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Sporting a “chai” on his car and a yellow ribbon on his suit, Israeli NASCAR driver is more than a racer – he’s a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and pride.


View original article in the Jerusalem Post

Israel’s only professional NASCAR driver, Alon Day, is currently competing in the prestigious ARCA Menards Series circuit this summer in the United States, where he proudly, bravely, and openly represents the Holy Land.

The four-time NASCAR Euro Series champion drives a blue and white Toyota Camry with the Hebrew word “chai” printed on the hood – next to the initials “JSSI,” the name of his proud and equally pro-Israel sponsor, Jet Support Services, Inc.

Day, 34, sports the same “chai” in large Hebrew letters on the back of his jacket and a yellow ribbon to remember the hostages, many of whom he knows personally from the peaceful year he spent in 2017 living in Kfar Aza.

In a Zoom interview with The Jerusalem Post from his team’s base camp in Salisbury, North Carolina, Day was wearing a necklace with a map of Israel pendant. Day shared the story of his incredible determination to get to the United States with Israeli airspace closed to flights as Iranian ballistic missiles fell on Israel, his incredible second-place finish in his race this past Saturday, and the story of how a boy from Ashdod became a professional racecar driver.

Day’s journey, from his bomb shelter in Ashdod, where he and his pregnant wife sought shelter from Iranian ballistic missiles the recent two weeks, to the three road races for Team Venturini Motorsports – at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut (June 28), Sonoma Raceway in California (July 11), and Watkins Glen, NY (August 9) – was long, challenging, and remarkable.

NASCAR DRIVER Alon Day supports Israel with a ‘chai’ in Hebrew displayed on his back. (credit: NADAV RAVIV)

“I won’t let a few ballistic missiles from Iran get in the way,” joked Day, who took matters into his own hands in an effort to get to the United States. Flying was off the table – even his sponsor, Neil Book, CEO of JSSI, a leader in the business aviation industry, could not arrange a flight from Israel in the middle of a war.

“I tested many options,” recounted Day, who considered escape routes through Amman, Jordan, and Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. He even booked himself on a boat to Cairo, where he would have then flown to New York. The racer ultimately decided to take a 40-passenger boat, no more than 30 to 40 feet in length, for 30 hours, to Cyprus. His wife accompanied him to the port in Ashdod and gave her blessing for him to board and get to the US.

“Go – don’t think about it,” she offered. “It was a hell of a journey. It was really, really tough!”

Day has enjoyed years of competing extensively and successfully in Asian and European events. He won the Asian Formula Renault Challenge at 17 years old in 2009 and has 32 wins in 95 starts since his debut with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2015. Day earned NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championships in 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Day feels that racing in America is a “once in a lifetime opportunity to show what I am capable of.”

He playfully compares racing in Europe to playing basketball in the Euroleague.

“But racing in America is like playing in the NBA!”

After arriving in Cyprus, Day flew to Greece, then on to New York and North Carolina to be with his team, and pass his physical and driving tests. He arrived in Connecticut in time for his June 28 race, which proved to be quite eventful.

NASCAR DRIVER Alon Day supports Israel with a ‘chai’ in Hebrew displayed on his car. (credit: NADAV RAVIV)

Day shared his June 28 race experience in a Facebook post: “What a rollercoaster of a race! Started 4th, climbed to 1st, dropped to last due to a penalty, fought back to finish 2nd. It’s tough to accept losing the win like that, but I’m already looking ahead to the next race: Sonoma 7/11.”

The race, which lasted just over an hour and included one stop for fuel and one tire change, started off well and without incident. Day moved from fourth to first place in the first few laps. After 34 laps, due to a communication failure, Day missed an important directive – that drivers were required to enter the pits as part of the planned break. Day failed to exit and was assessed a heavy penalty. He started the second part of the race in last place.

After a heroic battle that lasted 32 laps, Day managed to climb to second place. At the end of the race, he raised his trophy and exclaimed: “It was a sweet and bitter ending for me. It’s frustrating to think that I led the race by a large margin of four seconds and lost it because of a communication problem. Despite everything, JSSI’s Toyota Camry was so fast that I managed to overtake everyone, coming from last place to second place. My mind is already on the next race.”

