Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija is proudly representing Israel and Judaism on and off the court.

The 20-year-old Israeli is having a good second season in the NBA and finally having opportunities to interact with the local Jewish community. Avdija lit the menorah on the fifth night of Hanukkah at the Rockville Town Center in Montgomery County, Md., 20 miles north of the team's Capital One Arena.

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He wore a white kipah, chanted the blessings, signed autographs, answered questions from fans and expressed appreciation to the members of the Jewish community who helped him celebrate his first Hanukkah away from family.

"I want to say thank you to the people who came here and supported me and light the menorah with me. Those little things with the community, especially with the Jewish community, it's not easy to celebrate the first Hanukkah [away from] home," he said.

Tonight in Rockville, Deni Avdija led the menorah for the 5th night of Hanukkah with some very excited American & Israeli Wizards fans! For the young Wizards standout, it's a small piece of home. חג שמח!@WDVMTV @WDVMSports @washwizardsil @sorokman @thesportsrabbi @Yoav_Modai pic.twitter.com/AHf4TUhsqg

— Alex Flum (@AlexFlumTV) December 3, 2021

Avdija elaborated on Thursday night's "in-person-with-fans" event during Friday's post-practice media session. "It was pure enjoyment to meet and share this special moment," he said. "The love and support the Jewish community gave me is unreal."

Avdija, who is currently the only Israeli playing in the NBA, has always looked to the example set by Omri Casspi and Nadav Henefeld – Israelis who also had distinguished basketball careers in the United States. "I saw what they did and knew I wanted to do that, too. I aimed for that from a young age."

In fact, he takes his role quite seriously. "It is great representing Israel; I am trying to do my best on and off the court to give pride to my country."

And he noted that he has always loved the "Festival of Lights."

Deni Avdija is here to wish you a Happy Hanukkah! pic.twitter.com/bxKmjpFyvx

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 10, 2020

"My mother had a special connection to this holiday," he related. "This is the holiday we focused most on. It is just good vibes – this holiday in Israel when I was growing up. You had sufganiyot [donuts] everywhere, the songs, the menorahs … everywhere. It is just one of my favorite holidays for sure. And I wait every year to celebrate it again and again."

The Wizards, a surprising 14-8, are coming off an eight-point win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking their eighth home win of the season.

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On Sunday, the Wizards begin a three-game road trip versus Toronto, Indiana and Detroit, and will play the next nine of 10 games on the road.

Avdija is averaging 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20 minutes of playing time this season. He is second on the team in blocked shots.

"I feel stronger, more experienced," he said, "am getting fewer foul calls and am learning something new and getting better every day."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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When Team Israel Start-Up Nation cyclist Guy Niv connects with his fellow riders, it usually requires flying from Ben-Gurion International Airport to Europe or some other far-off destination for a training ride or a race. This past Friday, Niv had a different airport experience – he greeted his fellow riders at Ben-Gurion they arrived for their first full-team visit to Israel since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and the recent opening of the gates to tourism in the country.

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"It is super-nice to welcome everyone to Israel – and to go to training from home with no flights, no packing," he declared.

The 27-year-old, who lives in Atzmon in Israel's north, said "my girlfriend took me to the airport to meet the team." Niv spoke with JNS from the team bus as they headed to Jerusalem for a packed weekend of festivities that will include some riding, but mostly touring, bonding, meet-and-greets with Israelis and a Sunday reception for the team at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.

Israel Start-Up Nation – its first professional cycling team – was established in 2015 and includes riders from Israel and abroad. The team began to compete at a higher level when Sylvan Adams joined as a co-owner alongside Ron Baron.

The team has competed in its first Grand Tour, joined the WorldTour (the highest level of professional cycling) and secured a spot in the 2020 Tour de France. In 2021, Israeli rider Itamar Einhorn defeated ex-world champion Peter Sagan to claim the first WorldTour victory by an Israeli.

Adams is impressed with his team and not at all disappointed that they won't spend the majority of their time on intensive rides. "This will be a more relaxed camp – more of a tourism and bonding camp – and will permit the team to experience some of the marvels of Israel," he said. Israel Start-Up Nation is currently ranked in the top 10 in the world for the first time in its history and enjoyed 17 victories this season.

Riding legend Chris Froome, 36, who has won the Tour de France four times in addition to other prestigious bike races, is looking forward to being in Israel and doing some riding.

Back in the country since his last race in Spain, Niv recounted that he hiked in the desert with friends and celebrated his brother's recent marriage, and now looks forward to spending time with his teammates. Now, it's back to training-related events. He reported that there will only be two or three team rides; he and his Israeli teammates are scheduled to lead one in the Golan Heights.

That's a group ride!

Amazing scenes today from the outskirts of Jerusalem, as Israel Start-Up Nation is enjoying its first day in Israel!

Everyone is here: from Einhorn to Woods, from Froome to Goldstein.

And they're all enjoying their visit in Israel already!#VisitIsrael pic.twitter.com/3lOCyN7Yj5

— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@TeamIsraelSUN) November 6, 2021

Niv sees this trip as an important opportunity for his fellow riders to truly experience Israel. "The team has the name Israel on its jersey. It is important that they will know what Israel looks like – the culture, the people, the history, the food. It will give them a nice taste of what it looks like and feels like to be here."

