Just wanted to introduce some of you to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and it’s website as that is an organization that fully deserves the support of both Jewish and Gentile sports-fans, and also the World  Jewish Community whether they watch or participate in sports, or are usually ambivalent towards sports generally. Sports in the modern Jewish culture are a bridge between peoples and nations, and Israel and the people of the world. In the section of the website dealing with the history of Jewish sports participation it is said the modern era of sports and the Covenanted People started in the late 18th century when a growing number of Jews were involved in the athletic contests of that time. Boxing attracted many a man who saw a way to make some mark on the world and earn a crust or two when maybe the avenues for advancement were narrow. The history books mention the Belasco brothers, Isaac Bitton, Barney Aaron and Samuel Elias as pugnacious pugilists at the top of the the pile. The very best known boxer was Daniel Mendoza from Portugal who held the English boxing champion crown from 1792 to 1795. His bouts under his self-titled “Mendoza the Jew” name brought him wide acclaim when boxing was a very different game than today. It was a much more brutal sport in the 18th and 19th centuries. In keeping with the age he was the subject of editorial cartoons and stories, and songs were composed in his honor. Mendoza was a source of pride among Jewish people and in addition became a favorite of the masses of ordinary people who flocked to fights in those days. Even the less ordinary, more extra-ordinary fight fans saw that Mendoza was one great battler and the Prince of Wales was a big fan. Mendoza became to be regarded as the “father of scientific boxing” as he match his wits against the brawlers who in a time of pure violence used their brawn rather than their brains to try to demolish their opponents. He was the forerunner of a great tide of scrappers who won the hearts of the British boxing fraternity in the years that followed.

The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame/Yad Le’ish Hasport Hayehudi was formally inaugurated on July 7, 1981. Its predecessor, the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, was founded in the United States in May 1979. The original Hall of Fame included only American honorees. The International Hall of Fame honors athletes and sportsmen and sportswomen throughout the world.

The purpose of the IJSHOF is to honor Jewish men and women, worldwide, who have accomplished extraordinary achievements in sports and to recognize other Jewish men and women, through its Pillar of Achievement, who have made significant contributions to society through sports. In addition, its Lifetime Achievement Award annually honors those individuals who have made significant contributions to the State of Israel and society through sports.

Elections to the IJSHOF are made annually. Announcements of each election are made on about December 1st for the succeeding year. Anyone can submit nominations to the IJSHOF. They should be made to the Executive Director, IJSHOF, Wingate Institute, Wingate Post Office, 42902 Israel. All submissions of nominations should be accompanied by as much support information about the candidate(s) as is available.

The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is a “partnership” between the Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports and some of the world’s leading sports authorities, and interested, active and philanthropic Jews.

So how about it. On your next trip to the Promised Land visit the Hall of Fame in Netanya and see what has been achieved in the wide world of sports.