“I’m so proud of the race Alon ran today,” said Book, the CEO of JSSI. “A strong second-place finish, which doesn’t come close to telling the real story. His journey to be here, the heart he showed on the track, fighting to the top of the leaderboard after an unfortunate setback. He’s a true champion, as the rest of the world is now discovering. Excited for the next race. Am Yisrael Chai!”

American Jews are not typically fans or financial backers of auto racing. Book, who was with Day in Connecticut, is taken by Day’s “perseverance, his resilience. Who better is there to represent Israel than Alon?” he asked.

Day and Book are both unapologetic supporters and defenders of Israel. Last year, the Chicago businessman took out an ad in the Chicago Tribune calling out the mayor and city council for their stances on Israel. “Chicago has major crime and gun violence, and the mayor calls for a ceasefire in Gaza?!” asked Book.

Book has been a believer in and supporter of Day since they were connected by mutual friends last year.

“When a friend reaches out to tell you about an Israeli NASCAR driver, you think they are joking!” said Book. He then described how he was wowed by Day after their initial 30-minute Zoom meeting.

“This is a guy who has been so personally affected by October 7th. He has friends who were slaughtered, taken hostage, and not accounted for. I saw his determination. I was hooked right away.”

The two spent time in Chicago last summer at events surrounding a road race there.

“I saw a champion out there.”

He offered his financial backing.

“For this season, I said let’s do it the right way – with the right people, the right team, the right car.”

Book also wanted to make sure Day’s racecar had “visibility and clarity.” Their initial proposal to NASCAR to feature a car with a Star of David was not accepted, but the “chai” logo was permitted.

Book also feels that racing in America offers expanded opportunities for getting the message out about Israel.

“The bigger his platform, the more he will talk about what is happening in Israel.”

Day is so appreciative their visions align – and for the financial support Book provides.

“This sport is all about sponsorship and money, which is important to help win races,” Day remarked.

“We are honored to partner with Alon Day for a second year,” added Book. “Alon represents the heart and spirit of the Israeli people: commitment to excellence, tremendous work ethic, and ability to persevere in the face of enormous adversity. These are the traits that we strive to embody at JSSI.”

Long journey to NASCAR

Day’s long journey to NASCAR actually started when he was a child growing up in Ashdod. He was very interested in car and airplane simulators. For a bar mitzvah present, his father purchased an expensive go-kart. Day mastered the vehicle and became an accomplished go-kart racer in Israel and Europe.

He seriously considered becoming a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force and passed all the necessary tests. He then had an important decision to make: pursue his ambition to become a professional racecar driver, or continue with the pilots’ training course.

Day opted to pursue car racing, but felt strongly about completing compulsory military service. He found what he describes as “the perfect balance” – working for three years in F-16 intelligence as part of the F-16 squadron. Due to his special sportsman’s status with the IDF, he was also given adequate time to train and compete.

After completing military service, Day’s racing career began to take off. After winning his first European championship, he moved to Kfar Aza for a year (2017-2018).

“I looked for a quiet place. I am not a city guy. It was a perfect match. A good environment, good people.”

Day liked Kfar Aza so much that he considered returning there permanently to live. His wife-to-be preferred not to live on a kibbutz, and the two instead live in Gan Yavne. Sadly, many close friends from Kfar Aza were killed or taken hostage on October 7, 2023 – and Day is painfully aware of what might have been his fate had he remained there.

Day strives to “bring the message about the hostages through racing.”

He also uses his platform on the international stage to help fight rising antisemitism. He feels he can’t hide his being Jewish and Israeli.

“It is who I am. Israel is my home country. I am on a mission.”

Day has been pleased with the support he has received from many in the Jewish and Christian communities.

“I get tons of messages on social media – people in the Jewish community are starting to watch NASCAR – people are coming out. My biggest surprise has been that a lot of Christians, especially in the NASCAR community, are patriots and pro-Israel and support Israel.”

