An Israeli visiting London while war rages in the Middle East.
By Sidney Victor Kaplan
If life is crazy in Israel these days, sometimes it is no less crazy for an Israeli finding himself outside Israel.
I live on a moshav ‘Manof’ in the north of Israel that has been subjected to endless sirens warning of incoming missiles, mostly from Hezbollah in Lebanon but also from Iran.
It is not that we are specifically being targeted but because we are situated near Rafael – Israel’s state-owned aerospace and defense technology company responsible for pioneering and producing such famed operational defense systems like the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Iron Beam – we are ‘included’ on a ‘hit list’ and I’m not referring to a collection of popular songs.
So, like all Israelis, I am armed by having a fully loaded cellphone, which has the lifesaving Home Front Command app that prepares you with a warning of an impending siren that in turn warns you of an impending missile. The only thing is, this abrasive ear-piercing rat-a-tat warning sound is loud, disruptive, intrusive and irritatingly inescapable.
To escape it – or so I thought – I went off to London for a week on my annual pilgrimage to watch cricket and listen to music.
MANOF TO MARLEBONE
So, there I was this past June ensconced at my usual seat, not watching the Ashes, which I try never to miss, but a 5 -day test between England and New Zealand at Lords, home of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
Having a Field Day. Away from war in the Middle East, the writer watches a more sedate battle at Lords between England and New Zealand.
The atmosphere could not be more different from Israel. Far removed from the soundtrack of war of sirens and planes flying above to a blend instead of reverent tradition, hushed anticipation and quite elegance all set against historic architecture, where the crowd’s deep knowledge and respect for the game shines through.
However, one can never really escape.
Despite being away, the mind never leaves Israel and so one is constantly tracking the news. It was refreshing looking at the sky above Lords, seeing only birds and the flight of a red cricket ball rather than planes and missiles. Also, no piercing warning and sirens, just the occasional “HOWZAT” when things were hotting up on the pitch. Meanwhile, I could see – tapping into newsfeeds – that things were ‘hotting up’ in the north of Israel, although all was quiet at Manof.
That was until that evening!
And this is where it gets crazy. I forgot to turn off my blaring siren warning app and off I went to the Wigmore Hall to hear a solo violinist performance of Bach. And, midway during the recital in this famed historic concert hall, my phone starts blaring, warning on an incoming missile – in the middle of a Bach concert!
OMG, I was stunned, immobilized, instant panic. What do I do? Nobody sitting around me, or more likely their parents or grandparents had experienced anything like this since the bloody Blitz!
I felt like Mr. Bean – How do I shut down this noise. The last thing you want in London is to advertise you are Israeli, which was exactly what I was doing. I wonder what people thought as they saw me shove my phone under my bum as I tried to muzzle the shrieking alarm competing with the solo violin.
Lover of Lords. The writer stands below a board at Lords Cricket Grounds that includes a plaque celebrating his birthday with the wording ‘HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
To say this felt CRAZY is an understatement. There I was, absorbed in the beauty of a Bach solo, only to be suddenly yanked back to the reality of what was happening back home, thousands of miles away in the Middle East.
How do you explain this to someone? Sitting peacefully in a world class concert hall in London but technologically and emotionally tied directly back to an air raid alert back home in Israel.
You can’t even get away and relax overseas.
Bach to the Bizarre. Enjoying a Bach recital in Wigmore Hall, London shortly before the writer’s app on his cellphone warned him of an incoming missile near his home in Israel. (Photo: Sidney V. Kaplan)
About the writer:
Sidney Kaplan is originally from Cape Town South Africa and a founding member of ‘Manof’, a moshav founded in the Galilee in 1978. Today, he is retired, having been involved in marketing in Cape Town prior before coming to Israel, and in Israel, one of three partners involved in the flower growing industry for export.
*Feature picture: Lord’s Cricket Ground, the most famous cricket ground in the world.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
Can one separate the art from the artist when troubling actions conflict with your values?
By Motti Verses
For years, the music of Oliver Shanti was mainly part of my mornings. His 1996 album Well Balanced, perhaps his most iconic work, blended atmospheric melodies, Tibetan influences, and meditative world music into something that felt almost spiritual. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, his music became deeply associated across Europe with yoga, tai chi, meditation, and relaxation.
Shanti’s soft rhythms and calming soundscapes created a sense of peace that stayed with me long on my way to work. There was something almost healing in the atmosphere he built. Music that seemed disconnected from noise, aggression, and darkness. For years, I woke up to it at 7 o’clock each morning.
But sometimes art and the artist collide in a way that changes everything.
Oliver Shanti, whose real name was Ulrich Schulz, was convicted in Germany two decades ago for serious child sexual abuse crimes involving minors. When I discovered the full story behind the man whose music had accompanied so many quiet moments in my life, I felt a profound internal conflict. It was shocking.
How could music that sounded so spiritual come from someone capable of causing such harm?
For a while, I tried separating the music from the man. Many of my friends argued that art should stand on its own. And honestly, part of me wanted to keep holding onto those melodies because they were connected to memories, emotions, and years of my life.
Eventually I realized I could no longer disconnect the beauty of the sound from the reality behind it. Every song began carrying a shadow I could not ignore. What once felt peaceful no longer felt innocent.
So, I made a personal decision to stop listening to his music.
Fast forward to 2026.
A confession: I have loved FC Barcelona for almost 40 years. Long before football became a global industry driven by endless money and marketing, Barça already felt different to me. It was never only about trophies. It was about style, emotion, identity, and the feeling that football could still be beautiful.
I grew up watching generations of players who played with imagination and soul. In stadiums in Spain as well as other cities across Europe, but mostly on TV. From the influence of Johan Cruyff to Ronaldinho’s joy, Messi’s genius, and now the rise of young talents like Lamine Yamal. Through glorious victories and painful defeats, Barcelona remained part of my life because supporting this club always felt like something bigger than football. It felt like belonging to a story, a culture, and a dream that lasted across generations.
Then came another emotional conflict.
During Barcelona’s recent championship celebrations a few days ago, images circulated showing Lamine Yamal posing with a Palestinian flag among supporters and celebrations. For some fans, it was viewed as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians – but for me – emotionally affected by the trauma of October 7, and the atrocities committed by Hamas – the image felt painful, political, and deeply uncomfortable.
That is where another dilemma begins.
I have supported FC Barcelona for decades. The club is connected to memories, identity, emotions, friendships, and entire chapters of my life. Then suddenly, a young player, the current symbol of the club who may likely endure for a long time, became associated, at least emotionally in my eyes, with a political symbol that hurts me deeply.
It created an inner conflict between love for the club and discomfort with what I saw.
Of course, becoming a Barça fan and remaining one does not mean agreeing with every political gesture made by every player. Football clubs are enormous global institutions filled with people from different countries, backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. But this one felt different.
So perhaps the real question is not: “Should I stop being a Barcelona fan?”
Maybe the deeper question is:
“Can I emotionally separate my lifelong connection to the club from one political moment involving the current mega star?”
Unlike the Oliver Shanti story, this situation is fundamentally different. One involved horrific criminal acts against children. The other involves political expression, symbolism, identity, and the emotions these subjects awaken in so many people, wherever they are.
Logically, I understand the difference.
Emotionally, it is far more complicated.
Spain Again. A return to its bleak past, three elderly Israeli women, including a Holocaust survivor, were kicked out of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid on February 14. The response from the museum staff was not to remove the people who were harassing them but to remove the people who were targeted with antisemitic abuse.
What will I feel the next time I watch Lamine Yamal playing for Spain during the upcoming summer FIFA World Cup? A national team representing a country where public attitudes toward Israel have often felt increasingly hostile and uncomfortable to many Israelis and Jews.
