Friendship in Football

Translation by Janet MITRANI

Extraordinary example of living together and sport

Last Sunday the players of the team consisting of Israeli Jews and Muslims, were in Istanbul together with Dr. Alon Liel, the former Israeli Ambassador to Ankara and the founder of the team.

When I asked him to introduce the team to us, Liel said, "We are all from Jerusalem and this group idea was not received too well at first. Abu Gosh families are conservative people. However, in time, a wonderful harmony was formed among the players. Today we are a team of 27 people. We even have a stadium. We played in many countries albeit amateurish. The Yilmazlar Construction Group in Israel has been our sponsor in many ways for 18 years. This time Yılmazlar suggested we play in Turkey; so we came to play with the amateur groups."

Last Monday, we went to the Şişli Beth Israel Synagogue for the evening prayer altogether for Purim and listened to the Megillat Esther where our Chief Rabbi Haleva was also present.

I wish many more years of activity and success to this extraordinary group, which returned to Israel after their football match with the Gaziosmanpaşa team Beşyüzevler SK on Wednesday.

Related News

28 March

Democrat Party (DP) Visited Şalom

18 March

Moris Karmona Declared War On Bullying With His Book "Morhis"

Moris Karmona´s book "Morhis" in which he wrote his life story, has been published.

1 March

82nd Anniversary of the Struma Disaster

The Struma Immigration Ship had sailed from Constanza, Romania to take the Jews desperate to run from the Nazis to today´s Israel, and was sunk by a torpedo from a Russian submarine after anchoring off the coast of Istanbul for weeks.

26 February

Jenisya Yaeş Came First in the 16th National Young Soloist Competition

Soprano Jenisya Yaeş, who is studying at the Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory, Opera Art Major Undergraduate 3rd grade, has been deemed worthy of first place in the University Category of the 16th National Young Soloist Competition.

19 February

Are You Ready for the Adventures of "Penga and Menga"?

Penga and Menga are two penguins who live far away from our country and are different from each other as day and night. What unites them is their adherence to their Jewish identity and traditions. It is a heartwarming story that narrates the harmony of differences and the friendship that arises from this harmony. The creators of the characters Penga and Menga are Vivet Pitelon Sparkes and her son Jim Sparkes. Also, the illustrations in the "Holidays" series (consisting of 11 books) designed for children, belong to both of them. The stories are written and translated into English (from Turkish) by Vivet.

13 February

Şalom Now on Mobile App

Şalom´s mobile application has been launched on IOS and Android platforms.

8 February

The Great Loss of Turkish Literature

Mario Levi, the great author who had contributed many important works to Turkish literature, passed away. The famous author was bid farewell on his last journey on Thursday, February 1st, with a ceremony held along with his loved ones at the Acibadem Jewish Cemetery.

18 January

Sending Departed Hanri Benazus Off On His Last Journey

16 January

Hanri Benazus Has Passed Away

The investigative writer and businessman Hanri Benazus who owned the largest Atatürk photography collection in Turkey, passed away at 94.

9 January

UÖMO Middle School Students´ Success in the Innovation Competition

Ulus Jewish Schools Middle School´s young tech geniuses achieved great success in the 10th Başahşehir Living Lab Innovation Competition. In the competition where 220 projects from all over Turkey have competed with the "Innovative ideas are competing" motto, UÖMO students, standing out from their rivals with their "Natural Disaster Kit", came third in the middle school category.