At the same time, Day has encountered anti-Israel protests. In Chicago last year, anti-Israel protesters jumped over a barrier to the racetrack. And during Saturday’s race, his phone was reportedly targeted; he was receiving messages in Arabic.

Day remains steadfast in his public support of Israel and regularly shares his message on the racing circuit. But for now, Day is focused on his most immediate goal – winning his next race.

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It is both mind-blowing and beautiful to watch Israel return to normal following two straight weeks of anxiety, terror and the unknown.


View original article on JNS.org

The kids went back to school on Monday. The adults returned to work. And the pools, gym and tennis courts reopened.

Early next week, summer camps should be in full swing.

Still, the sense of sudden normalcy doesn’t feel normal. It certainly doesn’t for me. I just made aliyah, and as such, experienced war as a new immigrant. I had more at stake this time.

And this war, it was different. I don’t think there has been a conflict in recent memory when friends outside of Israel could follow events so closely in real time. From WhatsApp groups like Jewish Breaking News and Israel Live News, to i24News, coupled with apps of the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command and the incessant Red Alert one, there is an overabundance of reporting from the Jewish state—and the Mideast as a whole—these past 21 months. Because that’s how long it has been. It started with the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, followed by a regional wave of terror and transformation ever since.

In past wars and periods of tension in the Middle East, I was one of those who sat in the United States, glued to the news. Now that I am here for good, I have a new perspective. When friends and colleagues in America reach out and check in, it’s clear that the news sources they follow are not nuanced or always accurate.

When we were greeted on Friday, June 13, at 3 a.m., to a shrill sound on our phones, no one knew at first what was happening. It turns out that the alert was meant to inform Israelis to “sit tight.”

Something, of course, was happening. Israel was bombing Iran, and retaliation was imminent.

As the day unfolded, that “pre-snowstorm in America” feel was in the air. Something was about to happen for sure; it was just a matter of time. The Home Front Command announced no school, no work (except for essential services), no social outings, no simchas. Ben-Gurion International Airport was closed.

A garbage truck is one of the lone vehicles out prior to the start of the 12-day war with Iran, June 13, 2025. Photo by Howard Blas.

By 7:45 a.m., I ventured to the nearest grocery store for essentials for Shabbat. We all knew the azakah, or “warning siren,” could go off any minute. We grabbed the basics—milk, challah rolls, fruit and vegetables, hummus, some snacks—and hustled home, relieved that we could all survive the next few days, if necessary.

Shabbat services were soon canceled countrywide. A popular Tel Aviv Modern Orthodox synagogue sent a message in the WhatsApp group telling people to come by the shul at 4 p.m. to pick up some “take-home cholent, since it is already made.”

Parents of young children who look forward to the weekly camaraderie and kiddush associated with the Children’s Tefillah session arranged to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Shabbat in the local playground, which features a huge bomb shelter seconds away. Bleary-eyed moms and dads, who found themselves in and out of shelters with kids and even with their own parents between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Friday night and into Saturday morning couldn’t stop talking about their experiences.

The lucky ones have a mamad, a safe room in their apartment or apartment building. Most Israelis don’t. Instead, they rely on small, dusty bomb shelters serving an entire apartment building, or they go a few blocks to a local community shelter. Some, like in Tel Aviv, are like modern Jewish Community Centers with multiple safe rooms. These often feature electrical outlets, children’s sleep mattresses and air-conditioning, if you are lucky enough to get a coveted spot. They fill quickly. Hundreds come, along with babies, kids of all ages, even pets. They fill to capacity with the overflow waiting it out in the stairwells.

For parents, work is put on the back burner and is optional for most. Some have spouses—doctors, nurses, other caretakers—who staff Israel’s hospitals, which means that one parent is flying solo with few activities available. Caretakers often can’t make it to work due to erratic public transportation or because they have their own kids or parents to manage. I have learned that in some industries, parents of children up to age 15 or parents of children with disabilities up to age 21 cannot be called in to work; there are similar rules protecting those whose spouses are on IDF reserve duty.