He noted that while his fellow riders are "athletes, not politicians," they are often asked about the situation in Israel. "The best way for them to answer is to be here a bit and see. They will have a chance to form their own opinions."

Israeli teammate Itamar Einhorn, 24, said he sees a benefit in bringing the team to Israel: "I'm always excited to show our riders what the country has to offer."

'I didn't expect so many fans'

The team has already met and interacted with hundreds of devoted fans. On their first morning of ISN Homecoming Camp in Israel, fans met riders, got autographs and posed for selfies as they rode from Jerusalem to the summit of Nes Harim in the Judean hills, the largest meet-up destination for cyclists in Israel, and hosted a morning coffee stop at the Bar Bahar restaurant in the Jerusalem Forest in Bar Giora.

"I didn't expect so many fans and riders," acknowledged Froome. Later in the day on Saturday, they took a walking tour of the Old City and the Western Wall.

At the Sunday event, Israeli President Isaac Herzog enthusiastically greeted the riders, saying: "We welcome the team whole-heartedly, and we bless you that you are representing Jerusalem and Israel in the world of cycling. This team shows incredible professionalism, and we are honored to have you all here. We are very proud that you are formatting into a world-class team, and we believe that you will only continue to get better and get more results next year."

Herzog shared his enthusiasm for the delegation's visit on Twitter: "Thrilled to welcome back to Israel the incredible cyclists of @TeamIsraelSUN, including world legend @chrisfroome, after a season with a top-ten team ranking and 17 international wins! Enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Israel at lightning speed!"

'We try to use the sport to build bridges'

Adams has been involved with many high-profile events in Israel designed to showcase the land and its people. They include bringing Madonna to the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel in 2010 and donating $5 million to SpaceIL, the organization working to land the first Israeli spacecraft on the moon.

He said he is pleased that the riders have the opportunity to visit Israel and that Israeli supporters get to spend time with them. "It's very important for us to bring the team here to introduce the riders to our home country to make them understand what Israel is as we are ambassadors for the nation. We don't have a brand sponsor like other teams; our brand is Israel, and we carry the name everywhere we go. Another mission of ours is to help make the world a better place, and we try to use the sport to build bridges and to make new friends around the world."

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Prior to the trip, Froome reported, "I am very much looking forward to finally being able to visit Israel. Throughout this year, I have really felt the heart-warming support from the Israeli fans, and I can't wait to meet them in person and thank them for all their support."

He made it a point to emphasize that he likes what he has seen so far: "I have so enjoyed being in Israel these last few days and would really like to come back with my family next year. In this team, one of our biggest visions is to inspire the new generation of Israeli cyclists. When we met our young fans, it was clear to see how they were all dreaming of becoming professional riders. You could their eyes sparkle when they met the team and to witness that vision of ours being realized right now is such a joy."

The team started its schedule with a tour of the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum and memorial in Jerusalem on Sunday. Members visited Tel Aviv on Monday. They plan to meet with young riders to talk about cycling and racing at several schools once back up north. Additionally, the team will be presented at the Expo on Thursday, one day before the 2021 Ironman 70.3 Tiberias competition and its 2,000 competitors on Nov. 12.

Israel Start-Up Nation announced that Israeli riders Niv, Einhorn, Omer Goldstein and Guy Sagiv will stay with the team next year, maintaining an important Israeli presence on the team.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Deni Avdija, the only Israeli player in the NBA, returned to action on Saturday night after a longer than expected recovery and rehabilitation from an ankle injury earlier this year. The Washington Wizards faced the New York Knicks in a preseason game; it was the second preseason game for the Wizards but the first for Avdija. He scored four points, had three rebounds and one assist in only 16 minutes of play. Nevertheless, the Wizards lost to the Knicks 117-99.

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Despite the loss, Avdija, 20, was happy to be back in action, saying "it feels good to be back. It is a good first step to get it going, to get two baskets, to get in the rhythm."

He made a layup on a fast break from teammate Raul Neto and made a second basket after a pass from team star Bradley Beal. "You need to start with something," he said. "It felt good."

Wizards Coach Wes Unseld was generally pleased with Avdija's performance, though he pointed out some areas in need of improvement. "For the most part, he was good," he said. "He had some missed assignments. And using his voice will be a constant theme for him. We have to prod him a little bit to do it."

In the Oct. 9 game, Unseld worked to have Avdija play continuous minutes. "It was Deni's first crack at it. We wanted to make sure he had extended runs and didn't want to chop up his minutes too much."

Unseld has reported throughout the pre-season that Avdija is ready to play but wants to ease him in slowly. He will continue to monitor his minutes.

While Avdija is pleased with how hard he worked on his rehabilitation and conditioning, and how much his coaches and trainers have invested in him, he acknowledged that it has been difficult being away from the game – since April 21, when he got hurt – for so long. "I missed basketball. I missed being on the court. I don't take anything for granted. I enjoy every moment of being with teammates, coaches and fans. Hopefully, we're going to have fun this season."

