(Courtesy of Bereisheet) Bereisheet, an organization dedicated to serving the Israeli-American community in New Jersey, hosted a fundraising event last Saturday night at the NVSA, Closter, New Jersey, to benefit the families of hostages and victims of the October 7 massacre.
The collaborative event with several Israeli Premier League teams featured an indoor soccer tournament, engaging approximately 100 community members. An auction, showcasing shirts generously donated by Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and the Israel national soccer team, was a highlight. Notably, game jerseys autographed by several prominent Israeli players were among the items auctioned.
Bereisheet expresses gratitude to all the volunteers in Israel and the USA who dedicated their efforts to the success of the event. Special thanks are extended to the soccer clubs, as well as their players who generously donated the jerseys. Assaf Wolff, a member of the Bereisheet’s board of directors, emphasized, “The Israeli community in New Jersey is an integral part of Israeli society.
“Bereisheet, established over a decade ago, aims to preserve and strengthen this connection. Edan [Alexander, abducted by Hamas], who attended the first class of the Bereisheet Hebrew school run by the same organization as a child, has since captivated the hearts of all of us. We urge the Israeli government to take immediate action to bring Edan and all the hostages home.”
Ido Solomon, the community member who initiated the event, added: “I struggle to find words that adequately describe this meaningful and unique event. Thanks to our amazing community, it surpassed all expectations. The heartfelt reaction from Edan’s family encapsulates the essence of the entire event.”
Bereisheet, a nonprofit organization created in May 2011 by a dedicated group of parents from the Israeli-American community in northern New Jersey, addresses the challenge faced by Israeli families living in America. The organization focuses on navigating the balance between maintaining Israeli identity within the family unit and reconciling the dual identity of being Israelis in America with a deep connection to Israel and the broader Jewish world. Operating on a voluntary basis, Bereisheet aims to transform each individual family’s coping into a communal effort through various programs and activities for children, adults and entire families throughout the year. The organization’s primary initiative is a flagship program offering Hebrew studies for children and youth, emphasizing spoken Hebrew, writing and reading. For more information visit https://www.bereisheet.org/about