Sunset in Beersheva, the largest city in southern Israel, in between attacks during the 12-day war, June 2025. Photo by Howard Blas.

Waze, unsurprisingly an Israeli innovation, just announced a new feature where the user can easily locate the nearest bomb shelter while out driving or with kids at a playground. It offers some peace of mind to veteran Israelis and new immigrants alike.

On several playgrounds, I saw kids playing a game called azakah and mamad. One child screams out azakah—“bomb alert.” The others scream mamad—“bomb shelter.” They run, pointedly, in search of safety. They must know what psychologists have known for decades: Play is an effective medium for processing trauma. Maybe so, but I’d prefer to see these kids on a swing set.

It is both mind-blowing and beautiful to watch Israel return to normal following two straight weeks of anxiety, terror and the unknown. Yes, we still always remember the hostages in Gaza, the soldiers who have given their lives in battle, and sadly, those who died in the Iranian missile attacks. But by 7 a.m., there were 20 people in front of me at the Maccabi Health Clinic waiting for blood and other lab tests. The local tennis center was open for business. All nine courts were in use by 9 a.m.

Just two days ago, a couple with two young children were considering a temporary move to the States via Jordan so they could do their jobs, so that their children could get a good night’s sleep and maybe even attend a local summer camp.

Now, that’s off the table. Ben-Gurion International Airport is open. Some foreigners are trying to get out, and Israelis are trying to get in. Summer programs that were recently canceled will be jump-started next week, including the Birthright Israel program. It’s too late to bring the Maccabiah Games back, but athletes are sure to be here in even greater numbers next summer. 

It may just be a wonderful summer, after all. Israelis are hopeful, but realistic. Everything can change in just about the time it takes to get to the nearest bomb shelter.

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Marc and Chantal Belzberg founded OneFamily in 2001 to provide emotional and financial support for Israeli families who have become victims of terror.

Marc Belzberg at a pre-1st grade event in Jerusalem for bereaved kids from across Israel. Photo by Meir Pavlovsky.

View original article on JNS.org

When Marc Belzberg, co-founder and board chairman of OneFamily, a Jerusalem-based NGO that supports victims of terror and their families, woke up in his family’s Jerusalem apartment to the sirens that followed news of the United States joining Israel’s war against Iran on Sunday morning, he went straight to the bomb shelter. 

“I am in the bomb shelter in Jerusalem right now and getting news of devastating direct hits from Iranian missiles in other parts of Israel,” he told JNS. “I know two things. Just like OneFamily has reached out to every family in Israel, bereaved or wounded by any of Israel’s enemies and has cared for their financial and emotional needs, OneFamily will continue to do so, today and every day in the future.”

Belzberg said he was also thankful to God, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu for their courageous decisions to strike Iran.

“I am comforted to know that, thanks to God above, to Donald Trump and to Bibi Netanyahu, the ten million people living in Israel are in the safest position that we have been in for many years, because of the destruction of Iran’s nuclear weapons sites,” he said. 

“I hope and pray that the coming days will bring joy and celebration to the people of Israel and that no one should be hurt or killed in any retaliatory attacks by our enemies,” he added.

Chantal and Marc Belzberg. Credit: Courtesy of OneFamily.

OneFamily

Marc and Chantal Belzberg founded OneFamily in 2001 to provide emotional and financial support and a wide range of group experiences for Israelis who have become victims of terror.  At the time, they could not have imagined the extraordinary number of people they would serve and the range of services their organization would be providing in the year 2025.   

While the Belzbergs made aliyah from New York, the Canadian-born Marc credits his Belgian-born wife Chantal, who is a board member and volunteer executive director of the NGO’s Israel office, for what he described as her “intuition sensitivity.” 

This, he said, has enabled the organization to tweak programs that are already working well, implement new initiatives and pursue new directions as new situations and challenges arise. OneFamily provides a gentle touch and crucial services to Israelis struggling to cope and move forward with their lives during these trying times.

