Passover in the Aisles:

Jews in Baseball:

That Jewish trivia tidbit is but one telling detail in the long and passionate love affair between Jews and baseball. Menorah celebrates that passion with a “Double Header” on Sunday, April 10, beginning at 5:00 pm. The evening includes the screening of two new, 90-minute documentaries, ball park food – including kosher hot dogs and beer – trivia and memorabilia.

History Professor Thomas Zeiler, who teaches the hugely popular “America Through Baseball” class at CU, will serve as the evening’s umpire. (Come play “stump the ump!”) Reservations are appreciated. Admission is $20 in advance; $25 at the door, and includes both films, food and beverages.

Jewish-American Baseball

The rich history of Jewish participation in our nation’s most iconic institution – as players, fans and team owners – is documented in “Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story.”

Dustin Hoffman narrates this story of great drama, unforgettable games, and the broad sweep of American history. More than a film about sports, it is a story of immigration, assimilation, bigotry, heroism, the passing on of traditions, and the shattering of stereotypes.

“You should be an attorney or a doctor, but not a ballplayer,” one former major leaguer remembers, describing the prejudices that he and other Jewish athletes faced. But despite the stereotypes, and in the face of hostility from fans and even violence from opposing players, there have been standout Jewish players in every decade from the 1860s to the present.

Interviews include fans, writers, executives, and especially players – including Al Rosen, Kevin Youkilis, Shawn Green, Norm Sherry, Ron Blomberg, Bob Feller, Yogi Berra, and a rare interview with the legendary Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax. Fans Ron Howard and Larry King speak of the meaning of Jewish ballplayers in their own lives, while historians and even two baseball-loving rabbis relate the stories of Jewish players to the turbulent history of the last century. These powerful personal and historical stories are interwoven with an extraordinary collection of rare archival footage and photos, and a musical score ranging from Benny Goodman to Yo-Yo Ma to Rush.

Jewish Baseball — In Israel?

“Holy Land Hardball,” which will be screened after the dinner break at 7:30 pm, tells another tale of baseball fanaticism. When Boston bagel maker Larry Baras wanted to create a professional baseball league in Israel, his idea was met with incredulity, dismissal and even hostility. He attempted it anyway.

Among the ballplayers swept up in his unlikely quest: a 41-year-old father of three with a Peter Pan complex; a 27-year-old Brooklyn artist/d.j. still finding himself after the disappointment of not being drafted out of college; a 34-year-old father-to-be whose own father, now deceased, fought for Israel’s independence in 1948; and a 22-year-old African-American who was told by a preacher at a young age he would one day “play in front of God’s people.” Also along for the ride are former Jewish major leaguers Art Shamsky, Ken Holtzman, and Ron Blomberg – as team managers in the Israel Baseball League.

“Holy Land Hardball” is an engaging account of their dream to bring America’s pastime to the Middle East.

To register for Menorah’s Double Header, click here or call Kathryn at 303-998-1021, or email her at Kathryn@boulderjcc.org.

March 2010 — New York, NY — May is a beautiful time to visit Israel. Coming just after the rainy season, it marks a time of rebirth and renewal in the land. Whether you are looking to explore all of Israel or are interested in choosing a trip with a special theme or focus, Jewish National Fund (JNF) offers a variety of missions to suit your needs.

With over 100 years of experience as caretaker of the land of Israel, no one knows Israel better than JNF. JNF’s missions appeal to all types of travelers and offer participants the chance to see a side of Israel that other trips don’t. It’s an opportunity to appreciate the history and culture of Israel while also seeing firsthand JNF’s efforts to improve the land of Israel through forestry, water and recreational projects.

For your next vacation, consider one of JNF’s exciting upcoming missions to Israel:

Heart and Soul Mission, May 2-9, 2010 — Discover the beauty and innovation of the land of Israel and learn about JNF’s projects on this 7-day mission. For more information, contact Beth Gluck at bgluck@jnf.org or Ronnie Porat at rporat@jnf.org or call 404-236-8990.

Baseball Mission, May 9-15, 2010 — Celebrate the continued growth and survival of baseball in the Jewish homeland, including JNF’s Project Baseball. For more information, contact Hannah Schwartz at hschwartz@jnf.org or 212-879-9305 ext. 254.

Israel Insights Mission, May 23-29, 2010 — Tour the best of Israel’s historic and cultural sites and visit some of JNF’s important projects. For more information, contact Lois Tannenbaum at ltannenbaum@jnf.org or 407-804-5568.

In the works for 2011, we’ll offer exciting new trips, including a culinary tour of Israel that explores the spirit of the land of Israel through food.

No matter your taste or level of interest, you can find your next trip to Israel with JNF. To find out more about these and other upcoming JNF missions to Israel, please contact the individuals listed above, visit www.jnf.org/travel, email travel@jnf.org or call 877-JNF-TOUR (563-8687).

