The annual Yeshiva University Red Sarachek tournament is the highlight of the year for yeshiva high school basketball teams across the United States and Canada. Each year, hundreds of student-athletes and their fans gather at YU for four days of top-level competition. The prestigious tournament is about more than well-earned bragging right for winners, it unites teenagers from different communities and fosters camaraderie, against the backdrop of the pursuit of athletic excellence.
This year the tournament will include a special component—the addition of a visiting Israeli all-star team made up of students from AMIT schools throughout Israel. The team is not quite a full-fledged competitor in Sarachek, but they will be immersed in the tournament atmosphere—scrimmaging with MTA, Rambam, Valley Torah, Kushner and Heschel, getting to know their American counterparts—and taking a much-needed break from the tense atmosphere at home.
Famed former YU basketball star David Kufeld and his friend Rabbi Seth Farber—head of Itim, an Israeli organization which facilitates Jewish life by making the religious establishment more inclusive—came up with the idea to use sports as a bridge between Israeli and American youth. Both men have connections to the sports world as well as to under-privileged communities in Israel and they foresaw this endeavor as a win-win: giving Israeli student-athletes a healthy distraction after the stressful past year and a half and putting a face to some of the Israel advocacy American students have been involved in these past many months.
Kufeld approached his former coach and longtime friend Jonathan Halpert, who coached the YU basketball team for 42 years, and started the Sarachek Tournament 32 years ago, growing it into the powerhouse it is today. Halpert and YU were quick to jump on board to include an Israeli team in the storied history of Sarachek. “This is so significant and meaningful for these student-athletes—and we’re grateful for the support from YU and Rabbi Berman, who signed off on the plan,” said Kufeld.
AMIT was a natural partner for this project, as one of the largest networks of schools in Israel, with students throughout the country. Kufeld’s family also has a long history with AMIT—his mother was national president twice in the 1940s and 1980s. Kufeld officially extended the invite to AMIT Executive Vice President Andy Goldsmith, who was very excited. “This felt like a breath of fresh air; like we were finally doing something that was back to normal and not war related,” said Goldsmith.
“Andy and his colleagues embraced the idea quickly, and AMIT took it and ran. The tournament is very competitive, but Andy managed to get the team in as an exhibition team, competing against numerous tournament teams,” Kufeld said.
“I reached out to YU Chief of Staff (and former colleague) Julie Schreier who immediately saw the value and then wheels started turning,” added Goldsmith.
Understanding the high level of competition at Sarachek, AMIT leadership decided to create an all-star team made up of its best players throughout the network. Sports leagues in Israel are run by the cities, as opposed to schools like in the states, so they couldn’t cull from already-established school teams. Three separate tryouts were held—in the north, south and center of Israel. Veteran educator and basketball coach Dadi Bargad, who has spent the bulk of his 28-year career at AMIT’s Bar Ilan Gush Dan, was tasked with shaping the team. Over 100 potential players tried out, all of whom play in their city leagues. Bargad chose a lucky 13, representing 10 AMIT schools from both the center and periphery of Israel. The boys hail from Sderot, Or Akiva, Ashdod, Maalei Adumim, Bar Ilan Gush Dan, Be’er Ami, Bruchim, Kfar Ganim, Nachshon and Kvutzat Yavneh. In addition to Bargad, Rav Nitzan Berger, principal of AMIT Kfar Ganim, as well as another educator, will accompany the boys.
Bargad also manages the Elitzur Petach Tikvah basketball league and is a serious and acclaimed coach, leading his Ramat Gan team to victory four years in a row, as well as a national championship. He himself played in the national Maccabi Tel Aviv youth league, but did not go pro because of his religious observance. Bargad believes strongly in the power of sports to transform kids’ lives. “Sports is a jump start to push kids towards excellence in many areas. It’s not just about winning; I’ve seen it work over and over,” he said.
The AMIT players have been holding weekly practices to hone their team dynamics and feel great pride in representing Israel abroad. One player said, “I feel incredibly proud to play and represent Israel in New York. Especially in these times, it’s an honor for our country.” Another echoed, “We feel an even greater responsibility to be there and make an impact.”
The Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (RKYHS) will act as the AMIT team’s home court during their week-long stay. RKYHS Athletic Director, Student Services Provider and Educator Rabbi Richard Kirsch said, “The basketball team is so excited about meeting the AMIT Israeli team, showing them around and having some group discussions. I see this program as a ‘no-brainer.’ Any time we can strengthen the relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel—we are right there. It’s in the DNA of our students already, as we have one of the biggest and most active AIPAC HS clubs in the country.”
The AMIT boys will start the mornings at Kushner, with davening, breakfast and practice. They then have a packed schedule of scrimmages, exhibition games, school tours and, of course, sightseeing—where else do Israelis go when visiting NYC?—to the Statue of Liberty and Times Square; and some fun outings to a Knicks game, Top Golf and Bury the Hatchet. The week will culminate with the shabbaton for out-of-town Sarachek teams at a hotel in New Jersey, where the boys will have a chance to bond over Shabbat with their peers.
“This trip is really giving 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. One of the players shared Bargad’s sentiment: “Meeting teammates who have experienced the war firsthand and standing together to represent Israel makes this experience even more meaningful.”
“Of all the years to make something like this happen—this is the time,” said Kufeld, who is thinking beyond basketball for the future. “This could lead to an exchange program with schools in the states; there’s a world of exciting possibilities. The sky’s the limit.”
AMIT, founded in 1925, serves 40,000 students in 96 schools in 32 cities throughout Israel every year. It educates and nurtures children from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds within a framework of innovation, academic excellence, and Jewish values.
For more information, visit amitchildren.org.
