This week’s Torah portion (Terumah) describes the materials for the building of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle as well as the Temple in Jerusalem was a key component in the unification of the Jewish people and served as a reminder the importance to maintain our Jewish identity.
Organizers of the Barclays Dubai (United Arab Emirates) tennis championship did not allow Israeli player Shahar Peer (ranked 45th in women’s tennis association singles tour) to compete citing “security” concerns. It just happens to be that the UAE prides itself as being the champion of the Palestinians. It even cancelled lavish New Year’s celebrations in Dubai in solidarity with the Gazens during the recent combat.
The UAE came under sharp criticism for its ban of the Israeli tennis star. The governing officials of tennis warned the UAE if they did not allow Andy Ram (ranked 7th in the world in men’s doubles) to play in the men’s championship the following week they would consider taking Dubai off next year’s calendar.
After much international pressure and the threat of losing significant sponsors the UAE granted Andy Ram a visa and permission to play. Andy Ram was escorted on the court with two bodyguards and lost in the first round.
Question for the Shabbos Table:
The officials of the Dubai tennis organization made it clear that they view Shahar Peer and Andy Ram as tennis players that are Jewish. Do you think Andy Ram should not have played and stood in solidarity with his fellow Jew? Is his playing a lost opportunity to demonstrate that he is primarily a Jew and all Jews must stick together? Or do you think one has nothing to do with the other?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I will share it with my family during Shabbat.
ReplyDeleteRam was allowed to play because UAE was pressured, fined and I believe had to pay some $$$ to Peer as well.......Since Peer WANTED to play, I don't see how Ram droppoing out would be a gesture of solidarity.
ReplyDeleteA more interesting reaction (at least in my opinion) was the response taken by U.S. Jewish tenis star Andy Roddick, who is currently engaged to the very un-Jewish looking Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover girl. Roddick withdrew from the tourney as a protest to the blatant anti-Semetism of UAE.
Intersting point:
ReplyDeleteA few things should be noted here.
First, another player from the woman's side, who also happens to be a top ranked woman's tennis player Venus Williams also spoke out against this injustice. Venus Williams happens to be on the board for players which deals with tournament organizers.
Second, Shahar Peer is considered to be a sort of maverick amongst Israelis and has not always been on the same page as the Israeli government.
Third, I read recently that at a tournament in Switzerland where Andy Ram played more than half of the seats in the srena were empty in protest of Israel's involvement in Gaza (apparently denying entry to Holocaust survivors and manipulating banking accounts wasn't enough for the Swiss.
It would be interesting to find out from these players and others what other types of anti-semitism they face given the world's often tainted view of Israel.
Furthermore, these tournamets offer much in terms of parnassa for Israeli players, but the cost to get to these tournaments is also significant. Given the world's shaky/sagging economy should that also be a consideration in this discussion?