After a few days came the team reaction: FC Barcelona officially tried to distance itself from the incident, without attacking Lamine Yamal personally. The club’s message was essentially:
The gesture was spontaneous and not coordinated by the club. Barcelona would not feature the flag moment in official highlight broadcasts or club media. The club acknowledged that many Israeli fans were upset and its response emphasized values of respect and inclusion.
Grave Concerns. Following the desecration of 20 Jewish headstones at Les Corts Cemetery in Barcelona in January, 2026, local Jewish leaders linked it to the sustained normalization of antisemitic hostility in Spain since the October 7th massacre in Israel. They accused authorities of failing to confront a trend of antisemitic violence.
I am relieved, but is the dilemma history?
I have a feeling it is not.
Time will tell.
*Feature picture: Ulrich Schulz and Lamine Yamal – The Shanti Soundtrack of Yamal dilemma (photo generated by AI).
About the writer:
The author is a seasoned hotel expert, traveler, writer, and videographer, and formerly served as Head of Public Relations for Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Israel. Today, as a travel writer and hospitality trends analyst, his insights and experiences are regularly featured in leading Israeli media outlets.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
Project Max and Legends of Basketball Announce Strategic Partnership to Combat Hate Through the Power of Sports.
By Rolene Marks
Sport is the great unifier and the ultimate bridge builder. On the court, pitch or field is where people drop their defenses, their personal perceptions of one another and focus on what is an important shared goal. Winning.
Nobody understands the power of sports and the ability to fight racism, antisemitism and other prejudice through this medium more than Project Max.
Eddie and Mark talk to i24News about visiting Israel, being athletic advisors to @ProjectMaxClub and why they joined to fight #racism and #antisemitism through sports.
Project Max is a nonprofit organization committed to fighting racism, antisemitism, and intolerance through the power of sports. By mobilizing professional athletes, sports leaders, and community advocates, Project Max promotes education, awareness, and action that empowers individuals to stand up against hate and build inclusive communities.
Since its inception, just over three years ago, Project Max has accomplished extraordinary things including bringing NBA and NFL legends to Israel who advocated for the release of hostages, conducted basketball clinics, supported the devastated community of Majdal Shams when 12 of their children were murdered by a Hezbollah rocket, supported women’s soccer and so much more.
More than a Game. Boys and girls from different ethnic backgrounds participating at a Project Max basketball clinic. (Photo: Courtesy Eric Rubin)
In recent days, Project Max announced a new strategic partnership, dedicated to combating hate and promoting respect, inclusion, and understanding through the global platform of sports. Project Max has partnered up with Legends of Basketball!
Legends of Basketball is a nonprofit association of former professional basketball players united by a shared journey and a shared belief that legacy does not end when the ball stops bouncing. Founded in 1992 and established with the support of the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, the organization brings together former players from the NBA, ABA, WNBA, and Harlem Globetrotters. Legends of Basketball operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to supporting members beyond the game through connection, education, wellness initiatives, family resources, and community service.
The collaboration will bring together athletes, community leaders, educators, and youth organizations to confront racism, antisemitism, and intolerance while using sports as a powerful vehicle for positive social change.
These professional athletes bring with them tremendous influence, legacy, and a network of former professional athletes affiliated with Legends of Basketball. Together, the organizations will launch a series of initiatives designed to engage young athletes, sports communities, and fans in meaningful conversations and programs that promote respect, dignity, and unity.
Antisemitism is rising to astronomical levels around the world. Since 7 October, attacks on Jewish communities and individuals have skyrocketed. Hardly a day goes by without one or several incidents making headlines. It is clear that every effort needs to be made to combat Jew hatred which has already had deadly results. One of the only effective ways to educate against Jew hatred, is to introduce people to the Jewish community. What better way to do it than through an activity that is enjoyable and where participants can thrive whether as individuals or in teams!
Some of the proposed initiatives will include:
– educational workshops for youth athletes
– community outreach programs
– athlete-led discussions about confronting hate and discrimination, and
– public awareness campaigns aimed at promoting the core values of teamwork, fairness, and respect.
These initiatives will focus not only on preventing hate within sports environments – but also on using the influence of sports to foster broader cultural understanding and empathy.
Eyes on the ball and on the Future. (l-r) Mirna Sayeh, who became the first female Palestinian basketball player in the Israeli Premier League, former American-Israeli professional basketball player Tamir Goodman once dubbed by Sports Illustrated the “Jewish Jordan”, Project Max president Eric Rubin and Legends of Basketball, Theo Ratliff, Sedric Toney and Dale Ellis. (Photo: Courtesy Eric Rubin)
Working with schools, sports leagues, and community organizations to create safe and inclusive environments where athletes of all backgrounds can participate and thrive is a key goal. By amplifying positive role models and highlighting the unifying values of sports, Project Max and Legends of Basketball aim to build a movement that encourages individuals everywhere to reject hate and champion respect.
“Sports have an unparalleled ability to bring people together and create shared experiences,” said Eric Rubin, President of Project Max. “Through this partnership with Legends of Basketball, we are working to ensure that the values learned in sports — respect, teamwork and fairness — are also reflected in how we treat one another in society. Together, we hope to inspire athletes and fans to stand firmly against hate and discrimination.”
Pulsating Partnership. Project Max president, Eric Rubin (left) and Legends of Basketball Board Member, Sedric Toney. (Photo: Courtesy Eric Rubin)
Legends of Basketball Board Member, Sedric Toney, agrees:
“Basketball has always been about more than the game itself. It is about community, mentorship, and leadership. By partnering with Project Max, we are using the voices and experiences of former players to help educate and inspire young people to build a culture of inclusion and respect both within sports and beyond. Unfortunately, there has been an alarming rise in all forms of hatred across America and the world. Sports, including basketball, have not been immune to this disturbing trend. On the court, we have seen and heard racial abuse directed against Dennis Schroder, antisemitic comments hurled at Deni Avdija, and religious intolerance against the BYU basketball team.”
In the coming months, the partnership will begin rolling out programs that include youth sports clinics focused on leadership and character development, speaking engagements featuring former professional athletes, collaborative campaigns addressing hate and intolerance in sports environments, and educational initiatives designed to encourage dialogue among athletes, students, and community leaders.
Important lessons can be learned through sports — discipline, teamwork, resilience, and mutual respect can play a powerful role in shaping more inclusive communities and a more compassionate world. Who better to share this than some of the NBA’s most accomplished legends!
The winning combination of Project Max, Legends of Basketball and dedicated youth makes this partnership an absolute slam dunk!
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s sorrowful ban from Aston Villa plunges football into darkness.
By Jonny Gould
A chunk of my background, both personal and professional, has been washed away.
I didn’t think football was supposed to hurt like this.
Banning a mere thousand or less Israeli football fans from Villa Park for a Europa League tie is a cause for deep sorrow.
Emily Damari, who was held hostage by Hamas for more than a year before being released in January, and who supports football teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Tottenham Hotspur, said “I am shocked to my core with this outrageous decision to ban me, my family and my friends from attending an Aston Villa game in the UK…..Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion, and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite.”
But not just for me, an Aston Villa fan through my Holocaust-surviving grandfather who setup his typewriter shop bang next to Aston Station on the Lichfield Road, but for this generation of Villa fans and those to come.
Why?
Because football is supposed to be a thrilling, entertaining source of pride; not a dispensary for anger and shame, of imported hate and community breakdown.
Is the Beautiful Game still beautiful?
My generation and those that came before had the best of it. We enjoyed league title wins, European glory and trips to Wembley.
Birmingham Ban. This is a photo Europeans would prefer NOT to see in their media hence the ban on Israeli supporters to the upcoming match in Birmingham between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The ban has reignited concerns about ethnic tensions and antisemitism in Britain.
But it would have meant nothing without the communal joy and camaraderie it spawned.
And for this Jewish kid, it was a high voltage plug-in to the prevailing, sometimes overwhelming culture of my city beyond my upbringing.
So, accepting they were of me, that by the age of 21, I was reporting my beloved team from the press box for the radio station covering the West Midlands and Shropshire.
