Some Parting Words to our North American Friends

I hope you have enjoyed these webcasts as much as I have enjoyed making them. I apologize for all spelling mistakes made on the player's names and also for some minor lapses in the action. In addition to being webcaster I was also chief of the ballboys, waterboy for the two benches (a very important job in the 102 degree heat we had here), and general fireman for the tournament.

It is our great pleasure to host the two teams. Their performance has been exemplary both on and off the field.

To most North American Jews, if there is a Jewish Sport in North America, then baseball has to be it. It was without a doubt the sport the early Jewish American immigrants adopted in order to blend in with their new homeland. It produced our first great sports heroes, like Moe Berg, Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax. Thus for us North Americans it was strange to make Aliya to the Jewish state and find that the Jewish Sport is absent. Since its inception, in December 1986, the Israel Association of Baseball has attempted to create an infrastructure for baseball in Israel by teaching youth baseball. We now have nearly 600 active baseball players in 5 league divisions: Minors age 8-10, Juvenile age 10-12, Cadets age 13-15, Juniors age 16-18 and Seniors 18+. This is a drop in the bucket compared to the potential that baseball has in Israel.

We have always felt that baseball is the ultimate sport for building bridges between the youth of North America and that of Israel, and these Maccabiah games have strengthened our beliefs. Baseball, however, is not an easy sport to establish in a new land. It requires a lot of land and skilled personnel to spread the baseball gospel to the natives. Now that you have had this, albeit, virtual exposure to Israeli baseball we ask that you join our baseball family and help support Israel baseball. There are numerous ways to help. Spread the word to your friends and tell them that baseball is alive and well in Israel. Second, help us to develop the baseball infrastructure: the means to develop the fields, train coaches, and develop our players. Help us hold more tournaments in Israel with North Americans.

US citizens can make a tax deductible donation through the PEF. You must tell them that the donation is for the Israel Association of Baseball.

PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc. 317 Madison Avenue, Suite 607 New York NY 10017 USA
Email: pefisrael@aol.com
Tel 212-599-1260 or Fax 212-599-5981

You can also send donations directly to us.

Israel Association of Baseball
POB 1672
Bet Shemesh 99000
Israel

Send us an email and let us know how you can help to: isbasebl@zahav.net.il.

Haim Katz
Vice President Israel Association of Baseball