Avdija noted that he enjoyed playing in Washington in front of actual spectators. "The atmosphere changed; we have some fans now," he said. "I can see people in the stands. Those things felt good."

He also feels more relaxed not being a new player. "I wasn't as 'shocked' as in my first year. Some players I came up against last year, it wasn't easy. In the second year, you know where you are – you know the arena, you've seen all the teams and all the defenses in the league. I feel more experienced – mature, stronger and better."

Yet there are challenges ahead as he eases back this season. Avdija is aware of what he needs to do to get ready for the 82-game regular season, which runs from October to April.

"The first thing I wanted to experience was the pace of the game. I have to get used to the pace and physicality and playing defense, and having energy running up and down and going through plays. I'm not going to lie  -- it wasn't easy for me," he acknowledged. "It's not easy coming in after six months. My body needs to adjust."

But, he said, "I'm getting there. It is a good first step for me."

The Wizards have two more preseason games before starting their regular season on the road against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 20.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and the sports world, meet Pascale Bercovitch, Shraga Weinberg, Moran Samuel and Doron Shaziri. Olympians Biles and Osaka have helped raise awareness about mental health in sports. And the four elite Israel athletes, along with 27 other Israeli Paralympians, are doing their part to show the world the extraordinary capabilities of people with physical disabilities.

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The Israeli Paralympics team is headed to Tokyo to compete in nine sports in the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

Bercovitch will compete in paracanoeing, Weinberg in wheelchair tennis (quad singles and doubles), Samuel in rowing (women's single sculls) and Shaziri in 50-meter men's rifle (shooting). The Israeli delegation is scheduled to compete in athletics, bocce, goalball, kayaking, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair tennis. They will join 4,400 athletes from around the world set to compete in 539 events in 22 sports.

Paralympic athletes are assessed and then placed into competition categories, called sport classes, according to what extent their impairment affects their performance. According to the Olympics official website, "The Paralympic Movement offers sport opportunities for athletes with physical, vision and/or intellectual impairments that have at least one of the following 10 eligible impairments: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, muscle tension, uncoordinated movement, involuntary movements, vision impairment or intellectual impairment."

Yehoshua Dekel, president of Israel Paralympic Committee, is excited about the Israel team, which will set off for Tokyo in shifts, with each group arriving close to their days of competition. While he hopes the athletes will "bring home many medals," he's pleased that each athlete serves as a dugma – a role model – for Israeli children with and without disabilities.

"Our athletes are heroes," reports Dekel, noting that they regularly make appearances at Israeli schools to share stories of their disabilities and their journeys to their sports accomplishments. "They are an example of what is possible."

Dekel is also pleased that the Israeli government has become increasingly supportive of Israeli Paralympic athletes in the past five years. He notes that additional support also comes from the private sector.

Yuval Wagner, the founder and chairperson of Access Israel, who is also a person with a disability, will be cheering the Israeli athletes from his home in Israel. "Access Israel is excited about the Israeli Paralympic delegation for being role models for all of us aiming for excellence and on the journey for the medal, promoting awareness for inclusion and accessibility."

Jamie Lassner, executive director of Friends of Access Israel (FAISR), is particularly excited to watch two Israeli rowers compete. Pascale Bercovitch, who leaves for Tokyo on Aug. 25, reports, "I am so happy the Paralympics are happening. I am genuinely so happy to be part of it!"

She notes the difficult years of training, waiting, anticipating and hardships. "Preparation was really complicated because of the coronavirus pandemic," says Bercovitch, who at times trained on a kayak machine in the garden behind her apartment, and at times was able to train in the Yarkon River once athletes were given special permission despite multiple lockdowns.

Bercovitch, 54, is one of the oldest Paralympians in this year's competition. She has competed in previous Paralympics, including in 2012, where she placed sixth in a handcycling. In 2016, she competed in paracanoe.

She is also a writer, filmmaker and motivational speaker, speaking candidly about her experience losing two legs in a train accident as a teenager, making aliyah alone from France and serving in the IDF, and training and competing as an elite athlete.

FAISR's Lassner adds fondly, "Pascale had me at the first bonjour when we met on the Tel Aviv promenade in the summer of 2019. She is a mentor, a motivator and my only friend headed to a fifth Olympics in a row. Her warmth, smile and joie de vivre are infectious."

Lassner is similarly impressed with Paralympian Moran Samuel, who has also competed in more than one sport. "What amazes me is that she went from being a leader on an Israeli basketball squad – a team sport – to the solitude of rowing. She is a true athlete with an incredibly focused heart."

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The Paralympics traditionally take place two weeks after the Olympics end and are held in the same city and venues. Many around the world have become familiar with the competition through the 2020 Netflix film, "Rising Phoenix," which tells the story of the Paralympics. In the show's words: "Elite athletes and insiders reflect on the Paralympic Games and examine how they impact a global understanding of disability, diversity and excellence."

Following on the anticipated success of the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics, Israel hopes to also send a delegation of participants to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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When Belgian professional road and cyclo-cross racer Wout van Aert took the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France and Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar won the overall 2021 Tour de France on Sunday, there weren't many Israeli riders in sight. Even without Israeli riders winning the race, this year's Tour de France was an unprecedented victory for the Jewish state.