When I returned as a national reporter to the old Trinity Road box years later, the stewards, dear old men, bowled me over with their effusive welcome back. Like that beautiful Archibald Leitch-designed stand, their unvarnished spirit is gone.
Taking a Stand. An age gone by with fans walking towards the old Trinity Road Stand. Now the ‘stand’ is against supporters from Israel, for “security concerns.”
So, this is my own very personal sadness about what football and the city that helped shape me has become.
The English game shunned politics, now it’s buried by it.
Snarling Islamist boycotters – an elected MP is trashing what was good here. For what?
They think it’s all over. It is now.
Imans Message – Show NO Mercy. More than half the population of Aston, one of Birmingham’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods. In a shocking video, a Birmingham Muslim Imam, Asrar Rashid, expressed what would befall any fans coming from Israel: “We will show no mercy toward Maccabi Tel Aviv fans who will arrive in several weeks for the match against Aston Villa.”
About the writer:
Jonny Gould is a television and radio presenter on Talk and host and producer of Jonny Gould’s Jewish State podcast. At the end of 2018, he launched a podcast in response to the unchecked and sudden rise of UK antisemitism. In a short time, “Jonny Gould’s Jewish State” (on Apple, Spotify and elsewhere) has grown into both a snapshot and library of the changing temperature for one of the west’s oldest and continuous Jewish communities. As a board member of the Israel Diaspora Trust, Jonny’s also regularly briefed off-the-record by influencers and decision-makers across the US, Israel and the UK.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
In a world that is increasingly polarized, sport is one of the few unifiers. It is not just about bringing people of different backgrounds together, sometimes it is about helping new olim (immigrants) acclimate to living in Israel – and finding their friends and community.
For many female olim who want to try break into the Israeli sports scene, the challenges may seem overwhelming. Language barriers, bureaucracy and cultural differences are sometimes prohibitive but playing a sport, especially a team-oriented game, can do wonders.
In recent weeks, Tazuz and Project Max, who are both organisations building bridges and breaking barriers through sports, held the Golda Meir Tournament for women’s soccer/football.
Nobody exemplifies the power of Israeli women more that former Prime Minister and icon, Golda Meir. Meir, an “olah” herself, was a trailblazer in many ways and it is in her memory and spirit that Tazuz and Project Max held the second annual Golda Meir Tournament for women’s soccer (football).
Breaking Barriers. Seen here are women from different communities across Israel play soccer at the 2025 Golda Meir Tournament.
The “beautiful game” is the quintessential unifier.
“Sport has the unique ability to bring people together. It is a way to share a common love, to have fun, to compete, and to socialize – and it also has the ability to provide an outlet – both physically and emotionally. For the past 2 years, Israelis have suffered tremendous emotional trauma due to multiple warsand the fact that 48 (at the time of writing this) of our loved ones are still held hostage by an evil terrorist organization. In part, for that reason, I couldn’t have imagined a better time for Project Max to support the Golda Meir Women’s Football Tournament in conjunction with Tazuz,” says Eric Rubin, CEO of Project Max.
Man with a Mission. Eric Rubin, Executive Director of both Together Vouch For Each Other U.S. and Project Max, presents the prizes at the Golda Meir Tournament for women’s football.
Rubin continues, “We were able to bring together about 50 young women from all over Israel, who were able to play the sport they love. They were given the opportunity to forget all that is going on around them and have a few hours where all they were focused on was having fun, bonding, exercising, and competing. It would also be remiss of me if I didn’t recognize that unfortunately, we as a nation, do not give the same resources, respect, funding, and opportunities to women’s sports. We all need to do our part to change the culture and attitudes in regard to women’s sports.”
On the Ball. Despite the tense situation around them in their country, these young ladies were determined to focus on, in the words of competition organizer, Eric Rubin, to enjoy having “fun, bonding, exercising, and competing.”
Project Max’s mission is fighting racism, antisemitism, and intolerance through sports, leveraging advanced technology and the support of professional athletes. Maia Cabrera, an olah who plays for Maccabi Kishronot Hadera and the Israeli National team, is a proud Ambassador of Project Max.
Women’s soccer has not received the funding and exposure that male dominated soccer has and female players have fought hard to ensure that their funding is increased. It is a battle that they have won – albeit not on the level of their male counterparts.
Founded by an oleh chadash (new immigrant) from Mexico after moving to Israel as an international student, Tazuz is a sports and social club that connects people in Israel through recreational leagues, academies, courses, and community events. Tazuz operate in multiple cities, offering activities such as tennis, surfing, beach volleyball, soccer, and more — all designed to create meaningful human connections through sport.
“Tazuz was established primarily for international students, providing a community away from home where they can enjoy their favorite sports in an organized, friendly, and welcoming environment.” Says Eitan Hirsch, the founder of Tazuz.
Naming a women’s tournament after iconic Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir was a natural fit.
Golda’n Opportunities. Following Golda who broke barriers for women in politics, the Golda Meir Tournament for women’s football is breaking barriers through sport.
Eitan continues, “The Golda Meir Tournament was created to bring together Israelis and internationals from different cities in a fun, amateur yet competitive soccer environment. This year, we hosted our second annual tournament. The idea started when I noticed that every week, over 30 women would come just to watch our men’s soccer league. We thought: Why should they only watch? They should be playing too. We first ran two women’s leagues, but soon realized many participants were looking for structured training rather than just competition. That’s how our Women’s Soccer Academies began — 2-month programs where women can train weekly with professional coaches to improve their skills.”
The academies were started first in Herzliya, followed by Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and now have over 50 women actively training.
The Golda Meir Tournament brought together 35 women from various cities (6 from Herzliya, 9 from Jerusalem, 20 from Tel Aviv) for a truly unique and memorable event. Tazuz’s core mission is to foster connections across communities, empower women in competitive sports both in Israel and globally, and ensure every participant has an enjoyable experience. The Golda Meir Tournament perfectly embodies this vision.
“The tournament was hosted in the Maccabi Tel Aviv training courts, and we had the privilege of having Eric representing Project Max, who was the sponsor of this event and gave the trophy to the winning team, the Tel Aviv team, who took it this time,” said Eitan Hirsch.
Having a Field Day. These cup recipients were among 50 young women from across Israel, who were able to compete in the sport they love.
Tazuz plans to launch more academies across the country that will aim to welcome more participants and strengthen connections across communities. Hirsch concludes, “Our goal is to encourage more people to play and to help the growth of sports—one goal at a time!”
With academies across the country and partners like Project Max, these ladies are set to be trailblazers in women’s soccer. Golda would be proud!
Beautiful Spirit. These young girls from diverse communities across Israel came together to have fun competing in the “Beautiful Game”.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
A Middle East round of ‘carnage’ was happening not on a battlefield but a rugby field.
By David E. Kaplan
One would think from the daily platter of international news that the only interaction the Jewish state has in a dominantly Muslim neighborhood is one of military hostility. Not true.
Unsurprisingly, with daily reportage of incoming missiles and responding air attacks, Israel playing rugby in the Gulf would unlikely make front page news or any news anywhere. But that is what happened over a 3-day rugby 7s tournament in Dubai, and Israel’s top and only professional rugby team, the Tel Aviv Heat was there competing. For Israeli rugby fans “The Heat” as they are known, was hot news – but it more ways than only rugby.
For those unfamiliar with the Dubai rugby 7s – or more colloquially known as “The Dubai Sevens” – it is one of the biggest events in the expat sporting and social calendar with the rugby community turning out in their thousands from all corners of the globe for a three-day festival of rugby. The 2024 tournament took place from the November 30 to December 1 and Tel Aviv Heat was there flying proudly the Israeli colours.
Formed in 2021 to play in the 2021–22 Rugby Europe Super Cup, Tel Aviv Heat has also been called the “Israeli Springboks” on account of the number of South Africans in the team. It has also been described as “the world’s most diverse rugby team”.
