Thank you, Danny Holdsman!

February 14, 2012

Many students in the US have chosen to support PeacePlayers International for their bar and bat mitzvahs, asking family and friends to donate to the organization in honor of their special day. This winter, Danny Holdsman organized and executed a successful mitzvah project supporting PPI.

Danny Holdsman, a 13 year old who attends William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia,  organized a 3 v 3 tournament after being inspired by a similar event he had seen online through our website. With over 75 participants from local high schools and middle schools, Danny’s fundraising event was a success; he raised more than $3,000! Having worked in conjunction with PPI staff, Danny understands the importance of peace building projects, stating in his Torah portion:

“These kids learn to accept their peers when society is telling them otherwise. They learn about friendship and teamwork, which has helped me so much throughout my life. They started to work with kids as young as six, staying with them all the way through high school, so they learn co-existence as a way of life.”

The total amount from Danny’s event will go to our Middle East program, which develops leaders from both the Arab and Jewish communities who participate in our programs.

If you would like to start your own mitzvah project supporting PPI, please contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org or at 202 408 5111.

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RJ Goldberg’s Mitzvah Tournament Raises More Than $5,000 for PPI – Middle East

December 5, 2011

On Sunday, October 2nd, 13-year-old RJ Goldberg hosted his 3 on 3 Mitzvah Basketball Tournament in Bridgewater, New Jersey. RJ hosted the event to raise awareness about PeacePlayers International – Middle East’s work in Israel and the West Bank, and it was a great success! RJ brought together 18 of his friends to participate in the tournament and the first place team was awarded with a $25 dollar gift card and second place, a $10 gift card to gaming store.

When asked why he chose to support PeacePlayers, RJ said:

“I was looking for a cool fun sports mitzvah project and I read about [PeacePlayers] and it sounded really interesting. My project was unique to me because it supported a cause that shared my love of basketball.”

RJ used his Mitzvah Tournament as a fun way to spread the word concerning PeacePlayers and the work the organization does in using sport as a vehicle to bridge divides between Jewish and Arab youth in the Israel and the West Bank. He urged friends and family members to make donations to PeacePlayers in honor of his bar mitzvah via Razoo.com.

PPI would like to thank RJ for organizing such a wonderful event! We would also like to thank all the friends and family members who supported RJ and his interest in PeacePlayers International. In total, RJ raised more than $5,000 to support the organization! Thank you RJ!

If you would like to support PeacePlayers International for your bar or bat mitzvah, please contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org.

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Emma from Ellicott City, Maryland supported PPI in honor of her friends’ bat mitzvahs

October 17, 2011

Emma (left) at her friend Brooke's (right) bat mitzvah.

Many students in the US have chosen to support PPI for their bar and bat mitzvahs, asking family and friends to donate to the organization in honor of their special day. However, as Emma from Ellicott City, Maryland proves, you don’t have to be a bar or bat mitzvah to commemorate the event with PPI. Emma, a Quaker Christian,  made a donation to PeacePlayers as gifts to three of her friends in honor of their bat mitzvahs. To learn a bit more about Emma’s project, please read the interview below:

Hi Emma, please tell our readers a little bit about yourself:

I am a 13 year old Middle School student in the 8th grade.  In my spare time, I love to read, act in plays when I have the opportunity, and hang out with my friends.

How did you find out about PeacePlayers International (PPI)?

I found out about PeacePlayers through my Quaker Meeting when one of the founders (Brendan Tuohey) came to talk to the first day (Sunday school) school students.

Why did you decide to give donations to PPI for your friends’ bat mitzvahs?

I decided to donate to PeacePlayers as a gift for my friends’ bat mitzvahs because of their work in Israel and Palestine. I thought it was a great charity that directly related to the event. I hoped it would interest my friends and make them more aware about ways they can help other children to have a more peaceful and happy life.

What have been your friends’ reactions to their presents?

Many girls my age a really into material things, such as clothes and jewelry, so I was surprised at how many girls came up to me after their bat mitzvah and said how cool they thought my gift was. I don’t think many of them knew much about the conflict in Israel and Palestine, and they really appreciated getting to learn about it and what people are doing to help.  They were able to relate to the situation after learning some about Israel in preparation for their bat mitzvah.

Do you have any advice for others that want to do what you have done?

Donating to PeacePlayers was very easy. My parents were able to donate online. The staff of PeacePlayers was very nice and put together amazing packets explaining what they do, and I was able to give them to my friends. The gift was stress free and I didn’t have to worry about getting a different present for each girl.