Belzberg explained in a Zoom interview that, in many ways, One Family adheres to the same principles from the early days of its founding.  Both playfully and earnestly, he told JNS, “For the last 20 years, I just gave out hugs, kisses, encouragement and money. I just take care of people.”  

Belzberg is particularly proud of the length and depth of each relationship they have nurtured. “We have developed super long-term relationships, like with an 8-year-old whose father was killed in a pigua (terrorist attack) who is now 26.  Or with the boys whose father was killed many years ago and are now rabbis teaching the daf yomi (daily page of Talmud) class I attend.” 

He noted proudly that “many feel close to me and me to them, so we stay in touch.” While he was still doing his job, he conceded, “It is a little more difficult.”

The Belzbergs created the organization when their daughter Michal was preparing for her bat mitzvah and learned of a 2001 suicide bombing at Jerusalem’s Sbarro pizzeria in which 15 people were killed and 130 wounded.  They needed to cancel their planned Jerusalem bat mitzvah and she decided to donate money to victims of terror.

Belzberg offered his perspective on the number of people impacted by terror attacks since just before the organization’s founding until today.  “In a little over 20 years, 2,000 people were killed in terror attacks. This time, in a year, 2,000 were killed.  And in a day, 1,200 were killed (on Oct. 7, 2023). The fatalities of 20 years have taken place in a year, so the scale is unfathomable and the needs and responsibility had to scale up too.”

Rapid expansion

To date, according to the organization, OneFamily has served nearly 12,000 victims of terror, supported 7,238 families, 1,638 bereaved parents and 1,142 orphans.  It reported that 12,000 people have participated in support groups, and that OneFamily has provided some 933 scholarships for students and 78,000 hours of therapy and workshops.

This rapid expansion of services has meant a tripling of staff.  The need for an extremely large staff during a period of so many deaths stems from their simple, hands-on and ongoing approach to providing comfort and support.

“On day 2 or 3 of shiva (the seven-day mourning period), someone from OneFamily shows up,” Belzberg said. “We give them a cup with our logo and tell them that, even as people leave after shiva, ‘We will be there forever to help you.’ We then go back after shiva and fill out forms ask about the number of kids they have, see if the fridge is full, see if they have air conditioning, desks, money for blankets, beds, etc.  We have given out $100 million in 20 years, over half of which addresses poverty issues.”  

Belzerg highlighted the two hallmarks of OneFamily’s work: “Holistic family approach and the forever approach.”  He noted that they offer support to the whole family, including grandparents and siblings, and that they are available 24/7, serving as “professional friends.” 

He said that, unlike in regular therapy where there are professional boundaries, “here it is the opposite.”  Most of the volunteer counselors who work with young children are pre-army 12th graders who “stick with it forever.”

In addition, the organization provides advocacy for and assists in accessing entitlements from government and other sources.

A “laughter workshop” of bereaved young adult siblings that took place at the OneFamily headquarters in Jerusalem. Photo by Meir Pavlovsky.

It also offers ongoing rehabilitation for people dealing with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These therapeutic programs offer support to orphans and children, bereaved parents and siblings, widows and widowers and the wounded themselves.

In recent years, the bereaved and wounded have taken trips to such places as Thailand, the Czech Republic and Ethiopia to assist in the healing process.  One trip focused specifically on those who lost a sibling in battle or at the Nova Music Festival. Another group went to Sri Lanka, where they surfed until noon then participated in intense group sessions. 

A key to such trips is bringing those recently affected by loss and those further along in the process. “On a recent ski trip for those who lost both parents, we had two who lost both parents 20 years ago,” Belzberg said.  

Close to home

For the Belzbergs, a recent event in the current war brought their OneFamily and their own family worlds closer together. Their son and two other IDF soldiers were the only ones who were “miraculously unscathed” in an ambush, while four of his comrades were killed and six others wounded.