Hot Stuff. Formed in 2021, Tel Aviv Heat has also been called the “Israeli Springboks” on account of the number of South Africans in the team. It has also been described as “the world’s most diverse rugby team”.
The Israeli team’s participation in Dubai amidst of a long ongoing war was viewed by the Israel Rugby Union as both a significant achievement and a powerful response to the anti-Israel global movement seeking to promote boycotts, sanctions and divestment against the beleaguered Jewish state. Just last year, the team’s invitation to a South African tournament was revoked due to BDS pressures. “For us, stepping onto the field and playing was a victory,” said Rugby Union CEO Bonnie Manor-Gottfried.
In February 2023, South Africa Rugby withdrew an invitation to the Israeli club Tel Aviv Heat to compete in a second-tier competition from March 24. Resorting to verbal jujitsu as an ‘explanation’, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said at the time:
“We have taken this decision to avoid the likelihood of the competition becoming a source of division, notwithstanding the fact that Israel is a full member of World Rugby and the IOC.”
This was in keeping with South Africa’s policy that had downgraded its embassy in Tel Aviv in 2019, pulled out its ambassador and has long adopted a very hostile stance toward Israel, endorsing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. So yes, Israel’s Rugby Union CEO is correct when he says just:
“…stepping onto the field and playing was a victory.”
Tel Aviv Heat’s participation in the Gulf tournament marked the first time an Israeli rugby team has competed in a competitive tournament in Dubai, further warming relations and hopefully fostering future sporting collaborations. It was a “victory” also because “the mere participation of an Israeli team, just a week after the tragic murder of Chabad emissary Tzvi Kogan in Dubai, was far from guaranteed,” explained Bonnie Manor-Gottfried. The abduction and murder of 28-year-old Rabbi Kogan’s who devoted himself to Jewish life in the Gulf state, shook the Jewish communities of the UAE and around the world. During an atmosphere of Jews feeling naturally targeted, the Jewish state’s team “… stepped onto the field with Israel emblazoned on their uniforms, carrying a strong sense of national representation during such a challenging time.”
While there were initial concerns, everything changed once the team arrived in Dubai. “They were incredibly organized, accompanied us throughout, strengthened security, and made us feel safe and protected,” said Manor-Gottfried. “Communication during the event with all security entities was excellent. We also bolstered security with private measures, and everything went smoothly.”
Cool it. “THE HEAT” taking time out to cool off.
THE ‘HEAT’ IS ON
Despite Tel Aviv Heat’s young age, the team has achieved significant success in the European league and the invitation to the Dubai tournament has cemented the team’s standing on the international rugby stage. “Participating in the tournament, gaining experience, and competing at that level is exactly what the Israeli national team needs as part of our ambitious project to climb the global rankings,” explained head coach Kevin Musikanth. “It was an incredible experience.” Also “incredible” is despite South Africa’s obsessive high-profile antagonism to Israel, it is a former South African that is taking the Israeli team to new heights. Head Coach Musikanth started playing rugby at the age of five when his father passed him a ball on Muizenberg Beach in his hometown of Cape Town. Since that day, he has never put the ball down.
Says Musikanth:
“I fell in love with the game from a very young age. I dreamed of becoming a Springbok and my father was my rugby coach for most of my school career. He nurtured the love I have for the game. I remember watching rugby with him and knowing every player in every team in the Currie Cup. These were my favorite memories, being with my dad and watching rugby on TV or live at Newlands stadium…”
Turning Up the Heat. Tel Aviv Heat’s Head coach Kevin Musikanth – who started playing rugby at the age of five when his father passed him a ball on Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town – is seen here (front in blue t-shirt) with his team, described as “the world’s most diverse rugby team”.
Kevin played rugby until the age of 24 when shoulder injuries cut his career short. During that time, he still managed to play for the SA Maccabi team that won a gold medal in the 2001 Maccabi Games.
“It was on the back of the Maccabi games in 2017 when I was the coach of the South African Maccabi Team,” that he was approached to come to Israel and be the coach of the national team. Although initially it seemed a tough call to make leaving SA professional rugby, “on reflection and the fact that they were very persistent, I felt I could make a difference and I imagined how proud my Russian and Lithuanian grandparents would be should I take it on, and I decided to pack my bags make Aliyah and go for it… 5 years later I am very happy I made that decision…”
So is Israel rugby.
Now Musikanth’s dream is to help Israel “get to the World Cup and I’m positive that with Tel Aviv Heat as a catalyst, we have a great chance to do so…”
In the meantime, he was proudly “going for it” with his Israeli team in Dubai.
Captaining the sevens squad at the Dubai tournament, Gal Aviram, adds that “…the atmosphere was electrifying. There was a massive crowd, world-class rugby, and top-tier players. This is one of the biggest rugby events in the world. Being an active participant there is an incredible honor.”
Powerful and Poignant. ‘VISIT ISRAEL’ and the yellow symbol for freeing the hostages appear on these Tel Aviv Heat players.
Continues Aviram:
“Today, Heat is essentially the extended arm of the Israeli national team. It integrates national team players and international reinforcements, enabling us to compete in high-level tournaments. It also sets a high standard for experienced players while giving younger players a benchmark to aspire to.
Every tournament is an opportunity to play at these levels, pushing us one step closer to our collective dream of reaching the World Cup and the Olympic Games.”
Materialization of these dreams will be a question, not of ‘if’, but of ‘when’ because in the words of Herzl, “If You will it, it is no Dream” and there is no shortage of “WILL” in Israel in whatever “field” of endeavour.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
The buying of global influence by investing in high-profile sporting events – Counting the Cost of ‘sportswashing’.
By Allan Wolman
FIFA’s recent announcement crowning Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 Men’s World Cup hardly came as a shock. After all, the Middle East, being the ‘centre of the universe’, is the obvious choice for the world’s greatest sporting spectacle. And with FIFA’s impeccable reputation for transparency and integrity, who could possibly raise an eyebrow?
As for the 2026 World Cup, it will generously be shared across Canada, the United States, and Mexico – a mere three countries. But FIFA wasn’t done pushing boundaries: the 2030 tournament will leap even further, spanning not just three nations but two entire continents – Spain and Portugal in Europe, and Morocco in Africa. Truly, no effort is too great for the sake of “the beautiful game.”
Multiple ‘Goals’. In December 2010, FIFA awarded the World Cups of 2018 and 2022 to Russia and Qatar respectively in a day that reshaped modern football. Here Putin is cheered on by the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, during an exhibition game in Moscow to mark the start of the tournament. (Photo: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images)
Sports – the acknowledged global unifier – provides the ideal platform for “sportswashing” whereby nations endeavour to enhance their international image while masking human rights violations. Exemplifying this trend, who would accuse Saudi Arabia and Qatar of exploiting their vast oil wealth to utilize high-profile sports to ‘buy’ global influence.
Uneasy Relationship. Bayern Munich fans hold up a banner critisizing the club’s relationship with Qatar. (Photo: mage: Imago/B. Fell)
Qatar’s 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup attracted much criticism for its shocking human rights record, that included mistreatment of migrant workers, LGBTQ+ restrictions, and suppressed dissent. Saudi Arabia’s human rights record is equally contentious. On 4th April 2022, 81 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in a single day by decapitation with a sword. According to Human Rights Watch, the majority of these individuals were tortured to obtain confessions. Women’s rights have seen some reforms, such as the lifting of the driving ban, but gender equality remains far from realized. LGBTQ+ individuals face severe persecution, and political dissidents are routinely jailed or silenced. Would it surprise anyone if Qatar or Saudi Arabia were to win a bid to host the Olympic Games in the not-too-distant future.
Desert Kingdom ‘On Track’. Jeddah is the second largest city in Saudi Arabia and it was home to the first Saudi Arabian F1 GP in December 2021.
Clearly not!
