By Michal Rosenberg
This year, the AMIT Network was proud to be chosen as the first international team to attend the tournament. AMIT’s all-star team, made up of students from 10 different schools in Israel, was not a full-fledged competitor in Sarachek, but the boys were immersed in the tournament atmosphere. They scrimmaged with MTA, Rambam, Valley Torah, Kushner, and Heschel; connected with their American counterparts; and got a reprieve from the tense atmosphere at home. And they won every game they played.
For many it was their first trip to the U.S., and they were thrilled to meet fellow athletes and explore new places. Throughout their stay, the boys impressed with more than just jump shots, demonstrating remarkable strength of character.
“Our students were excited to come here for competitive basketball, and they left a week later with so much more,” said AMIT President Shari Safra. “The camaraderie and connections they built made this trip truly unforgettable.”
Building Bridges Through Basketball
The idea to connect Israeli and American youth through sports was the brainchild of famed former YU basketball star David Kufeld and his friend Rabbi Seth Farber. Kufeld reached out to his former coach and longtime friend Jonathan Halpert, the veteran YU basketball coach of 42 years who started the Sarachek Tournament 32 years ago. Halpert and YU were quick to jump on board and add to Sarachek’s storied history. “We’re grateful for the support from YU and Rabbi Berman, who signed off on the plan,” said Kufeld.
The boys were proud to represent Israel and their AMIT schools—Sderot, Or Akiva, Ashdod, Ma’ale Adumim, Bar Ilan Gush Dan, Be’er Ami, Bruchin, Kfar Ganim, Nachshon, and Kvutzat Yavneh—and deeply appreciated this unique opportunity. One of the players shared, “Meeting teammates who have experienced the war firsthand and standing together to represent Israel makes this experience even more meaningful.”
Their acclaimed coach, Dadi Bargad, said, “The boys were overwhelmed by the warm welcome they received from AMIT U.S. staff and from all the students and teams they met. They have tremendous hakarat hatov to AMIT for this memorable week.”
Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (RKYHS) acted as the AMIT team’s home court during their weeklong stay. RKYHS Athletic Director, Student Services Provider and educator Rabbi Richard Kirsch said, “The basketball team was so excited to get to know the AMIT Israeli team. Any time we can strengthen the relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel, Kushner is right there.”
The AMIT boys began the day at Kushner with davening, breakfast, and practice. Their packed schedule of scrimmages, exhibition games, school tours, and sightseeing made for an exciting week that culminated with a shabbaton for out-of-town teams, where the boys really had the chance to bond with their peers.
“This trip gave the boys a strong sense of belonging to AMIT and the opportunity to create connections and share their lives with people from such different communities,” said Bargad.
More Than a Game
Marc Zharnest, director of undergraduate admissions at YU, shared that one of the boys gifted him a jersey inscribed with the names of friends who had fallen in the current war. “I was deeply moved,” said Zharnest, “but what struck me even more was the realization that in just a few short months, many of these young men will be putting their lives on the line to defend our homeland. Their resilience, courage, and unwavering sense of duty are nothing short of heroic. They inspire me and my team far more than any basketball game or YU merchandise we could offer them.”
Many of these young men will be starting their army service this year and, as hit home too hard recently, it is a serious and intense time in their lives. For them, this week was about more than basketball—it was a much-needed distraction from the harsh reality at home.
AMIT extends hakarat hatov to all who helped make this uplifting week possible: David Kufeld, who started the ball rolling; Yeshiva University for welcoming and hosting the team so warmly; and Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School for so graciously opening their doors to the AMIT boys and giving them a home base for the week.
Inviting an Israeli team to Sarachek, an iconic American Jewish day school event, made the Jewish world feel a little more connected, and planted the seeds of friendship and future collaborations. The powerful bonds formed by sports highlight how shared values can build bridges—an especially poignant lesson during this time of upheaval in Israel, when fostering unity is more vital than ever.