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The famed race, which each year covers 3,413 kilometers (2,121 miles) over 21 stages in 23 days, featured eight riders wearing the Israel Start-Up Nation jersey. The Israel team, which included two Canadians, five Europeans and Israeli-born Omer Goldstein, put Israel and Israel cycling on the map in perpetuity.

Israel's Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov was on hand at the finish line in Paris to greet the riders and show just how much Israel cycling matters.

"We are so proud to see an Israeli team carry the Israeli flag at one of the largest sporting events in the world," Razvozov, a former judoka who represented Israel at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said.

"Thanks to the partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, the team is promoting our brand of tourism to Israel throughout the race. Events of this kind are the biggest generators of tourism in the world, so it was important for me to come and learn about what is needed, and how it will be possible to bring major international sporting events to Israel on the day the skies open."

Thanks in large part to the visionary leadership and financial backing of the team's co-owner, Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams, the world is beginning to take note of Israel as a bike-racing country and as a tourist destination. In May 2018, Adams, known for bringing positive attention through such stunts as bringing Madonna to Israel for the Eurovision song competition, arranged to have Israel host the three-week Giro d'Italia bike race.

Adams is proud of Israel Start-Up Nation's performance at this year's Tour De France. "ISN's second Tour represented another building block in the team's growth. For the first time, we were on the podium, with Michael Woods earning the iconic polka-dot climber's jersey," he said. "We also had our share of bad luck, with terrible crashes destroying our GC hopes on the first day.

"But the team held strong and was cheered all along the roads of France, with shouts of Israel, Israel, Allez [Go!]! Also, allez Start-Up Nation in recognition of the team moniker and allez Chris Froome, in respect of our great four-time Tour winner. We have put the 'Start-Up Nation' on the world map. And a special mention of our Israeli Omer Goldstein for racing like a consummate pro, despite being in his first Tour de France."

'Quick to change focus and fight for new goals'

Israel Start-Up Nation boasted several noteworthy accomplishments throughout the three-week race, while also facing some challenges. It finished in the top 10 on nine stages and the top five on three occasions. Canadian Michael Woods took the KOM (red polka-dot leaders' jersey with blue snowcapped mountains and the words "RIDE ON" at the base) after a big push on Stage 14. Woods finished both third and fifth during the Tour de France, while teammate Dan Martin of Ireland made the top five with an impressive performance on the final mountain stage.

Sports manager Rik Verbrugghe says the riders should be proud of the way they fought to overcome a difficult start to the race. On the first day, seven out of eight on the Israeli team were involved in several crashes. One was caused by a fan who stepped onto the course to unfurl a banner. "We had a challenging beginning, but we never lost morale, and the guys were quick to change focus and fight for new goals," he said.

The Tour concluded three weeks later in Paris with the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées. The Israeli team finished with a strong performance as André Greipel of Germany sprinted to fifth place. The final stage – Stage 21, 67 flat miles (108 kilometers) from Chatou to Paris at the Champs-Élysées – concluded with Israel riders Omer Goldstein in fifth place, Rick Zabel 23rd and Guillaume Bovin 29th.

Greipel had recently announced that this would be his final Tour de France. His teammates, mindful of what this race means to him, positioned him near the front for the sprint and at the end.

"This was an emotional day, knowing that I would take on my last Tour de France stage. In the sprint, due to the new finish, everybody gambled a bit in the headwind, and I guess I gambled a bit too much," reported Greipel, who vocalized wishing he finished even higher in the pack. "I would have liked a better result, so there is some disappointment now but also relief as I could finish another Tour de France."

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Goldstein spoke more succinctly and playfully at the finish line. "It was the hardest and most enjoyable race of my life. What do I want now? To rest, and leave the bike … "

This year's Israel Start-Up Nation consisted of Guillaume Boivin, Chris Froome, Omer Goldstein, André Greipel, Reto Hollenstein, Dan Martin, Michael Woods and Rick Zabel.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Now, nine years later and days away from the start of the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics set to take place July 23 to Aug. 8, their page has 21,282 followers and is considered the premier English source about Israeli athletes.

"The page was created out of a shared love of two things: Israel and sport," reports Wiseman, who made aliyah from Australia in 2005. "With most of the athletes playing sports that are ignored or neglected by traditional sports media, the page strengthens the connection between the fans and the athletes."

Wiseman and Wright-Pilo, an immigrant from Toronto, Canada, have one goal. "It is just good news after good news; who wouldn't want that, especially in times like this?" poses Wiseman, who feels that these hardworking, talented athletes deserve attention. "We do it because we want the athletes to know all they do for us, and that all their sacrifices aren't in vain."

Follow Team Israel continues to post a wide range of stories each day, covering such topics as Israeli windsurfer and Olympian Katy Spychakov; the two Orthodox American Jews drafted to Major League Baseball teams (Elie Kligman by the Washington Nationals and Jacob Steinmetz to the Arizona Diamondbacks); and Israeli Yam Madar, drafted by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. While the site posts only sports-related stories, Wiseman observes that the appeal is to a wider audience who cares about Israel.