Hosting global sports events serves as a strategy for these nations to project modernity and openness and divert attention from domestic controversies by associating with celebrated events.
Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in:
Formula 1
boxing,
tennis
golf through its Public Investment Fund (PIF)
Qatar owns:
– Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
– sponsors major events like the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Fans across German stadiums call for Qatar World Cup boycott as seen here during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart in Dortmund, Germany October 22, 2022. (Photo: AP/Martin Meissner)
COUNTING THE COST
Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s successful stratagem of ‘sportswashing’ follows their proven paths of massively manoeuvring into Western academia embedding their agendas and narratives into impressionable young minds. Universities in the U.S., U.K., and Europe have eagerly accepted billions in funding, conveniently labelled as “partnerships” to promote research and mutual understanding. The results of these “partnerships” have been all to evident since the October 7 Hamas massacre with student protests at campuses across the US and Europe. A 2022 published reports has revealed that the “generous” infusion from Qatar of significant financial donations amounting to billions of dollars has strengthened antisemitism in higher education institutions in the US, compromised academic ethics and contributed to the erosion of democratic and liberal norms. The report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) that identifies Qatar as the most significant foreign donor to American universities, revealed that from 2001 to 2021, US higher education institutions received US$13 billion in funding from foreign sources, with Qatar contributing donations totaling $4.7 billion to universities in the United States.
Abusing Sport. Decades before the term ‘Sportswashing’ existed, Nazi Germany hosted major sporting events in the 1930s culminating in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and the Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The group most negatively affected by Qatar “educating” America are Jewish students whose personal security and safety has been compromised.
Sports-washing, unsurprisingly, raises some thorny ethical dilemmas. By cosying up to these regimes, international organizations, universities, and cultural institutions risk not just normalizing human rights violations but becoming complicit in them. One might think transparency, accountability, and principled decision-making would take precedence, but hey, money talks.
Menacing Power of Money. Generously funded by donors promoting radical Islam studies, this past year has seen US student protests across US universities against Israel orchestrated by Qatar-funded groups.
About the writer:
Allan Wolman in 1967 joined 1200 young South Africans to volunteer to work on agricultural settlements in Israel during the Six Day War. After spending a year in Israel, he returned to South Africa where he met and married Jocelyn Lipschitz and would run one of the oldest travel agencies in Johannesburg – Rosebank Travel. He would also literally ‘run’ three times in the “Comrades”, one of the most grueling marathons in the world as well as participate in the “Argus” (Cape Town’s famed international annual cycling race) an impressive eight times. Allan and Jocelyn immigrated to Israel in 2019.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
With confined space defining the landscape of Israel and the game of squash, Arab and Jewish kids come together to see where they can go together through sport.
By Max Moss
*All photos of children are published with the kind permission of parents granted to SquashBond.
This week, in the Haifa area there will be well over 100 kids participating in various SquashBond activities – on and off the squash courts. Who would have thought that, when a group of ex-pat South Africans, led by Hillel Bloomberg and a ‘squash crazy’ native Israeli – Nitzan Moree, started this initiative 10 years ago, we would see such a diverse group of youngsters braving repeated rocket barrages from Lebanon, in order to play, meet and simply be together within the framework of their squash related community.
So, let’s just back up a bit for the sake of history. When Hillel immigrated from South Africa, he brought with him to Israel amongst his most invaluable belongings – a passion for the game of squash. This led him to the building in 1978 of two squash courts in a deserted warehouse in the industrial area of Ra’anana. These were the first courts to be built in Israel since the time of the British mandate, which when the British forces departed during the dying days of Palestine, they left five courts in Airforce bases around the country. Although the true genesis of the return of squash to Israel began with Hillel, the seed was planted not with his Aliyah (immigration) but his prior “look see” visit in 1975 when, while sitting on the beach in Tel Aviv, was captivated and “I must say irritated by the loud noise of all these guys lobbing hard this small black ball, which people had to dodge to avoid being hit, to say nothing of the loud clunking noise.” Hillel, who would later be known as Israel’s “Father of Squash”, didn’t know at the time he was watching Matkot – Israel’s unique variation of beach bats. “And then, when a ball nearly connected with me and I picked it up to throw back at the guys, I was taken up how similar it was to a squash ball, my sport in South Africa. I thought, nu, why not take the noise and danger off the sand and relocate to the safety of courts,” and so the seed of squash to Israel was born.
Hillel’s co-partner in this ‘squash saga’ had been a young lad growing up and learning the game in Ra’anana and playing in 1980 at the then newly built Herzliya Squash Center – a center that had 8 squash courts built by the South African industrialist, philanthropist and lover of sports – Mendel Kaplan. Then in 2014 – with Hillel and Nitzan well ensconced as players, coaches, managers as well as entrepreneurs of squash in Israel – the question arose:
“Why not add a new dimension to the game – a social initiative that would bring kids in Israel – from all walks of life and all segments of society – to get to know one another, to break down those social barriers that are such divisive elements in our society and have them meet on the squash court”
A Sporting Chance. When the British withdrew from Palestine in 1948 with an attitude of let “the Jews and the Arabs to fight it out” they left squash courts at 5 air force bases across the country – a sport that today is helping to unite Israelis of all faiths.
And so it was that SquashBond evolved into what it is today – an organization dedicated to creating social change by integrating children and youth from diverse communities, some marginalized and at risk, promote equal opportunities, provide value-based education, self-empowerment and leadership through a combination of unique sports and informal education activities. The founders recognized the growing need to establish programs that would promote inclusion, equality, social mobility and a shared society.
Bridging Divides. Through SquashBond, Jewish and Arab Israeli youth gain the life skills, self-confidence and connections to pursue their dreams and build a sense of belonging in an inclusive Israel.
As one young Arab player interviewed explained:
“Squash is special because it is played in a small place; it’s like Israel, we’re in a small place, we have to share it. Just like squash, it’s a small court you have to figure out how you move, how you don’t hit the other person.”
The first program was established in collaboration with the municipality and the local schools in Ra’anana and the Arab city of Tira in central Israel. In the course of time, SquashBond opened its second center in Haifa. The challenges of recent times – at first Corona and more recently October 7– did not obstruct the vision nor impede activities and the organization adjusted to changing realities and the needs of Israeli society. SquashBond is the only organization in Israel that implements an in-depth and unique and long-term model that combines a squash training program, with a multicultural social program. SquashBond recruits and guides children at a young and critical age, when their identities as individuals and as members of a group are still developing and provides tools and content for personal growth.
Mix and Mingle. Young students in Haifa’s SquashBond program (4th – 5th graders) represent a true mix of religious (Jewish, Moslem, Christian) and ethnic backgrounds.
With Israel at war, SquashBond had to adapt to the current crisis and currently conducts weekly sessions directly on school grounds, using the existing facilities of a school hall to introduce squash basics and build relationships with the kids. In an educational and social program partnership with the University of Haifa, student scholarship recipients provide mentoring and guidance to each group throughout the year. In parallel, extra-curricular squash training at the Haifa University squash courts involves groups of our older kids.
Outreach Abroad. Jewish and Muslim children in the SquashBoard program (r-l) Boaz, Leen, Guy and Shahed – from Ra’anana and the nearby Arab town of Tira, participate in a panel discussion at an event in New York City.
What is so astounding, rewarding and enriching is the children’s motivation and enthusiasm. It is unstoppable – even when interrupted by sirens warning of incoming deadly missiles. When the siren sounds, rackets are quickly leant against the glass walls, balls roll to the floor, and together, everyone – children and staff – rushes to the shelter. After 15 minutes, as if nothing has happened, sprints, drives, and lobs fill the courts once again. It’s nothing short of remarkable! If there is anything to be learnt from the events of this past year, it’s been the value of being a member of a community – especially a sporting community. We’ve seen how our kids feel a sense of security in their SquashBond environment. Studies have shown that belonging to a sporting community provides its participants with an inner strength that allows them to cope with adverse situations and having to successfully deal with trauma.