Belzberg acknowledged that this had been difficult, observing that these are the realities of life in Israel.  He stressed that the Belzberg family was not alone in confronting such issues close to home, pointing out that OneFamily even has an English-speaking grandparents group for those who have children and grandchildren killed in battle.

Despite the difficulties of the present moment, Belzberg said, OneFamily continues to focus on the ongoing need for its work “to create bonds” and to help families move forward. He is also pleased that people outside of Israel are taking note and learning from their work. 

Chantal Belzberg participated in the June 5-6 “Reshaping Mass Trauma Response: A First of its Kind Conference” in New York City, a joint initiative of Mount Sinai Health System and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (also known as Ichilov).  “She was a superstar!” Marc told JNS.

In her address, Chantal said, “While our story is Israeli, our message is universal: Trauma doesn’t end when the news cycle does.  Its wounds are often invisible. And healing must be long-term and human. Because trauma isn’t a single event. It’s a ripple. It touches every part of a person’s life: his identity, his relationships, his family and his future. That’s why our model at OneFamily is built around the whole person— and the whole family.” 

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View the original article on Jewish News Syndicate. Photo by Brian Garfinkel

Elana Horowitz recounts: “Philadelphia has a thriving Jewish community, and not a single Eagles cheerleader is Jewish. Why can’t I be that role model?”

When Elana Horowitz auditioned for a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders squad, her Jewish identity, spunk and a bit of chutzpah—coupled with exceptional cheerleading, athleticism and dancing skills—helped her land this coveted job. Now, the 32-year-old high school math teacher who started dancing at age 2 is gearing up to celebrate the Eagles Super Bowl victory with the team and the city of Philadelphia in a victory parade scheduled to take place on Friday.

Elana Horowitz
Elana Horowitz at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Photo by Brian Garfinkel.

Horowitz, who flew from New Orleans on an Eagle’s charter flight on Monday and was back in her Delaware classroom on Tuesday morning, spoke with JNS after school that day about her Jewish identity and how it comes to play in cheering for the Eagles.

Horowitz was born in Phoenix to parents who were both very active in Young Judea. When the family moved to Chicago when she was 2, she began dancing. “I have been taking ballet forever,” Horowitz says.

She attended the Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago from kindergarten through eighth grade and danced throughout, including a five-year stint with the Joffrey Ballet in the children’s cast of “The Nutcracker.” Horowitz also attended Camp Young Judaea Midwest for five summers. After she began attending Glenbrook North for high school, a public school, Horowitz reports missing her time at day school.

And so, she says, “I switched to Camp Ramah in Wisconsin so I could be with my Schechter friends.” 

Ramah began to occupy an important part of her life. Horowitz was a camper for two years and spent a summer in Israel with Ramah Israel Seminar. She then served on the dance staff for three summers and eventually married Daniel Soler, a physical therapist and former division head at Camp Ramah in the Poconos.

In high school, Horowitz continued to dance. She was on the Poms team, which danced and participated in pre-game and half-time ceremonies. “I fell in love with poms and learned this style, which is in line with the style of most NFL teams,” she says. 

Horowitz graduated from high school and spent a year in Israel on the Nativ program. While she enjoyed the gap-year program, she reports that “there were not many opportunities for dance.”

Fortunately, her college years at the University of Maryland offered opportunities to continue dancing, as well as the chance to be “very active” in Hillel and the Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

Horowitz double majored in math and education, and minored in Jewish studies. She joined Unbound Dance Team, the club dance team at the University of Maryland, where she noted that two of the dancers went on to cheer for NFL football teams. She began considering the possibility of trying out for one. “I was on the same dance team as them—I can do this,” she thought.

Elana Horowitz
Elana Horowitz at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Photo by Brian Garfinkel.

‘An Israeli dance in my own style’

The very determined Horowitz graduated from the University of Maryland in 2015 and auditioned for the Baltimore Shuckers, a professional minor league basketball team, and for the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team (she cheered for them for four years and received “Rookie of the Year” honors). Horowitz also auditioned for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, where she “got good feedback” but “kept getting cut” from the cheerleading squad.