"The irony is that most of them aren't sports fans – couldn't care less about it – but they love Israel, and they love to see people passionate about what they do/representing Israel," says Wiseman.

The Jerusalem-based Wiseman, who works in digital branding and online reputation management, is excited about the upcoming summer Olympics, even if they will mostly be held without fans as a precaution against contracting and/or spreading COVID-19.

When asked to offer three to five Israeli athletes to keep an eye on at the upcoming Olympics, he had a hard time limiting himself. He reluctantly stopped at seven, noting, "It's like picking a favorite grandchild."

Israel is planning to send 89 athletes to the Olympics (54 men and 35 women) to complete in 15 sports – nearly double the number of athletes who represented the Jewish state at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The numbers are unusually high, in part, since 24 of the 89 are on Israel's baseball team.

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Israel has won nine Olympic medals since it first participated in 1952. The first came in 1992 in the sport of Judo when Yael Arad won a silver medal. She was followed a day later by another judoka, Oren Smadja, who won bronze. Gal Fridman is the only Israeli to win a gold medal (windsurfing, Athens 2004) and so far the only Israeli to win two medals (bronze, Atlanta 1996).

This year's Olympics will feature Israel's first-ever archer (22-year-old Itay Shanny), surfer (21-year-old Anat Lelior) and equestrian team. The team of four show jumpers includes an eclectic group: Mexican-born Alberto Michan, who is in his third Olympics but representing Israel for the first time; Teddy Vlock, a 23-year old jumper who reportedly trains with Yale University in New Haven, Conn.; American-born 36-year-old Danielle Goldstein Waldman; and Ashlee Bond, whose father is Shlomo Goldberg/Steve Bond, the Israeli-born American model and actor.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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For Team Israel and members of the media who spent three tense, very exciting nights at Maimonides Park in Coney Island, NY, back in September 2016, July 11 was a true homecoming.

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Team Israel played a Sunday afternoon game against the FDNY (Fire Department of New York) in Brooklyn, -- at the same stadium as the miracle games of 2016 – before embarking on a series of exhibition games on the East Coast that will then see them fly to Tokyo to compete in the Summer Olympic Games. Israel will face Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United States and the Dominican Republic. While their medal chances are uncertain, the 24 players on the Olympic roster could not be more excited.

In 2016, nobody took Team Israel seriously as they played in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. That began to change after they defeated Great Britain once and Brazil twice, and advanced to "Pool A" in South Korea in March 2017 against South Korea, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

Team Israel proceeded to battle through the World Baseball Classic and won the 2019 European Baseball Championship. By finishing in the top five, Israel earned the right to participate in the 2020 Olympics qualifiers. As the winner of that tournament, Team Israel qualified to be one of six national teams to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, the 2020 Olympics were postponed to July 2021, where, being that COVID remains an issue in Japan, they will largely take place without fans and with players living in a bubble reminiscent of the NBA bubble in Florida in 2020.

Nevertheless, July 11 was a day for nostalgia and celebration for the journey and for what Team Israel represents for Israel and the Jewish people. The 12 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders and three outfielders are mainly American-born players of Jewish descent, although there are some native-born Israelis on the team. In order to represent a country in the Olympics, a player must be citizen of that country; thus, all members of Team Israel hold citizenship. Some are former Major Leaguer Baseball players with extensive MLB or Minor League experience.

'Crazy, rewarding, hard, fun, tough'

Pitcher Shlomo Lipetz, 42, was born in Tel Aviv, played college baseball in the United States and has been affiliated with Israel baseball for more than 30 years. At the World Baseball Qualifiers in 2017, the right-handed pitcher was the only native Israeli on the team.

Baseball and Team Israel have helped keep him focused throughout the pandemic. "The fact that I just keep playing the game kept me really sane while doing my day job," he says.

Lipetz is vice president of programming for City Winery. He says he is proud of how far Team Israel has come since 2017. "It is no longer the underdog mentality – that we are just happy to be here. With the help of some of the big league guys, folks like Ian [Kinsler] and Danny [Valencia], I think that really helped change our mentality to something of 'we belong here, and we can make some noise!' "

Pitcher Josh Zeid, 34, has played for the Houston Astros and is currently working for the Chicago Cubs in Phoenix, where he is the rehabilitation pitching coordinator. He also pitched for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where he was named to the 2017 All-World Baseball Classic Team.

At the end of the WBC, Zeid thought his baseball career was over. As he looks back on the past four years, he says "it has been crazy, rewarding, hard, fun, tough, but it is crazy. We are standing here today in Brooklyn. Four years ago, we were all here. I thought my career was over at the end of the season. We had a swan song starting in Brooklyn; it is pretty surreal, pretty special."

The right-handed pitcher uses a bright-blue mitt with the expression "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" inscribed in Hebrew. "My grandfather died six months ago, and these were his last words to me," he reveals.

Zeid pitched the second inning of the FDNY game and struck out all three batters. "I am honored to play for Team Israel in the Olympics," he says. "It's a lifelong dream come true. I feel I have been blessed. Just putting in the work and care and effort to making sure this one comes true as well."

Pitcher Joey Wagman, 29, was also all fired up to return to Brooklyn as part of Team Israel. Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 17th round of 2013 draft, he recalls, "The last time I was here was five years ago for the qualifiers, so it definitely brings back a lot of memories."