Harmonious at the Harmonie. Outreaching the message of sport as a unifier, Israeli Muslim, Christian and Jewish SquashBond “ambassadors” at an event at the famed Harmonie Club in New York City.
To mention some examples of key successes – two Arab girls – residents of Tira – were the first Israeli Arabs to become part of the Israel National Squash Team. A SquashBonder was one of five kids worldwide, chosen to be part of a UN program to mentor and train leaders of the future. Elisha, who came to SquashBond at the age of 10 from a challenging socio-economic background has flourished within the Israel squash community competing in both local and international tournaments and now serves as a coach for the younger groups. Over the years, SquashBond’s players have won over 20 trophies – including 3 gold – in national tournaments and sent four representatives to national junior teams to represent Israel.
Merry Mix. A SquashBond team representing a diverse Israel, participating in the 2023 Israel Junior Championships.
What’s in store for the future? SquashBond is planning on building a Multi-cultural Community Squash Centre in Israel’s third most populous city, Haifa where its greater metropolitan area includes Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze – the religious and non-religious. Expansion planning includes the addition of a new racket sport – Padel. For those unfamiliar, Padel is a racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court in a similar way as squash in that the balls can be played off the walls.
Meeting and Eating. The SquashBond team enjoying a well-earned Pizza break during the Israel Junior Championships held in Ra’anana in 2023.
Planning in process, Padel will be first introduced in Jerusalem for young girls that will include both Arab and Jews. We are also looking at setting up a Community Squash Center in the Arab-Israeli town of Abu Gosh near Jerusalem in collaboration with the local authority for residents of Abu-Gosh and the surrounding communities.
Kids having a Ball. Lee-Anne with “ SQUASH BONDS ARE STRONG” on her t-shirt is seen here with Bat-El at the 2023 Israel Junior Championships.
In a world often divided by differences, sport has the extraordinary power to bring people together, break barriers, and transform lives. Squashbond is living proof that the squash court can be more than just a place of competition – it can be a platform of unity, resilience, and hope.
Engaging with the Other. SquashBond’s intensive multi-year squash and education program integrates children from diverse ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
Investing in initiatives like Squashbond is not just an investment in sports but in the fabric of our society. It’s a commitment to building a generation that values equality, community, and leadership whether you are Muslim, Jew or Christian, Tsabar (Sabra) or new immigrant.
Squashbond is not just changing lives – it is shaping a brighter future.
About the writer:
At age 17, Max Moss immigrated to Israel from Cape Town, South Africa, served in the IDF and then studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Max’s journey has traversed from the world of hi-tech where he helped establish an Israeli software company that went international and ultimately merged into Oracle, to the world of social activism, where he participated in peace initiatives such as Forum Tzora, the Geneva Initiative and “All its Citizens”. Max was part of a group in Israel that started the first Tali school dedicated to Jewish Pluralistic education. Max has been a member of SquashBond for the past 6 years and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
A tribute to the passing of tennis icon and Israel Prize recipient – Dr. Ian Froman.
By David E. Kaplan
When it comes to immigrants having enriched Israel, South Africans have been amongst the ‘top seeds’ and when you add the contribution in the field of sport and tennis, few more so than Dr. Ian Froman, who passed away at the age of 87 on September 9, 2024.
It is no surprise that “Mr. Tennis” as he was affectionately known, was a recipient of Israel’s most prestigious civilian award – the Israel Prize. Over the years I have had the privilege to interview Ian for a number of publications both in Israel and South Africa.
On hearing of his passing, I thought back to a sweltering hot summer’s night in 2015, when a special gala event in his honour was held on the commercial rooftop of a high-rise in Herzliya Petuach.
From the stars in the night sky above to the stars below of Israeli tennis, there was Amos Mansdorf, Gilad Bloom and Shlomo Glickstein, as well as video-clips and photos that included Ilie Năstase, Jimmy Connors, Brad Gilbert and Tomas Muster, all taken with Ian over many years at his proud “offspring” – the Israel Tennis Center in Ramat Hasharon. From those around the world who were unable to attend, there were audio-visual messages giving Ian what they described as “a big hug.”
I thought at the time of the Beatles number, “All you need is love” as there was a lot of it about. There was the love of Ian for tennis and the State of Israel and there was the reciprocal love of the Israel tennis world and the State of Israel for Ian.
Ian’s journey, more like an adventure, began with love.
Ian in action. Early days of tennis in Israel, Ian found it more difficult finding a court to play than finding his form.
OPEN COURT’SHIP
Representing South Africa in tennis at the 1963 Maccabi Games having competed and getting to the 3rd round in the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1955 going down to eventual finalist Kurt Nielsen, this young graduate in dentistry “fell in love with Israel” and “I made the decision to makeAliyah (immigration to Israel).” Only snag was when he returned to Johannesburg after the Maccabi Games, he also fell in love with a young girl named Ruth. After courting Ruth for a few weeks, he was now faced with a dilemma – it’s either Ruth or Israel. “I doubted Ruth would ever come live in Israel and so I stopped asking her out. What was the point …. why pursue that which you know has no long-term future.” Still, Ian could not shake Ruth from his mind and so called her again to ask her out but this time it was she who turned him down. Explains Ruth:
“I wanted to live in Israel and thought why pursue a romance with a dentist who obviously wanted to stay and practice in Joburg!”
The Magic of the Maccabiah. The 1961 South African Maccabi tennis team with Ian Froman (six from the left).
This bizarre situation of each not knowing what the other was truly thinking was only later resolved when Ian accepted a chance invitation to a function at Ruth’s parent’s home and an intimate chat over cocktails, revealed they loved Israel as much as each other, so much so that later that same evening, they announced their engagement. Shortly thereafter, the newlyweds – or in tennis parlance, ‘Doubles Partners’ – moved to Israel and so began their journey into the history books. Ian never went on to practice dentistry and instead proceeded to change the face of tennis in Israel.
It did not happen overnight!
INSPIRATIONAL IAN
After arriving in Israel in 1964, “I thought I would slot into the local game, only to discover that tennis in those days was something out of the Jurassic age. I used to run around like a madman just to find a courts to train. There were no facilities and we often used to furtively sneak onto private courts to practice. Apart from private courts, it seemed to me that the only privileged people playing tennis were tourists at beach hotels.” This motivated Ian, who together with Freddie Krivine, Joseph Shane, Harold Landesberg, Rubin Josephs, and Dr. William Lippy began fundraising to launch tennis as a sport in Israel by building a national Israel tennis centre (ITC). This was achieved on an old strawberry patch in Ramat HaSharon donated to the ITC by the government, and on April 25, 1976, the late Leah Rabin, wife of the late Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzchak Rabin, cut the ribbon to the Center, and 250 children signed up to participate. Who in a sense also “signed up” was the Prime Minister, who for the rest of his life played frequently for well-deserved relaxation.
Turned on to Tennis. Two of Ian’s friends and converts to tennis, Leah and Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzchak Rabin.
The Israel Tennis Centers, under Froman’s inspirational direction and fundraising finesse, grew over the years from strength to strength, as tennis centers opened up from Kiryat Shmona in the North to Beersheba in the South. It was little wonder that this chapter in the history of tennis in Israel is referred to as the “Froman revolution”. In 1989, Froman received the Israel Prize, the country’s most prestigious civilian award.
This recognition was bestowed not so much for the Center’s contribution towards striving for excellence in the sport, but more for providing community enrichment programs and popularizing the sport across the socio-economic divide. The centres from inception, catered to children and families from all religions and ethnic groups – without prejudice.
“Tennis should not be an elitist game and we set out from the beginning to make it accessible to kids from outlying areas,” asserted Ian. “We included children from all backgrounds and religion, providing them with a lifetime sport in an educational environment.” The ITC proved an enriching sporting mechanism where Jews and Arabs could meet and play from a young age and foster better understanding.