PPI would like to thank Emma for her support! We truly appreciate the creative way Emma found to celebrate this important rite of passage with her Jewish friends.

If you would like to donate to PeacePlayers International in honor of your friend’s upcoming event, please click here and designate your gift in the comments section. You may also contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org.

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PPI Would Like to Thank Alex Myers!

February 22, 2011

PPI would like to thank Alex Myers, a boy from Gaithersburg, Maryland, who demonstrated both his love for basketball and his desire to help bring peace to children in divided communities all around the world by dedicating his Bar Mitzvah project to PeacePlayers International!

Alex (far right) speaks to attendees before his event begins.

Inspired by the project of a family friend, Alex recently held a 3×3 basketball tournament to help raise money and awareness for PeacePlayers International, with proceeds benefiting PPI’s sites in South Africa and the Middle East. The tournament was complemented by games of Knockout, Champions, a Challenge Course and more, and Alex also raffled off several gift cards donated by local businesses.

The sponsors who helped Alex reach his goals.

Due to support from his friends and family, he exceeded his attendance goal of 30 people and his fundraising goal of $400, netting a total of $751, which he elected to donate to PPI-ME and PPI-SA.

Said Alex:

“I would recommend this experience to a friend because it was a lot of fun to have the tournament with all my friends and give back to other kids at the same time.”

Thanks to Alex, the Myers family, the Fink family and all the community members who turned out in Gaithersburg for a great event!

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Thanks to Zac Emanuel and the Emanuel Family!

January 18, 2011

If you’ve been watching this space much recently, you’ve probably read about one of several recent Bar or Bat Mitzvah projects that children across the U.S. and Canada have organized to benefit PeacePlayers International.

Zac Emanuel

Today, we’d like to highlight one of the most successful such initiatives that PPI has seen to date, organized by Zac Emanuel of Providence, Rhode Island. Seeking an opportunity to combine several of his passions, Zac and his parents learned about PPI through a website called The Mitzvah Bowl, which highlights all kinds of potential Bar and Bat Mitzvah projects for socially minded young people.

Zac’s now in the process of organizing a 3-on-3 tournament in his hometown to raise funds and awareness for PPI. In preparation for the event, he set up his own fundraising page on Razoo.com, and pointed his friends and family there to give them an opportunity to support PPI’s work.

“As Golda Meir said, ‘We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us.’ That works for both sides…It is this effort – to educate and get rid of hatred through basketball - that lead me to choose [PPI] as my Mitzvah project. Your donations will help bring these kids together to show them that fighting is not the answer. Your donations will help bring peace to these areas, perhaps now, and definitely in the future, when the kids that have experienced PeacePlayers International teach their kids.”

- Zac Emanuel, on his Razoo fundraising page

After only a few weeks, the response has been truly overwhelming. After launching just after the New Year, by January 18th Zac has raised well $4,859 for PPI! That’s a fantastic contribution, nearly enough to support one team for an entire semester – and with his tournament scheduled for the Spring, he’s not done yet.

The video Zac chose to embed on his project page.

PPI is deeply grateful to Zac, his parents, his family – which generously agreed to sign on as a “Title Sponsor” for the project – and all those who have decided to help this amazing young leader realize his vision.

We look forward to updating you again on this project as it continues to progress!

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From a Project to a Passion

January 5, 2011

The Shane Family (Photo: Canadian Jewish News)

Due to his love for basketball and desire for world peace, Daniel Shane, a boy from Toronto, Ontario, chose to team up with PeacePlayers International for a project to accompany his Bar Miztvah.

Reports the Canadian Jewish News:

“I was trying to find an organization that combines my favourite thing to do, which is basketball, and create a difference in the world in some way,” he said. “I did a bunch of research with my dad, and after a few weeks of searching, we found Peace Players International.”

Since beginning his relationship with PPI, Daniel has collected $2,000 and 80 basketballs, which he wishes to send directly to the Middle East.

Daniel has been involved with PPI in more than one way. When PPI heard about his interest, they put him in touch with three children in the program in the Middle East, which Daniel has been in close contact with through e-mail. He’ll travel to Israel later this year to meet his new friends.

Daniel also made a presentation to his school about PPI’s work, which you can see here.

For more on his story, visit the Canadian Jewish News.