Wagman did not play in 2020, though he resumed training with Team Israel teammate, Zach Weiss, when both lived in Southern California.

"I used the time to refine some things in my movement and delivery and shore up my mental game," he relates. Over the past three months, Wagman has played professional baseball in the Czech Republic. "It was a different pace of baseball. After an 18-month layoff, it was a decent, relaxed environment, where I could control pitch counts and innings, and it served its purpose as prep for the Olympics."

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Of the opportunity to reunite with his teammates, Wagman says: "It has been years since I've seen all these guys – being together brings back so many good memories. There have been so many good memories with Team Israel in the past five years."

'We need to start playing some good baseball'

Danny Valencia is arguably Team Israel's most accomplished player. Valencia, 36, has played for eight Major League teams, and had 795 hits and 95 home runs in 3,000-plus plate appearances. He says he is looking forward to representing Israel in Tokyo. "It is a really cool experience, and it is going to be an awesome memory for all of us."

Valencia also knows what being in the Olympics will take, noting that "we need to start playing some good baseball."

Valencia knows this Olympics will feel different due to COVID precautions. "Obviously, we will be in a bubble. There will not be many fans at the games, but it should be an amazing experience. We will be around a lot of great athletes. And we're there to handle the job but also to enjoy the experience."

Ben Wanger, 23, a right-handed pitcher, also serves as a designated hitter. His parents, David and Gwen Wanger – both clothed in "Wanger" jerseys – traveled from Newton, Mass., to Brooklyn and watched their son from behind the Team Israel dugout. While they're unable to attend the Olympics in Tokyo, they dream of the day they will be able to visit Israel for the first time – and celebrate what they hope will be a medal for Team Israel.

Whether Israel ultimately wins gold, silver or bronze, the Wangers are practically glowing over the accomplishments of their son and his teammates – and of what the experience has done for everyone's Jewish identity.

"The experience for these players, especially American Jews who made aliyah, has been incredibly enriching," says David Wanger. "They are so much more attuned to their heritage, and they feel incredibly connected to Israel and to the Jewish people."

The Wangers and the good-sized observant Jewish crowd that showed up in Brooklyn are praying that the miracle of Team Israel will continue. The team is off to a promising start with a 12-3 victory over New York's bravest: the FDNY. Israel scored an impressive 12 runs on 15 hits, with the first run at the top of the sixth.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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A little more than six months ago, Israel and the basketball world had high hopes for 19-year-old Deni Avdija. The 6-foot-9-inch former Maccabi Tel Aviv small forward was taken with the 9^th pick in the first round of November's NBA draft by the Washington Wizards. He hit the ground running. He endured strict NBA coronavirus restriction protocols, a grueling travel schedule and being far from family, friends and country.

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Avdija got off to a fast, fairly successful start. The young rookies started in 15 games, averaged 6.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the 54 games he played this season.

Almost five months to the day of his draft date – April 21 – Avdija's promising rookie season came to an abrupt end after landing awkwardly on his right leg in a game against the Golden State Warriors. Avdija left the court in a wheelchair and was diagnosed with a right fibular hairline fracture.

While expected to make a full recovery following a 12-week rehabilitation process, he was deemed out for the season and would miss the team's unexpected run into the playoffs. Avdija has been seen from time to time in a walking boot. He was also observed putting up some shots in a seated position prior to the Wizards game against the Boston Celtics in the play-in tournament. But he has not spoken to the media, and the Wizards haven't shared much on his progress.

That changed on June 3.

After the Wizards were eliminated from the playoffs in five games by the No. 1 seeded Philadelphia 76ers, Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard and coach Scott Brooks spoke with the media for nearly 90 minutes. This final media session of the season addressed the season as a whole; star players Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook; their young players and frequently injured players; and the future of Brooks, whose five-year contract is about to expire. They also spoke about Avdija.

"Deni is in week six of an injury," Sheppard told reporters.  "I think he will be cleared after 12 weeks. The most important thing to me is his therapy. He was with us on this last road trip; I watched his therapy, I watched him out on the floor. I am pleased with his progress. Our hope is to have him 100% healthy by the time summer league rolls around, but it is not imperative that he play in summer league. We'll make that evaluation at the right time."

He noted that Avdija missed the last 18 games of the season and was not able to join in the team's short-lived playoff run.

'We have a lot of hope in his future'

Brooks has been supportive of his young Israeli player throughout the season and has high hopes for him. He has also offered a realistic assessment of Deni after each game. "I like his potential. He played a good number of minutes this year," he said.

"There were some really good moments and some when you could really tell he was 19 (he turned 20 during the season). But we have a lot of hope in his future," said Brooks. "It is unfortunate he got injured and is going to miss 10 to 12 weeks, and a chance to be in the playoffs. He is a big body. He is a pretty good athlete. He shows toughness. He is a good rebounder, and his shooting is developing itself."

Brooks said he has enjoyed watching his star players Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook take Avdija and other rookies under their wing. "They like these young players," he noted, and have served as mentors to Avdija and others.