Recognising the immense contribution beyond sport, State President Chaim Hertzog, said in presenting the Israel Prize to Ian:
“You have created a virtual social revolution throughout Israel.”
Inspirational Ian. Dr.Ian Froman, President of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers is awarded in 1989 the Israel Prize for “social impact” through sport by Israel’s State President, Chaim Herzog.
What the State President meant by a “social revolution” was best explained by the late Kollie Friedstein, another South African roped in by Froman, who would go on to serve as Executive Director of the ITC as well as Chairman of the Israel Tennis Association. Friedstein, who immigrated to Israel in 1942 from Johannesburg imbued by the ideology of his Zionist youth movement – HaShomer HaTzair and was one of the founders of Kibbutz Shoval in the Negev, disclosed to me in an interview that he was drawn to Froman’s concept, “not so much to produce future tennis champions, but of creating healthy environments across the country attracting kids who might otherwise be on the streets. I saw this as an expression of my Zionism.” Of course, the advantages of sport centers were not always immediately apparent to everyone at the time. During the opening ceremony of the Yaffo Tennis Center, Shlomo Lahat, the then mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, was pelted with rotten tomatoes by local protestors. Established in an area known at the time for its crime, prostitution and drugs, residents had complained that they needed an upgrade in educational and cultural facilities, not tennis courts. Soon enough though, the Tennis Center became the pride of the town, and people were advertising their homes for sale as being “within walking distance of the Tennis Center.” Froman knew where he was heading with his vision.
Apart from being one of the largest social service organizations for children in Israel and the largest tennis programme for children in the world, the ITC over the years produced outstanding players who made their mark on the most prestigious courts around the world.
While its graduates have included greats like Sholmo Glickstein, Amos Mansdorf and Dudi Sela all top 30 ranked players, it was the double players of Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich who made history for Israel by winning Grand Slam titles. In 2006, Ram became the first Israeli tennis player to win a grand slam title when he captured the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon with his Russian partner, Vera Zvonareva. Then in 2008, with Erlich, the “Dynamo Duo” became the first Israeli doubles tennis team to win a Grand Slam tennis title in winning the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Former Israeli professional tennis player Gilad Bloom who reached a career-high world ranking of 61, posted on social media on hearing of Froman’s passing:
“At age 11, as a promising young player in Israel, Ian introduced me to Dick Savitt, a Jewish Wimbledon and Australian Open champion. Within a year, I became a world champion for my age group. Alongside my parents, Ian was one of the most important people in my life and influenced its course more than anyone else.”
Referring to the experiences he and other top players of his generation and those that came before and those that followed, Bloom says, “The confidence of Israel tennis players to compete at the highest level, would never have been possible without Ian Froman.” Rattling off the names of Israel’s tennis greats like Amos Mansdorf “the best player of my era,” Shahar Pe’er and Dudi Sela who all literally “grew up in the tennis centers Ian established,” he took a sport “that didn’t exist in Israel and brought it to the point where we had top-20 players and reached the Davis Cup semifinals.”
Fun under the Sun. Rival reactions on the faces of Ian Froman (left) and the British Ambassador to IsraelSimon McDonald (right) already on the phone following the winning point for the UK against Israel in the Davis Cup at Ramat HaSharon. (Photo: D.E. Kaplan)
And it was at the Davis Cup tournaments hosted in Israel that brought Israelis in their multitudes to the stadium in Ramat Hasharon. There was always a festive atmosphere with that head of white hair bobbing up all over the place as Ian was at home holding “court”.
Tennis Frenzy. Ian would gaze up with pride during a Davis Cup match at the packed Canada Stadium in Ramat HaSharon. It was testament of how far the sport had developed during the “Froman revolution”.(Photo: D.E. Kaplan)
CUP RUNNETH OVER
Covering the Davis Cup tournaments as a reporter, I recall, when Israel was up against countries like the UK, Chili, Austria or South Africa, one could be excused for thinking it was more like war than tennis – a far cry from the sedate ambience of a Wimbledon or Roland Garos. With drums beating and blearing horns, the crowd traditionally erupted with every point won and then descending into the depths of despair with every point lost. Usually there were selected tunes for either – “David Melech Yisrael” for points won, with the player’s name substituted for “David” and the Funeral March” for points lost. Always placing the weight of the nation on the shoulders of their Israeli competitors, the spectators forgot they were spectators and close calls were far too important a matter to be left to the likes of umpires, who battled to maintain decorum – generally an unknown phenomenon in Israel.
Such was the vibrant atmosphere at Ian’s creation.
On their Feet. Lively Israeli spectators at a Davis Cup match between Israel and Chili at the Israel Tennis Center Canada Stadium, Ramat HaSharon. (Photo: D.E. Kaplan).
TIME FOR TENNIS
“In life, everything is timing,” said Ian at an event honouring him in 2022. “When hitting the ball in tennis, you need to time it correctly. If you get married or go into business, timing is essential. For me, the timing was just right. It started just after the Yom Kippur War. Israel was pretty depressed. With the Russians and Ethiopians who came in afterwards, how would we help them integrate? ” These words resonated with this writer as I recall following the mass Russian immigration to Israel in the 1990s, the Tennis Centre in Ramat Hasharon together with the South African immigrant organization, TELFED, sponsored a project organising tennis lessons for Russian adults that were bussed to the Centre and received tennis instruction in Hebrew as well as Israeli folk dancing on an adjacent court. It was a project that gelled exactly with Ian’s philosophy of using the ITC as an instrument of integration into Israeli society. As he said, “The centres have been a way of bringing children together in Israel, which is a melting pot of people from all over the world, from different societies, different religions, different backgrounds and different finances.”
How right he was.
Community Participation. His presence unmistakable even though face partially obscured, Ian Froman (3rd from the left back row) with an inspired team of South African TELFED volunteers (including TELFED director, Sidney Shapiro Top left) at the Ramat HaSharon tennis stadium at the Davis Cup tournament between SA and Israel in 2001. Also present were ITC Tournament Director at the time, Danny Gelley (3rd left in thefront) and ITC Director, Janine Strauss (top row far right). (Photo: D.E. Kaplan)
FINAL SET
Listening to the fine tributes at Ian’s funeral at Kfar Vitkin from members of the family, friends and people from the world of Israeli tennis, I thought back to that event honouring Ian in 2015 when he said what I thought captured his journey best of all:
“I do not have to think back on life as a cup half empty or half full, for mine runneth over.”
Condolences to wife Ruth, children Yarona, Amira, Philip and their families.
*Feature picture: Love, Set and…Oh, what a Match. Lovebirds, Ruth and Ian Froman at a 2015 event honouring Ian’s contribution to Israeli society and tennis in Israel. (Photo: D. E. Kaplan)
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
In a post October 7 world when Jews again are tagged and targeted, the name of cycling legend Bartali personifies true heroism– reflections and recollections during the 2024 Tour de France.
By David E. Kaplan
This year’s 2024 Tour de France – won in spectacular fashion by Slovenian Tadej Pogačar – had plenty of high moments and the breaking of long-held records. For the most part, I watched on TV all 21 stages. What particularly caught my attention was on the Saturday and penultimate stage of the grueling 21-stage race that ended the next day in Nice in a nail-biting ‘time trial’, was the commentator’s line which he repeated again and again:
“If Pogačar wins today’s mountain stage, he will equal the record of 5 mountain stage wins in a Tour with Gino Bartali.”
Bartali? Where had I heard that name before?
Records and Revelations. Tour de France 2024 race leader Tadej Pogačar climbs to victory on penultimate stage 20 atop Col de la Couillole, equaling the record of the great Gino Bartali who saved Jews during WWII in Italy. (Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
It rang a clangor and for more than only cycling. I let the thought linger until the end of the stage when Pogačar won in spectacular fashion and the animated commentator was battling to catch his breath as if he had himself just raced the132.8 km and said:
“Theonly other man to have won five mountain stages in one Tour was Gino Bartali in 1948.”