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B’Nai Mitzvahs for Peace

August 16, 2010

Toma Beit-Arie is just one young Jewish boy or girl that have supported PeacePlayers International with their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Sparked by David Lasday, one of our former Fellows, PeacePlayers International’s always been thrilled to receive the support of one community that’s extra special to us — Bar and Bat Mitzvahs:

Swoosh! Nothing but net! The Arab and Israeli slap a high-five. This unlikely scene is duplicated on basketball courts throughout Israel. Through a program called PeacePlayers International, more than 2,000 Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews have teamed up on the court to promote peace among their peoples…Halfway around the world, in New Rochelle, New York, Zach Scheinfeld – a basketball fanatic – was thrilled to discover last year that his favorite sport was being used to build peace…As he approached the age of becoming a bar mitzvah, Zach decided to sponsor an all-star basketball tournament to help PeacePlayers raise money.

Leah Haberman is working to support PeacePlayers International right now as she prepares for her Bat Miztvah this winter.

That story, from BabagaNewz in 2008, is just one example. While Zach worked on behalf of PeacePlayers International in New Rochelle, New York, Sam and Eli Sachs did the same in Beverly Hills, California. Ayden Marcus did too, in nearby Tarzana. Meanwhile, Drew Karchmer organized a raffle in Nashville, Tennessee, and Andrew Fink put together two events in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Toma Beit-Arie, from Brookline, Massachusetts, managed to visit PeacePlayers International in Israel after his project. Right now, Leah Haberman‘s working hard to prepare for her big day in Poway, California, and fitting in time to give PeacePlayers International a hand too.

And those are just a few of many. These service projects derive from a responsibility for what’s known as tikkun olam in Hebrew – “repairing the world” – and we’re proud to know that the families of these outstanding young people see our work in that light. We’re honored to be included in these special occasions.

If you or someone you know is interested in supporting PeacePlayers International with their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org.

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Thank You to Leah Haberman!

March 17, 2010

Leah Haberman - a true believer in the power of sports to change the world.

PeacePlayers International was recently thrilled to learn that Leah Haberman, an extraordinary girl from Poway, California, will be supporting the organization as her service project for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. Thank you very much, Leah!

In addition to her work on behalf of PeacePlayers International, Leah is a basketball and track coach for her local chapter of the Special Olympics. She’s clearly a true believer in the power of sports to change the world for the better, and PPI would like to salute her for her commitment.

The event’s still several months away, but Leah’s set up a fundraising page on Firstgiving to keep others up-to-date on her efforts as it nears. PeacePlayers International would like to thank Leah, and wish her the best of luck as she finishes her preparations for the big day!

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Thank You to Toma Beit-Arie

November 30, 2009

Toma Beit-Arie, budding baller and activist.

PeacePlayers International would like to thank Toma Beit-Arie and the Beit-Arie Shlonsky Family for their generous support of PeacePlayers International – Middle East (PPI – ME). After learning about PPI from a former PPI – Cyprus Program Director, Joshua Motenko, Toma asked his friends and family to make donations to PPI – ME in honor of his Bar Mitzvah this November. In addition to raising well over $1,000 for PPI – ME (more than enough to support two participants in our Twinning program in the Middle East for an entire year), Toma and his family distributed DVDs and flyers to share PPI – ME’s mission with their community in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Later this year, Toma and his family will be traveling to the Middle East, and hope to visit our programs to see what their generosity is helping accomplish.

We’re sincerely grateful to Toma, his friends, and his family for their wonderful support!

To learn more about how you can support PeacePlayers International through your Bar or Bat Mitzvah, contact Development and Communications Associate Brian Cognato at bcognato@peaceplayersintl.org.

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Help PPI win $1 million!

November 18, 2009

Click here to vote now and help PeacePlayers International improve this child's future.

We’re no stranger to the power of competition at PeacePlayers International. Every day, we see competition and teamwork forging friendships where they were unheard of before – among Jewish and Arab children in Jerusalem, or Catholics and Protestants in Belfast, or Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots in Cyprus, or blacks, whites and Indians in South Africa. We know firsthand the power of competition to urge us to something greater.

We’ve just entered a competition of our own, and a win would mean quite a bit to the organization. Chase Community Giving recently announced it would be awarding $5 million to over 100 organizations – and YOU decide who wins. Please take just one minute and click here to vote for PeacePlayers International.

The top 100 vote-getters will each win $25,000 in the competition’s first round, with a potential for greater prizes – up to $1 mil. – after that. At PPI, $25,000 is about enough to support one PeacePlayers International Fellow, or as many as FOUR integrated teams for a semester. That’s nearly FIFTY children given a unique opportunity to make friendships across generations-old divides through basketball.

So please vote. Then, forward this note to your friends to ask them to help out too. Facebook, Twitter, Change.org – wherever you are, we hope you’ll carry our message with you. With your support, we can make an even bigger impact worldwide.

Thank you in advance!

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