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Two of the world’s leading tennis players and their manager 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, along with Norman Canter, made the announcement between first-round play at the US Open in 2007.
The JSF wants 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.
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.
“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 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.”
“ Managing professional athletes for many years I’ve always looked for appreciation as a way of thanks, what better way than helping kids live their dreams? I am calling on other prominent Jewish athletes, owners, and those in coaching to join the cause” said Canter.
“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,. 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.
JSF also seeks 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.
We are the only Jewish foundation devoted 100 percent to helping young Jewish athletes define and refine their interest in sports.
Two of the world’s leading tennis players and their manager 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, along with Norman Canter, made the announcement between first-round play at the US Open in 2007.
The JSF wants 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.
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.
“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 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.”
“ Managing professional athletes for many years I’ve always looked for appreciation as a way of thanks, what better way than helping kids live their dreams? I am calling on other prominent Jewish athletes, owners, and those in coaching to join the cause” said Canter.
“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,. 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.
JSF also seeks 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.
We are the only Jewish foundation devoted 100 percent to helping young Jewish athletes define and refine their interest in sports.