Jews, Arabs and the game we play

from the Times of Israel April 8, 2015 Full Article Links HERE

I've  never been a huge sports fan.

I’ve never really followed any professional sport. And football? As a Canadian, soccer was never really on anyone’s mind, until of course David Beckham brought it, along with his family, to North America.

What then caused me to watch, scream and shout, jump for joy and cheer on the Wales national team during the 2016 European qualifier in Israel?

Well, it had something to do with the fact that I knew I would be meeting them all the following day in a more important context.

And so, I watched them again, the very next morning, as they got off their bus.

I watched as they slowly strolled, seemingly tired from the previous day’s victory, onto the football pitch in Haifa.

I watched as they crossed the perfectly manicured lawn, exploring the Carmel Mountains on the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

And, I watched their eyes light up as they approached our Jewish, Arab and Druze children — all sitting perfectly still, clearly eager and anxious as their heroes finally come to greet them.

With all the anticipation, the hour that Gareth Bale and his team mates spent on the field in Haifa, passing the ball to Arab and Jewish Israeli children, was more than your average kick about.   NOTE: Joyful and hopeful... read the rest of this HERE

Read more: Jews, Arabs and the game we play | Rachel Lasry Zahavi | The Blogs | The Times of Israel http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/jews-arabs-and-the-game-we-play/#ixzz3Wudp7nl4
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