Again, the name Bartali and coupled with a “76-year-old record had been equaled.”
76 years…Bartali……!
And then I remembered.
Pogačar had equaled a record of not only the leading cyclist of his era, a three-time winner of the Giro d’Italia (1936,1937 and 1946), who won the Tour de France in 1938 and again after the war, a decade later in 1948 but had, in the intervening years, saved the lives of Jews in wartime Italy.
It all came back to me when I recalled back to a Yom HaShoah ceremony many years earlier in my hometown of Kfar Saba in central Israel. That year, the annual memorial ceremony for the six million victims of the Holocaust focused on the connection between sport and the Holocaust and related the story of an Italian, not Jewish and a great cyclist named Gino Bartali, who at great risk to himself and his family, had saved Jews from certain death at the hands of the Nazis. There was good reason why on July 7, 2013, Yad Vashem recognized Gino Bartali as Righteous Among the Nations.
Writing on the Wall. Years later, Gino Bartali sticks his head out his car window to view graffiti honouring him and other Tour de France winners – Ottavio Bottecchia (1924), himself (1938), Fausto Coppi (1949) and Gastone Nencini (1960).
During his lifetime, Bartali didn’t talk about his wartime activities and was only after his death in 2000 that details began to emerge.
A villager from a poor Tuscan family, Bartali in the second half of the 1930s was reaching the peak of his career having won his first Giro d’Italia in 1936 and then retaining the title in 1937 when war clouds began to ominously loom over Europe. When he then in 1938, won his first Tour de France, it was in the aftermath of this triumph that revealed as much about Bartali’s moral character as his cycling prowess.
Cycling Courier. Gino Bartali and his bicycle that helped saved the lives of Jews.
As related by Bartali’s son Andrea, there was one particular fan of his father who was following the cyclist’s progress with more Machiavellian than sporting interest – Benito Mussolini, the country’s fascist leader. Under the evil spell of Hitler, “He believed,” said Andrea, “that if an Italian rider triumphed in the Tour de France it would show that Italians too belonged to the master race.”
Man of Modesty. Bartali wanted to be remembered for his sporting career on his bike and when asked about his wartime excursions, used to say: “I did the only thing I was good at, I cycled.” In truth, he did so much more risking his life to save Jews from the clutches of the Nazis in wartime Italy.
Bartali would go on to win won the 1938 Tour de France but for him, unlike for Mussolini it was a ‘race’ only in a cycling not in an ethnicity sense. While the Italian leader felt Bartali had contributed to fascist prestige and wanted to exploit the cyclist’s win, Bartali would have none of that.
“When my father was invited to dedicate his win to Mussolini and the fascist cause, he refused,”revealed Andrea. A risk-taker on the saddle, he was even more so when off. By refusing to dedicate his win to the fascist cause “my dad was insulting il Duce.He was taking a great personal risk.”
However, he would take far more serious risks in the near future.
Streets of Salvation. Bartali’s bike on display in the cycling museum in Madonna del Ghisallo Church, Lombardy. Withing the frame and handlebars, were hidden the photographs and counterfeit ID documents for Jews fleeing for their lives from the Nazis.
In the middle of that year’s 1938 Tour de France, on the 14 July, Mussolini published the Manifesto della razza (Manifesto on Race), which led to Italian Jews being stripped of their Italian citizenship and any position in government or the professions. These antisemitic laws demonstrated the increasing influence of Adolf Hitler over Mussolini. Nevertheless, Italy still managed to remain a country in which Jews could at least take refuge, but that all terrifyingly transitioned when Italy surrendered to the allies in 1943 and the German army responded by occupying northern and central parts of the country. They immediately started rounding up Jews and sending them to concentration camps.
Smiling Monsters. Bartali defied them both – Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler riding in an open car, circa 1940s.(Fotosearch/Getty Images)
It was at this point that Bartali, a devout Catholic, was asked by the Cardinal of Florence, ArchbishopElia Dalla Costa, to join a secret network offering protection and safe passage to Jews.
His role in the network spearheaded by the Cardinal together with Rabbi Nathan Cassuto (later arrested by the Nazis, deported and sent to his death) was uniquely suited to his temperament and talents. As an internationally renowned cyclist; a national hero with a face recognised by all, he became an unsuspecting courier – on two wheels – relaying forged documents, most of it relating to Jews trying to escape.
ON THE ROAD
So, on the ‘surface’ (literally as well as figuratively), Bartali was undertaking long training rides for which he was renowned, but in reality, he was carrying photographs and counterfeit identity documents to and from a secret printing press produced by the Assisi network, another rescue operation initiated by Church people in that town. All these secret documents were hidden in the frame and handlebars of his bicycle.
Riding through many roadblocks manned by Italian fascists as well as Nazis, when Bartali was stopped and searched, he specifically asked that his bicycle not be touched “since the different parts were very carefully calibrated to achieve maximum speed.”
A perfectly credible explanation.
At remarkable risk, Bartali cycled thousands of kilometres across Italy, peddling between cities as far apart as Florence, Lucca, Genoa, Assisi and the Vatican in Rome.
At one point he was arrested and questioned by the head of the Fascist secret police in Florence where he lived and for a period, went into hiding, living incognito in the town of Citta Di Castello in Umbria.
In addition to these defiant exploits, Bartali hid his Jewish friend Giacomo Goldenberg and his family.
“He hid us in spite of knowing that the Germans were killing everybody who was hiding Jews,” Goldenberg’s son, Giorgio would later reveal.
“He was risking not only his life but also his family. Gino Bartali saved my life and the life of my family. That’s clear because if he hadn’t hidden us, we had nowhere to go.”
The Goldenberg family would emigrate to the emerging Jewish state after the war. Young Giorgio Goldenberg, son of Bartali’s friend, would take with him a signed 1940 photo Bartali had given him of his cycling victories. Giorgio now goes by the name of Shlomo Paz and has three children and five grandchildren and lives outside of Tel Aviv.
BRAVE BARTALI
Portrait of a Cyclist. The 1941 photo Gino Bartali gave to young Giorgio Goldenberg who would change his name to Shlomo Paz and live outside Tel Aviv.
Andrea Bartali says that eventually “little by little my father told me about his actions during the war.” However, “he made me promise at that time not to tell anyone.”
An unusual type of hero was Bartali.
When asked why he could not speak about his father’s heroic wartime exploits, he replied that his father had said:
“You must do good, but you must not talk about it. If you talk about it, you’re taking advantage of others misfortunes for your own gain.”
Father and son. Gino Bartali with his son Andrea who would years later be in Jerusalem to see his late father honoured at Yad Vashem.
Because Bartali didn’t want to be acknowledged for what he had done, very few of those he helped ever knew his name or what role he had played in their rescue.
Andrea Bartali says his father refused to view his actions as heroic.
“When people were telling him, ‘Gino, you’re a hero’, he would reply: ‘No, no – I want to be remembered for my sporting achievements. Real heroes are others….”
Really? If Bartali been caught by the Nazis – despite being a sporting hero – he most likely would have been shot.
Living Legacy. Bartali’s son Andrea Bartali visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem in 2013, where his father was recognised as Righteous Among the Nations for risking his life to save Jews during WWII.
None of this was related by the sports commentator at this year’s 2024 Tour de France while he constantly made the comparisons between Pogačar and Bartali. Probably, like the Jews Bartali saved, the commentator did not even know the story.
However, for those who do know and remember, in a post October 7 world when Jews again are tagged and targeted, the name Bartali personifies true heroism – others before self.
The Road Ahead. Members of the ISRAEL-PREMIER-TECH team at the 2024 Tour de France emblazoning to a global audience on their cycling attire the name ISRAEL and the Star of David.
*Feature picture: Hero on and off the bike. Gino Bartali rides uphill in the 1938 Tour de France.(Photo STF/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
