Tuesday night, I celebrated a first, just as Deni Avdija was marking two firsts.  I attended my first in person sports event in over a year.  Deni, the Washington Wizards rookies from Israel, made his Madison Square Garden debut.  He scored 14 points before fouling out in a pretty big Wizards loss.  (As I started writing this blog, the Wizards were ahead of the Knicks in their Thursday rematch at MSG—for 3 periods. Sadly, they lost 106-102).

The fact that an entire season of basketball is taking place, in arenas across the country–a year into the Covid 19 pandemic—is nothing short of incredible. Last year, the NBA pulled it off by having everyone in a bubble.  No fans and few members of the media witnessed it in person.

This season, I have been lucky enough to have Washington Wizards media credentials, have been attending Zoom media sessions, and have written many articles for JNS and the Jerusalem Post about the 20 year old Israeli taken by the Wizards #9 in the recent NBA draft   I was eager to see Deni play in person.  When I saw that the Wizards would be in New York for a Sunday game against the Nets in Brooklyn and Tuesday/Thursday games against the Knicks, I applied for media credentials.  I fished my wish! I was granted credentials for Tuesday.

Here is where I tip my hat first to the NBA and then to the Knicks and Madison Square Garden.  The NBA takes great precautions to keep players, coaches and fans safe.  Players including Deni have been on Covid protocol at various points over the summer.  Some even missed the NBA All-Star game for the same reason. Once credentials were granted, I was told I would need to arrive no later than 3:45 pm for a 7:30 game.  Each staff member at MSG and all media are required to undergo onsite health screening and Covid testing. 

The process was organized and calm, and all employees of MSG remained similarly calm and in good spirits.  Everyone logged in to the system, was swabbed and waited for (hopefully) negative test results. I was told that there is an extra NBA stringency for media and I was escorted to a special seat (seat #1) in the balcony of the Theater at MSG. I was told it would take “about 45 minutes.”  I was told not to leave my seat under any circumstances.  I spoke from afar with a fellow journalist I knew from other sports events.  I had a 45-minute tutoring lesson about Passover with a student.  Two hours later, I was told I was negative.  After 15 more minutes, I was given a wristband and escorted with two other journalists to our seats on The Bridge at MSG.

Walking along The Bridge is a walk down MSG memory lane—one passes retired Knicks and Rangers jerseys, championship banners and special tributes to long concert runs (Phish, Billy Joel, etc.).  We were shown the bathrooms, the table with hot dogs, pretzels and water, and our very socially distanced work stations.  We were not to leave our area.  In past years, media was allowed to enter the locker room at appointed times to interview players (I once brought humus to Omri Casspi!), attend the coach press conference in the hallway, watch practice from the court, and we were free to wander the stadium to interview fans.  Not this year.

The Garden is at 10% capacity, which means no more than 2,000 fans. It was a ghost town, but a happy ghost town with fans cheering, a DJ for Noche Latina de los Knicks, and Knicks City Dancers—on the screen, prerecorded. I would have ordinarily gone down to speak with the two waving the Israeli flags to see why they are Deni and Wizards super-fans.  Not tonight.

Tonight was a night to feel lucky to see Deni in person.  It was a night to watch Deni high fiving such NBA stars as Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal and to remember that this 20-year-old Israeli is in the same league as these legends.  It was a night to think about just how far this young Israeli is from home—and to see just how adaptable and resilient he has been, traversing his new country, in the middle of a pandemic.  It was a night to hope that one day soon, I will get to meet and interview Deni.

Then, by dumb luck, I DID get to see Deni!  Two minutes after Deni spoke to the media via Zoom, I was leaving the Garden and spotted 20 religious boys chanting his name.  Then…Deni appeared!  He was behind a barricade, escorted to the team bus.  He was not permitted to sign autographs (though one shouted, “sign my tissue, Deni!”), but he smiled and waved to his admiring fans.

It is clear that Deni is here to stay. He is a young up and coming mensch who will one post-Covid day sign lots of autographs and schmooze with admiring fans—young and adult, Israeli and American, Jewish and non-Jewish, for years to come. Happy Passover, Deni! 






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Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

Israeli rookie scores 14 points in first performance at iconic New York arena, but fouls out

NEW YORK – It has been a season of many firsts for Washington Wizards Israeli rookie Deni Avdija.

The highlights have included playing against NBA legend LeBron James and playing side-by-side with teammates Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, and on Tuesday night Avdija experienced another new experience – his first trip to Manhattan’s legendary Madison Square Garden arena, sort of. It was technically his second time in the famous New York sports and concert venue, which first opened its doors in 1879, but his first official NBA contest there.

In anticipation of the Wizards’ current road trip to the Big Apple, which included a 113-106 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, and features games versus the Knicks Tuesday and Thursday, Avdija playfully said: “I watched a game at Madison Square Garden when I was in eighth grade, when I was with Maccabi [Tel Aviv] on a trip to the United States. We were in New York and at the Garden, but I wasn’t playing at the Garden. I never played on the floor. So it is going to be like a closed circle, you can say. It is cool and exciting. Every new gym that I see, I adore. It’s nice. It is a dream come true!

