Maccabi Ashdod Hosts American College Basketball Team for Joint Event
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Maccabi Ashdod hosted the basketball team from Allen University in South Carolina for a joint practice and exhibition game aimed at combating antisemitism and racism through sports. The visit, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Max Project, was organized to strengthen ties between Israel and the African American community. Both Israeli and American participants highlighted the power of sports to connect people across different backgrounds.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Ashdod hosted Allen University's basketball team for a joint practice and exhibition game.
- The visit aimed to combat antisemitism and racism by promoting tolerance through sports.
- The event was funded by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Max Project.
- Ashdod Captain Robert Turner expressed pride in hosting players from his home region.
- Israeli Consul General Eitan Weiss highlighted sports' role in connecting cultures and communities.
Maccabi Rotstein Ashdod hosted the basketball team from Allen University in South Carolina for a joint practice and exhibition game on Wednesday. The visiting team consists exclusively of African American students and players. This visit, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Max Project, aims to combat antisemitism and racism by promoting tolerance through sports.
Eric Rubin, an oleh (immigrant to Israel) who initiated the project, stated, "It's an unbelievable thing. Our mission is to fight antisemitism, racism, and intolerance through sports. Bringing a Black college, African American players, to Israel to play against a professional team with American and Israeli players, white and black, touches my heart and shows that sports connect people." He added that the experience would be unforgettable for the American players, most of whom had never left the U.S. or played against professionals.
Ashdod Captain Robert Turner, originally from South Carolina, expressed his pleasure in hosting people from his home region. "It was a great honor to talk to these young players, to explain to them what a wonderful place Israel is and how much they love us here," he said.
Ronen Harel, the club's chairman, highlighted the significance of hosting foreign athletes during a time when few international teams are visiting Israel due to security concerns. He thanked all involved and expressed belief that this connection would lead to future positive developments.
Eitan Weiss, the Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States, emphasized sports as a tool for connecting cultures, communities, and nations. He noted that the Allen University team, an HBCU institution, was invited by the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta in collaboration with Rubin and Professor John Ives to strengthen ties between Israel and the African American community in the U.S. Weiss described basketball as a universal language that fosters understanding, mutual respect, and shared values like teamwork and perseverance.
Mentioned