Sheppard reported that "Deni is doing fine. He is out of the boot and able to do spot shooting." He added that the team is having him avoid jumping during workouts to help assure a complete recovery and that he is also working on his cardio, which can be difficult while recovering from a lower-body injury.

Other than that, "he is doing fantastic," reassured Sheppard. "I think Deni is on track to be an impact player in the future."

It seems clear that Avdija will be back with the team next season, ready to continue growing and developing as a second-year player in the NBA. Sheppard stopped short of reassuring fans that Brooks would be back with the team next season.

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It was an up and down season for the Wizards. They started 0-5, and along the way, dealt with COVID-19, had several weeks without games or practices and went on to a 17-32 record. Avdija was one of several players to face injuries.

Avdija and his teammates will benefit from the much-needed rest, said the coach and general manager. "Our goal is to have Deni at training camp and have him a big piece of what we are doing," said Sheppard.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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In America's Northeast, where the snow continues to fall, spring and baseball seem like distant dreams. But in Israel, spring is in full bloom, and baseball season is already underway. The dedicated members of the 12-and-under National Team of Israel are hard at work on the fields at Baptist Village in Petach Tikvah. They are preparing for the "Field of Peace" baseball tournament in March, which will feature Israel, the United Arab Emirates and potentially teams from other Gulf states.

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Competing for the Unity Cup, players will begin their series of games March 21-25 at none other than the Dubai Little League Park next to Al Quoz Pond Park. The teams will meet again in Tel Aviv in the fall of 2021.

Baseball has come a long way since team manager Louie Miller made aliyah with his family in 1998 at age 14. His parents hoped to share their love of baseball with youth in Israel. They somehow came to Israel with five children in tow, all of their possessions and managed to donate bats, catchers' gear and other baseball equipment they had secured from the JCC Little League in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Miller played on the JCC travel team in Pittsburgh as a boy and continued to play as a teen in Israel. "There were no great options for high school baseball," notes Miller, who also worked as a volunteer coach. "After the army, there were no options to become a coach and make a living. Everyone had a day job and coached on Fridays."

Yaniv Rosenfeld, Israel Association of Baseball's (IAB) Operations Manager, helped change that.

Rosenfeld, who lives in Misgav in the Galilee and established the Misgav Baseball club in 2013, was looking to change the image of baseball in Israel and to create opportunities for young Israelis to make a living in baseball. Now, Miller playfully reports, "I am one of the first people in Israel who makes a living by coaching baseball!" The trained social worker moved up north five years ago to start a youth program. They started with 35 participants and have grown to 225. It is Miller's seventh year coaching the under-12 team.

'The next generation of Israeli baseball'

While the team managed to travel to Italy last summer, this has been a quiet year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then, Jordy Alter, the IAB vice president and Peter Kurz, IAB president and general manager of Team Israel, had an idea – organize a tournament with a team in the UAE, thanks in part to the recently signed Abraham Accords.

Miller notes, "I jumped at the opportunity to go to a place where only a few months ago we couldn't go."

Kurz adds that "this is the IAB's own contribution to co-existence with our neighbors. We began reaching out to the Israeli-Arab population with our program, 'Baseball for All,' and now with the 'Field of Peace' tournament, we are reaching out to our surrounding neighbors. We hope this competition will become a regional one, with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and others taking part as well, and we look forward to hosting our partners in Israel in the fall."

Dubai Little League president Roger Duthie and his IAB counterpart, Jordy Alter, said in a joint statement: "We are excited to enter a new era of cooperation between our organizations and countries. We strive together to develop the game of baseball in Israel and Dubai as a basis for peace and cooperation between our countries. We see this as a major step forward in both areas and are excited to jointly hold the first team sports tournament between our countries. We hope these games lead to further regional cooperation."

The players are similarly elated about the upcoming trip. Miller says "they are excited just to play ball. They understand that it is glamorous – that the field and facilities are amazing and the Little League program there is top-notch."

Dubai Little League has more than 400 kids playing baseball and softball in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Founded in 1998, Dubai Little League has seven divisions ranging from ages 4 to 18.

As part of the expansion of baseball activities in Israel, the IAB is building new fields and looks forward to the completion of the new Bet Shemesh complex, which will host international tournaments, as well as the Ra'anana field, which will be a joint baseball-soccer facility, both slated for 2021.

Miller can't be happier. "We are seeing the next generation of Israeli baseball," he states.

Proof of this is the fact that more than 60 kids tried out for the national team, which Miller calls "unprecedented." While the majority are still new olim or children of American immigrants, Miller reports that they are now seeing native-born Israelis playing as well.

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"In my opinion, the main goal of under-12 baseball is to have these kids who often haven't seen high-level baseball experience what top-level baseball is like and turn them into ballplayers," he explains. "This is exactly what the tournament will do for these 28 players – our largest delegation ever. These are the ones who will want to become ballplayers and stick with it!"