”Washington coach Scott Brooks was hopeful that the 20-year-old would have more luck at the Garden this week than he has had in the past 23 games. He has been in a three-point slump, shooting only 23 percent from deep, and hasn’t been seeing much playing time in recent games. Brooks likes Avdija and understands his frustration, and offers constant support and guidance.“

The hardest thing for a young player in this league to understand is that you will go through some tough times, but you’ve got to stay confident as best you can and when you do, you will get out on the other side and be a much better player,” noted Brooks. “He hasn’t shot the ball well in the last 23 games. He knows that, we all know that. I still want him to shoot open shots. He doesn’t have to force anything. I told him, I met with him yesterday, I told him run, use your speed, use your ability to get up the court, and try to get yourself an easy one and make a couple of layups and transition, maybe you get yourself fouled and get to the free-throw line, and all of the sudden, the basket doesn’t seem as small as it does when you don’t make any.”

The Knicks entered Tuesday’s contest with a 21-22 record; the Wizards were 15-26. Avdija saw action for the first time with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter with the Wizards leading 22-21. He remained on court for the remainder of the quarter, pulling down one rebound, and missing his only shot. He committed two fouls in the remainder of the quarter and a third foul in the early minutes of the second quarter. He was benched for the remainder of the half to stay out of foul trouble. The Wizards trailed 69-49 at halftime.

Avdija returned to action in the third quarter, scoring five points (one three-pointer), securing a second rebound and committing his fourth personal foul. The Knicks led by as much as 31 points in the quarter.

Avdija had a strong fourth period, scoring eight points (including two free-throws), while committing his fifth personal foul. Avdija’s physical style makes him no stranger to fouling; he averages 4.2 fouls per 36 minutes of play.

“I like being physical on defense. That was my kind of name [while playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv],” Avdija has said. “Since I got here, I’m getting a lot of calls because of that. I’m not going to say I’m less physical, I’m going to be smarter with my physicality.”Avdija ended his Garden debut with another first. He committed his sixth personal foul and fouled out for the first time. The Knicks held on to win 131-113 in front of a small but spirited home-town crowd.

Avdija finished with 14 points and four rebounds in just under 22 minutes of action before fouling out, recording a -5 plus/minus while on the floor.

“I played hard,” said Avdija of his performance. “I tried my best even though I fouled out. We will prepare the best we can and come back different for our next game against the Knicks. Losing three games [in New York] is not acceptable.

“I believe we are getting there. The season is not over yet. Everyone hates losing; hopefully we will lose as little as possible.

”The Garden, with a usual capacity of 20,789, is only operating at 10% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions. According to the MSG website, new guidelines make it easier for fans to attend as they can now enter with proof of a negative antibody test or full coronavirus vaccination. Members of the media were required to arrive four hours prior to 7:30 p.m. tip off for a health screening and COVID test (I was required to sit in a designated seat for two hours until my results came back negative). Journalists were escorted to media seating and not permitted to leave their designated area during the game. All media sessions pre- and post-game were on Zoom.

From the media section on “the bridge,” located near large banners of retired Knicks and Rangers players, championship pennants, and special banners marking such milestones as “Phish The Bakers Dozen” (12 consecutive nights at the Garden, Summer 2017) and “Billy Joel 119” – most lifetime performances by any artist, reporters look down on thousands of empty seats and scattered fans. Among the small crowd was a mini section of Israeli flag-waving Avdija fans.

Israeli-American Matan Karudo, a 21-year-old Wizards super-fan, was seeing Deni play in person for the second night in three days.

“On Sunday at Barclays Center, I managed to get the closest seats I could to the Wizards!” In contrast to the relatively small Israeli presence at Madison Square Garden, Karudo noted, “There was a massive Israeli and Jewish presence in the section and arena. There were lots of Hebrew speakers I spoke to! We were all excited to see him play! I brought my flag and waved it the whole time.”Karudo was determined to get Avdija’s autograph, but was too far away. Instead, Karudo said, “he tossed me his wristband! That was really exciting! I hope to frame it with my anticipated signed jersey that I’m trying to get this week.

”At the Garden, Karudo sat close to the court with his Israeli-born uncle, Kobi Avgi, who exclaimed, “I want our Israelis to succeed in the NBA. I am a lifelong Knicks fan, but today I am cheering for the Wizards!

”On this night, cheers were not enough.

Coach Brooks was not impressed with his team’s performance.

“They outplayed us from the start. If you don’t compete with some physicality, it will be a long night. We didn’t play well – starters or the bench. It needs to be better going into the next game.

”The Wizards and Avdija have one more chance to beat the Knicks at MSG this week. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday.

