Tel-Chai Nation

Here's a press release I got from Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Steve Rabinowitz
Tami Holzman
Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications
Thursday August 30, 2007
Phone: 202-265-3000
Leslie Bernstein
Phone: 202.422.6580

Top-Ranked Israeli Tennis Duo Announces Creation of Jewish Sports Foundation

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Two of the world’s leading tennis players have formed the Jewish Sports Foundation, intended to encourage young American Jewish athletes and combat negative stereotypes about Jews’ athletic prowess.

Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, the number six ranked doubles team in the world, made the announcement between first-round play at the US Open Thursday.

“We seek to help enhance Jewish identity and combat some negative stereotypes about Jews by creating scholarships for young Jews who seek to pursue sports in school, in college, at camp or in a youth group,” Erlich says.

The two hope to dispel the myths that Jews have neither interest nor ability in athletics and there are few – if any – accomplished Jewish athletes. They also want to challenge the idea that all Jews are wealthy and would not benefit from nor need scholarships for athletic endeavors or college.

Erlich and Ram formed their partnership in 2003 and immediately achieved success by reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon as qualifiers. They have been a top 10 doubles team since 2005. Ram is the first Israeli to ever win a Grand Slam title; he is the first Jew to do so in the Open Era.

Products of American support for programs in Israel that help young tennis players in Israel, both Ram and Erlich say what they are doing now is a way of giving back to the people who first helped them.

“The American children and grandchildren of those who gave to support our success deserve the same chances we received,” says Erlich. “We thought a Jewish Sports Foundation was an ideal way to give back. There is a need in America and, as products of American generosity, we would like to start here before we begin other international work.”

A board of directors is being formed and the two are calling on other prominent Jewish athletes to join the cause.

“Many Jewish camps and day schools lack an emphasis on athletics,” says Ram. “We seek to persuade Jewish camps, youth groups, day schools and most of all parents to increase their commitment to athletics and developing Jewish athletes.”

“Many Jewish schools and Jewish kids feel that athletics aren’t a necessary variable in the equation of a Jewish education,” observes Erlich. “In fact, there is sometimes a perception that academic performance will suffer if too much emphasis is placed on athletic achievement. We want to show people this is simply untrue. Success in one area does not have to come at the expense of the other area. Athletics teaches sportsmanship, discipline and teamwork, which are all skills with a great deal of importance in higher education and in the workforce,” Erlich says.

Erlich and Ram also seek to foster Jewish identity through athletics for Jewish youth who are as yet unaffiliated or uninvolved in the Jewish community. “We hope to send kids with a demonstrated interest in athletics to athletic camps and Jewish programs, so they too, can connect with their community in a way that is meaningful to them,” Ram says.

The foundation will not organize the camps and programs, but hopes to provide funding to them and scholarships for kids who might not otherwise be able to afford to go. Erlich and Ram also plan to lead workshops and clinics at the camps and hope their fellow Jewish athletes will join them in molding and shaping the next generation of competitive Jewish athletes.

Tami Holzman

Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications

2852 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008

(202) 265-3000
(202) 265-1212 (f)

Well that's certainly something nice!