Toma Beit-Arie is just one young Jewish boy or girl that have supported PeacePlayers International with their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Sparked by David Lasday, one of our former Fellows, PeacePlayers International’s always been thrilled to receive the support of one community that’s extra special to us — Bar and Bat Mitzvahs:
Swoosh! Nothing but net! The Arab and Israeli slap a high-five. This unlikely scene is duplicated on basketball courts throughout Israel. Through a program called PeacePlayers International, more than 2,000 Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews have teamed up on the court to promote peace among their peoples…Halfway around the world, in New Rochelle, New York, Zach Scheinfeld – a basketball fanatic – was thrilled to discover last year that his favorite sport was being used to build peace…As he approached the age of becoming a bar mitzvah, Zach decided to sponsor an all-star basketball tournament to help PeacePlayers raise money.
Leah Haberman is working to support PeacePlayers International right now as she prepares for her Bat Miztvah this winter.
That story, from BabagaNewz in 2008, is just one example. While Zach worked on behalf of PeacePlayers International in New Rochelle, New York, Sam and Eli Sachs did the same in Beverly Hills, California. Ayden Marcus did too, in nearby Tarzana. Meanwhile, Drew Karchmer organized a raffle in Nashville, Tennessee, and Andrew Fink put together two events in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Toma Beit-Arie, from Brookline, Massachusetts, managed to visit PeacePlayers International in Israel after his project. Right now, Leah Haberman‘s working hard to prepare for her big day in Poway, California, and fitting in time to give PeacePlayers International a hand too.
And those are just a few of many. These service projects derive from a responsibility for what’s known as tikkun olam in Hebrew – “repairing the world” – and we’re proud to know that the families of these outstanding young people see our work in that light. We’re honored to be included in these special occasions.
If you or someone you know is interested in supporting PeacePlayers International with their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org.