Jewish National Fund (JNF) began in 1901 collecting coins in blue boxes to purchase land and return the Jewish people to their homeland. In over 107 years, JNF has evolved into a global environmental leader and become the central address for partnering with the land and people of Israel. JNF has planted 240 million trees; built over 1,000 parks and recreational areas; constructed security roads; educated students around the world about Israel; created new communities so that Jews from around the world would have a place to call home; discovered new means of growing plants under arid conditions, bringing green to the desert; and built over 200 reservoirs and water recycling centers, increasing Israel’s water supply by 10%. Today, JNF is supporting Israel’s newest generation of pioneers by bringing life to the Negev Desert, Israel’s last frontier.

A United Nations NGO, JNF sponsors international conferences on desertification, shares afforestation techniques, and funds research on arid land management. JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers. For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.

February 2010 – New York, NY – Pack your bags and batter up! If you love the game of baseball and feel the same way about Israel, then read on! Join Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) first-ever baseball mission to Israel May 8-15, 2010 and bring your cleats because you’re going to be playing your way across the country. Yes, this week-long trip includes daily games and clinics with the Israel Association of Baseball, coupled with touring the land.

With over 100 years of experience as caretaker of the land of Israel, no one knows Israel better than JNF. JNF missions, arranged through JNF’s Travel & Tours Department, allow you to see a side of Israel that other trips don’t, going above and beyond the classic tourist experience. The Baseball Mission to Israel looks to do one better than that.

Playing baseball in the holy land is the perfect trip for people like me who love baseball and Israel,” said mission chair Dr. Kenny Fried, “In addition to showing mission participants a good time, we hope this also highlights the value of integrating baseball into Israeli society – for adults and kids alike. It works well with JNF’s Project: Baseball campaign.”

JNF’s Project: Baseball is a far-reaching plan to foster the growth of baseball in Israel, where the number of fans and players is on the rise but adequate baseball fields are scarce. The campaign involves building state-of-the-art baseball, softball, and professional-caliber fields throughout the country to provide recreational outlets and entertainment opportunities for Israelis of all ages.

The first real baseball field in Israel was built in 1979. Today, there are scores of leagues throughout Israel, accommodating players of all ages, genders, and denominations; it is estimated that the number of regular baseball players exceeds 2,000. Israel’s baseball federations — the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) and the Israel Softball Association (ISA) — compete against teams from Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East. Since 2001, the IAB has held annual “peace clinics” in which children from Jewish and Arab schools meet on the baseball field to learn the sport and make new friends, giving them rare opportunity to interact and work together. The result of these clinics is Tel Aviv’s first Jewish-Arab baseball team in Jaffa.

Growth of the sport has been stymied by a severe shortage of baseball fields. In Jerusalem, where hundreds of adults and children participate in league play, there is only one true baseball field, but instead of grass, it is covered with a dangerous combination of dust, rocks, and thorns. In Bet Shemesh, the only field is built on a slope, forcing children to run uphill to reach first base. Haifa, Be’er Sheva, and Tiberias have no baseball fields at all, so players must travel to other cities.

As part of Project Baseball, JNF has upgraded and enhanced two baseball fields—Sportek, a much-needed facility outside of Tel Aviv that hosted the 2009 Maccabi Games and caters to local amateur players, and the field at the Yarkon Sports Complex in Petach Tikva, which is used by hundreds of people each day.

Now JNF is committed to upgrading Israel’s first baseball field at Kibbutz Gezer. Located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the community overlooks the historic route that Herzl took from Jaffa to Jerusalem at the end of the 19th century. The kibbutz’s baseball field is used by fans throughout the region, especially those from the popular baseball/softball enclaves of Bet Shemesh and Modi’in. It is also a favored site for games of the national softball league. Long-term plans call for creating an all-inclusive Sports Park at Kibbutz Gezer, which in addition to baseball fields will include basketball courts, soccer fields, a swimming pool, and a children’s playground.

In addition to daily games, trip highlights include stops in the Old City of Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Atlit Illegal Immigration Camp, lunch with soldiers at an IDF base, a day tour of the Negev, and an optional trip to Massada, just to name a few itinerary stops.

Land Only: $2360 (based on double occupancy). Single supplement is $595. Includes six nights at a Tel Aviv hotel, seven days with a guide, entrance fees and all touring and transfers.  For information, contact Hannah Schwartz at hschwartz@jnf.org or 212-879-9305 ext. 254.

Jewish National Fund (JNF) began in 1901 collecting coins in blue boxes to purchase land and return the Jewish people to their homeland. In over 107 years, JNF has evolved into a global environmental leader and become the central address for partnering with the land and people of Israel. JNF has planted 240 million trees; built over 1,000 parks and recreational areas; constructed security roads; educated students around the world about Israel; created new communities so that Jews from around the world would have a place to call home; discovered new means of growing plants under arid conditions, bringing green to the desert; and built over 200 reservoirs and water recycling centers, increasing Israel’s water supply by 10%. Today, JNF is supporting Israel’s newest generation of pioneers by bringing life to the Negev Desert, Israel’s last frontier.
A United Nations NGO, JNF sponsors international conferences on desertification, shares afforestation techniques, and funds research on arid land management. JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers. For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.