Former Footballer Bridges Gap Bringing Tennis to Ultra-Orthodox Community in Jerusalem
Amid ongoing tensions over Israel's military conscription law and the divide between secular and ultra-Orthodox communities, a unique sports initiative offers a glimpse of harmony. Ziv Oson, 36, a former promising football defender from Maccabi Haifa's youth teams, transitioned to religious observance and shifted his focus from football to fostering Jewish values through sports. After completing degrees in psychology and public policy and holding sports management roles, Oson founded the nonprofit "Goal for God" in 2024, supported by the Azrieli Foundation's SSI program, aiming to integrate sports with Jewish teachings.
One of the nonprofit's key projects is introducing tennis to the ultra-Orthodox sector, a community traditionally distant from the sport due to cultural barriers. Tennis center manager Danny Mizrahi acknowledged previous difficulties engaging this sector despite success with other groups. Oson and his team worked closely with the "For My Brothers - Shaarei Torah" Talmud Torah school in Jerusalem's Makor Baruch neighborhood, meeting strict conditions such as children wearing their own modest clothing, training in a covered, secluded court to avoid exposure to girls or inappropriate language, and emphasizing values, respect, and manners during sessions.
Despite initial parental and institutional concerns about mixing with secular society, the program demonstrated that ultra-Orthodox children could participate in sports while maintaining religious observance. The tennis project now involves 40 sports teams and about 800 children in educational institutions, with 27 children actively enjoying tennis and eagerly anticipating practices. The initiative recently received the Azrieli Prize for its unique collaboration.
Rabbi Ephraim Reznik, head of the Talmud Torah and a former IDF serviceman, praised the program's ability to naturally connect secular and ultra-Orthodox worlds. He emphasized openness to cooperation as long as conditions are respected, highlighting the project's success in combining sports and values to enrich children's lives. Oson hopes this model can inspire broader societal bridges beyond sports, promoting coexistence and mutual respect despite Israel's social divisions.
