April 12, 2005
3 Nissan, 5765Jewish Agency Fights to End Soccer Racism
Jewish Agency sponsored high school soccer team comprising Jewish kids, new Ethiopian immigrant youth and Arab teenagers reaches the final of the Jerusalem High School League Mayor's Cup.
The Cup Final will take place at 6pm on Tuesday, April 12th, at the Kagan Community Center, Rehov Rabbi Tsadok 10, in the Katamonim neighborhood of San Martin in Jerusalem.
The teams competing are the Jewish Agency sponsored "United Jerusalem Hills", and "Heart of the City".
The Jewish Agency established this unique youth soccer team five months ago at its Absorption Center in Mevasseret Zion, made up of new Ethiopian immigrant youth from the Absorption Center, Jewish kids studying at the nearby Kiryat Ye'arim Youth Village and Arab teenagers from the Arab town of Abu Ghosh.
This high schoolers practice once a week at the sportsfield of the Absorption Center in Mevasseret Zion.
The soccer team was established at the initiative of Meir Ruso , the director of the Jewish Agency`s Absorption Center as on educational step to attempt to confront racism and violence taking place on the soccer field and in the stadiums.
"The goal of the Jewish Agency's soccer team is to develop the talents of these young players as well as to educate them about tolerance and cooperation between youth from different backgrounds", said Meir Ruso. "Until now the project has been a success and we hope to win the Jerusalem Mayor's Cup".
For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Cell: 050-7601706
Voicemail: 02-6202780
e-mail: michaelj@jazo.org.ilTo download enlarged photos, click here.