She was proud to be selected for the Playmakers, the Ravens promotional team, where she and the team “engaged and hyped up fans” in the stadium. Unfortunately, the program was eliminated. But it got her thinking seriously about her future. “Maybe this isn’t it,” Horowitz recounts. She had been teaching high school math and decided to begin a master’s degree program. She also decided not to abandon her cheerleading aspirations.

Horowitz really liked the Philadelphia Eagles’ approach, which focused on what each person brings to the team. “I figured I would audition and be willing to move to Philadelphia.”

She notes that her husband grew up in Voorhees, N.J., not far from Philadelphia, adding that “when we got married, we combined our loves—the Eagles, the Cubs and Liverpool!”

But first, Horowitz needed to make the squad. The first year of auditioning, she reports that she made it the interview round and got cut. She continued taking virtual dance classes and working on physical conditioning. Then, she had an idea that could have proven to be risky.

“I decided to lean into my Jewish identity,” she says. This included making an introductory video where I talked about being Jewish, picking the song “Hopa” by Israeli singer Omer Adam to go with the reassigned dance, and speaking candidly about being Jewish in her second-round interview. “When they asked, ‘Why are you auditioning now?’ I said, ‘Philadelphia has a thriving Jewish community, and not a single Eagles cheerleader is Jewish. Why can’t I be that role model?”

Horowitz was invited to proceed to the final round, which took place over two nights. She had to perform the same routine as the semifinals, though this time it was as a soloist and not as part of a group. For the second night, the requirement was to present a “meaningful” dance.

“I did an Israeli dance in my own style to “L’Olam B’ikvot HaShemesh,” she says. “I made the team!”

Horowitz is particularly proud of how much Judaism she has been able to share with the team. On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, Horowitz brought apples and honey for her teammates. “They were obsessed with the honey sticks,” she recalls. “They came up to me and thanked me so much for sharing.”

On Chanukah, Horowitz brought dreidels, gelt and an electric menorah.

Just before the NFC championship game, she volunteered to lead the pre-game huddle, explaining to her team a Jewish prayer: “We said the ‘Shehechayanu.’ Obviously, we won!” 

As she looks back on the experience of bringing her Judaism to her fellow cheerleaders—many of whom are teachers, dental students and professionals from a wide range of fields—Horowitz reports that “it has been amazing to share my Jewish identity with the team. They embrace it!” 

She was particularly moved when a fellow cheerleader came up to Horowitz to sheepishly tell her: “I am Jewish, too. I didn’t know about the apples and honey!”

But her biggest fan, she says, is her husband: “He is my No. 1 support system. He is so insanely proud of me and posts all the time on social media.” She also notes how useful it is to have a physical therapist at the ready who can help her with post-game recovery.

Horowitz still can’t believe how lucky she feels to be an Eagles cheerleader and member of the extended Super Bowl championship family. “The game was a truly amazing experience. Even though it didn’t feel like were home, most of the crowd was rooting for the Eagles. Our motto all season was ‘Not if, when.”

Elana Horowitz
Elana Horowitz at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025. Credit: Courtesy.

She recounts dancing with her team on the sidelines throughout the game and at the two-minute warning of the second quarter as victory was looking likely. She describes Gatorade thrown a bit early. “We then got together as a team, rushed the field and danced in the confetti. There is no feeling like it!” Horowitz was surprised to learn that each confetti piece was in the shape of the Vince Lombardi trophy awarded to the winner.

After the game, the cheerleaders went to the locker room to “clap it up.” After eating, they went to their hotel to change into “our winner’s dresses” and celebrate at the official Eagles after-party.

Horowitz says she is looking forward to the parade, to an off-season of appearances and to the yearly Eagles Autism Challenge event set to take place on May 17. The one-day bike ride and family-friendly 5K run-walk help raise money for autism. And, of course, she hopes to return to the cheerleading squad next year.

Rounding out her experience, she wants the world to know that “I got to dance for the Eagles—partly because of my Judaism. I pointed out what they were missing, and the Eagles saw that.”

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