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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When Israeli Guy Niv took his bar mitzvah trip with his father to watch the Tour de France, he never imagined that he would be back 13 years later as a rider. Niv, who is now with Team Israel Start-Up Nation (ISN), is the first Israeli to complete the most well-known cycling race in the world. He recently joined the team in Girona, Spain, for a training camp and returned soon after to Israel just before Ben-Gurion International Airport shut down for a week due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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Niv, who started riding as a hobby at age 10, hopes to inspire young children's interest in biking. Despite some uncertainty about the upcoming racing season due to COVID-19, he notes, "I am really excited for the new season and to see new faces, including big names, and to work with and learn from them. My motivation is very high."

As for his participation in general, "it was a dream come true," he says, keeping it all in perspective. "At the end of the day, it is a bike ride. It doesn't change who you are and what you give to the world."

Team Israel Start-Up Nation will compete at the World Tour level – the highest level of professional cycling – for just the second season. The team recently signed four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, who is currently completing rehabilitation from a serious bike injury in California. Froome, 35 a Kenyan-born British cyclist, made clear in a recent virtual press conference that he is very committed to the team and to Israel.

As he reports, "This is very much a long-term commitment for me. I have committed to the end of my career. I'm in to give everything I can to help the team in every way possible, as well as improve myself and get back to the top."

Froome will now be teammates with fellow star-rider Dan Martin, who finished fourth overall in the 2020 Vuelta a Espana (one of cycling's three Grand Tours, alongside the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia). Martin notes that he is pleased to be riding with Froome, saying "I am happy to see how the team has been strengthened; it gives me confidence. I know how much I can learn from Chris and the others. We can become a stronger team together. It's a team effort."

'True sportsmanship and determination'

The team owes much of its success to the dedication and passion of team co-owner, Canadian-Israeli billionaire, Sylvan Adams. An avid and accomplished biker who won the 2017 World Masters Championship in Manchester, England, he is co-owner of the Israel Cycling Academy, and the visionary and funder behind the Sylvan Adams Velodrome – the first velodrome in Israel and the Middle East.

The velodrome, a cycle-racing track and a Tel Aviv architectural wonder located near the Hadar Yosef Athletic Stadium, was inaugurated in 2018. That happened just before Israel hosted the 101st Giro d'Italia bike race – the first time it ever took place outside of Europe. Adams reportedly donated $80 million for the race, in which 175 people cycled throughout Israel, including the final leg from Beersheva to Eilat.

Adams, who made aliyah five years ago from Montreal, has been at the forefront of showcasing Israel in a positive light in front of an international audience. In addition to bringing the Giro D'Italia to Israel, Adams brought soccer superstar Lionel Messi, and the national teams of Argentina and Uruguay, to Israel in November 2019 for a friendly soccer exhibition. Adams is proud of Israel and practical, always leveraging the popularity of these high-profile visitors to Israel and the extensive TV viewership around these events. "Messi has 230 million followers on social media," notes Adams.

In 2018, Adams donated $5 million to SpaceIL, the nonprofit that nearly landed the first Israeli spacecraft ("Beresheet") on the moon. And in 2019, he helped bring Madonna to Israel to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest, noting that she has "300 million music fans."

Adams likes to say that he is engaged in "diplomacy, not politics."

He adds, "The camera doesn't lie. We are reaching out to show the true face of Israel."

While his generosity is seen across many projects that promote Israel, cycling remains his true passion. And he feels strongly that Israel Start-Up Nation is "not just a cycling team, but a mission."

In fact, he sees ISN as "the only team in the world which is the Team of the Jewish people."

Adams adds that the project has two goals – promoting cycling in Israel and "promoting the home country." As he elaborates, "we are representing our home country around the world with true sportsmanship and determination."

'We respect our cultural traditions'

The team members, who come from all over the world and are mainly not Jewish, serve as ambassadors for Israel. Adams strives to bring team members to see Israel, though this year's January training camp was relocated to Spain due to the pandemic and travel restrictions.

Froome looks forward to his next visit to Israel. "My only experience with Israel was at the Giro d'Italia 2018, and that blew me away. It was not at all what I expected."

When team members come to Israel, they travel to such important sites as Jerusalem's Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Yad Vashem and the bars, restaurants and beaches of Tel Aviv. "We let them see Israel, we don't preach," says Adams, who is confident that cyclists will speak accurately and positively about Israel as they are interviewed by media around the world.

The riders even get a taste of Israel and Jewish culture on the road; Adams takes pride in having team Shabbat dinners all around the world. "At our training camps, we do Kiddush in front of the whole team. This is in our DNA. We respect our cultural traditions. Even at the Tour de France, Guy made Kiddush, as we have as a people for 3,000 years."

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When Canadian rider, Guillaume Boivin, told family and friends in 2015 that he was planning to visit Israel, they were nervous. "I was struck by how welcoming and comfortable it was," reports Boivan, the first rider recruited by Adams. "Tel Aviv is a fantastic city, and everyone was willing to help."

Boivin continues to be an ambassador for Israel and hopes that his teammates will have the same experience he has had. "I think everyone should witness Israel – not just hear stories – and experience what the team means to the owners and creators."

Adams hopes to bring new team members to Israel in the next few weeks before traveling to Dubai for the seven-day United Emirates Tour bike race from Feb. 21-27. If the pandemic cooperates, then Froome will make his debut there – in the United Arab Emirates following the recent signing of the Abraham Accords with Israel – on the world stage representing the Blue and White.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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