By Rabbi Chanoch Oppenheim, Charlotte Torah Center
For many in our community, supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism are core values that shape our priorities, philanthropy, and conversations. We write letters, attend rallies, post online, and engage in learning. But there's one powerful front that is often overlooked: the world of sports.
Enter Athletes for Israel, a nonprofit that combines the universal language of athletics with the vital message of Jewish pride and Israel advocacy. Founded by Daniel Posner, former CEO of FAO Schwartz, the organization brings American college athletes, many of whom have never met a Jew or thought deeply about Israel, on immersive trips to the Holy Land. Their mission? Build bridges, break stereotypes, and create allies through firsthand experience.
A Charlotte Connection
Our own connection to Athletes for Israel began right here in Charlotte. Through the efforts of the Charlotte Torah Center and our partners, we hosted a local event for the UNC Charlotte football team. We brought in the dynamic Dumisani Washington, founder and CEO of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI), to speak to the team and coaching staff. With passion, clarity, and vision, he presented the case for Israel and the shared values between the African American and Jewish communities.
The room was energized. The head coach, Biff Pogi, was deeply moved. Players lingered long after the program ended to ask questions, share thoughts, and engage meaningfully. It was a special night — one that planted seeds of understanding in a space not often associated with Jewish education.
But this June, we saw the mission expand on a much larger scale.
Quaker Ridge and a National Platform
On a sunny June day, Athletes for Israel hosted a spectacular golf tournament at the breathtaking Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York, one of the country’s top-ranked courses. The event brought together donors, connectors, and change-makers from across the United States to raise awareness and support for the organization’s growing impact.
The Charlotte delegation included community leaders Andy Dinkin and Arthur Lavitt, a former UNC-Chapel Hill athlete who played and coached under Roy Williams on the JV basketball team, won a Maccabiah gold medal, and received his medal from Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Representing our city’s Jewish pride and passion for sports, they joined a national network rallying behind the cause.
The food was as memorable as the course. With a fully kosher grill, an over-the-top breakfast spread, and even a Manischewitz food truck parked on site, every detail was thoughtful and inclusive. It was a true kiddush Hashem: a Jewish event that was elegant, welcoming, and impactful, drawing both Jewish and non-Jewish guests into a shared celebration of values and vision.
Meeting Coach Bruce Pearl (Even Before I Knew Who He Was)
My personal discovery of Athletes for Israel came, of all places, in a security line in Jerusalem. I was waiting to enter the Kotel, the Western Wall, when a group of 15 very large men walked right past the line and were ushered in through the side entrance. A few minutes later, I noticed them again inside the Kotel Tunnels. One man, older than the rest and clearly their leader, was standing nearby. I asked him who the group was.
“They’re Athletes for Israel,” he said, “and I’m Bruce Pearl.”
I smiled politely, took a photo with him, and sent it to a few sports-loving friends. Their responses came flying in: “HOW did you get a picture with BRUCE PEARL?!” For those like me who didn’t know, he’s one of the most famous college basketball coaches in America — head coach of the Auburn Tigers, and a proud, vocal Jew. Fast forward a few years, and here we are: our Charlotte community sending representatives to his events and standing behind the cause he champions.
Why It Matters
In a time when antisemitism is rising and misinformation about Israel spreads easily, especially on college campuses, Athletes for Israel is doing something simple yet profound: showing, not telling, young leaders the truth.
When student-athletes travel to Israel, meet Israelis, walk the streets of Jerusalem, and experience Shabbat in the Holy Land, they return changed. They speak up. They become advocates. They use their platforms, sometimes with thousands or even millions of followers, to share positive messages about Israel and the Jewish people. Some even ask how they can keep learning, stay involved, or return to Israel again.
This is grassroots diplomacy at its best — real relationships, real impact.
From Charlotte to Scarsdale and Beyond
Whether it’s a heartfelt speech in a locker room or a perfectly hit drive down the fairway, the mission is the same: to build a more educated, compassionate, and connected world — one athlete at a time.
As Jews, we know that the world isn’t changed by arguments — it’s changed by encounters. By showing up. By extending a hand. By inviting others into our story.
Athletes for Israel is doing just that, and we at the Charlotte Torah Center are proud to play our part.
Arthur Lavitt with Bruce Pearl, Head Coach of head basketball coach of the Auburn Tigers.
Andy and Drew Dinkin with Nachum Segal, host of the NY-based radio show JM in the AM.