supporting the homefront. They celebrated the birthdays of children who were evacuated and had their family members hostage in Gaza, baked cakes and cookies for security forces; organized fun activities for the kids of evacuees to allow the parents a moment of respite.
"We quickly understood the Israeli mentality,” shared Liora. “We didn't ask if we could help, we asked what could be done and where we could contribute more."
This is the second year that the Jewish Federation of Toronto has sent young people for a year of service in Eilat and the Eilot region.
"We know that a reversed ShinShinim year of service by young adults from Toronto in Israel creates a significant and positive impact on both communities in normal times and that is only truer in the war,” Shir Spektorman, director of the partnership in Eilat-Eilot for The Jewish Agency, said. “The fact that these three chose to stay here, when they could’ve been in their quiet homes on the other side of the world, shows how much they are committed to Israel and love the country."
This article was written in cooperation with the Jewish Agency.