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Original Article Published On The JNS

The 33-year-old Stanford University standout and Nigerian national team player visited Israel twice on Birthright and spoke about how it’s helped discover her family history.

When Rosalyn Gold-Onwude was a college student at Stanford University, she participated on Birthright Israel. Several years later, she went on her second trip—this time, as a staff member on her younger sister’s Birthright experience. While participating in the program is not so unusual—more than 600,000 Jewish young people have gone on the free, 10-day trips since the program’s founding in 1999—Gold-Onwude’s story is a bit different. She is the only Birthright participant to play on the Nigerian women’s national basketball team and to be inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in Northern California.

Gold-Onwude, 33, is perhaps best known for her current work as an NBA broadcaster for ESPN; she has also hosted FirstTake on ESPN. Her impeccable media credentials include NBA and college basketball coverage. Since 2012, she has covered March Madness, the NCAA tournament and Pac-12 Men’s and Women’s college basketball as both an analyst and reporter. She has also worked with the Golden State Warriors, WNBA’s New York Liberty and NBA TV.

The 5-foot-10 former point guard and shooting guard for the Stanford Cardinals from 2005 to 2010 managed to reach the Final Four three times. As a senior, she was Pac-12 “Defensive Player of the Year.”

“My mother [Pat Gold] is Russian Jewish from Queens, N.Y.,” she described; her mother’s grandmother came from Riga, Latvia, escaping the Nazis. “My father [Austin Onwude] was born in Nigeria and lives in Nigeria. His side was the more dominant side!”

While she was at Stanford, several of her cousins had celebrated b’nai mitzvah and visited Israel. She began considering a trip there as well to learn more about her Jewish heritage. “A friend in college who is also half-Jewish said, ‘I’m going to apply [to Birthright]. You should, too. We both got in.”

‘Thirst to explore her heritage ’

She recently shared her story in a virtual conversation with Israel Outdoors, an organizer of Birthright Israel trips.

Rosalyn Gold-Onwude for a post-game interview at CSN Bay Area after an Indiana Pacers vs. Golden State Warriors basketball game, Nov. 21, 2016. Credit: Saeriksen via Wikimedia Commons.

Nate Edelstein, North American director of Israel Outdoors, interviewed Gold-Onwude, explained that “with international travel largely on hold, Israel Outdoors has for months been hosting virtual events for our alumni, thanks to the support of Birthright Israel. We feature interesting, creative programs and speakers that bring a meaningful Israel experience to attendees. Ros’s insights and personal story are so compelling—she’s an alumna of Israel Outdoors’ Birthright Israel trips, a former basketball star at Stanford University, and now a top national basketball broadcaster and analyst.”

Gold-Onwude enthusiastically reported that “both trips were dope! Thanks to Birthright and Israel Outdoors, they were educational and fun.” She spoke movingly about star-gazing in the desert while staying in Bedouin tents, about the Dead Sea and how having Israeli soldiers join the group offered “a way different perspective” to the trip.

“My favorite place, hands down, was Tzfat,” she revealed. “I loved the mystical city.” She even showed off the jewelry and rings she purchased there.

Edelstein observed, “I think people are not only drawn to her background but also her thirst to explore her heritage, which is largely what led her to travel with Israel Outdoors. It was fascinating to hear from Ros about her life experience and her family’s journey—and how she was deeply moved and impacted by her Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors.”

Gold-Onwude considered playing professional basketball in Israel, even speaking with an Israeli coach. “I would not count as an American on the team; I considered making aliyah.” She noted that Israel is an ideal place to play basketball, as “the league is competitive, and they speak English, which helps with the transition. And it is a beautiful and vibrant country.”

While preparing for one of her trips to Israel, an American cousin encouraged her to reach out to a cousin on her mother’s side who lived in Jerusalem. “They invited me to their home, and we spent Shabbat together. They showed me pictures of my great-grandmother [the one who fled the Nazis] as a child. It was an incredible family moment!”

‘Part of Jewish culture is helpfulness’

Gold-Onwude found her second Birthright trip to be particularly powerful. She shared openly that her family was dealing with her mother’s early onset of Alzheimer’s in her 50s. As her mother was losing her ability to communicate, Ros was even more determined to learn about her mother’s family history. Serving as a staff member on her sister Annie’s Birthright trip, she said, was especially meaningful. “The most powerful experience was going to the Kotel [the Western Wall] in Jerusalem. We wrote about our mother and put the note in the wall. We held our hands up, and it was like the whole wall was vibrating!”

Rosalyn Gold-Onwude and her sister, Annie, together in Israel on Birthright. Source: Instagram.

Gold-Onwude attributed so much of her basketball and her overall life success to her mother. “Basketball has given me everything,” she said. “It became a gift from my mom. She gave me her passion for the game. I got my mom’s passion and my dad’s athleticism!”

She described her mother’s “selfless efforts,” always giving to others and noting that “part of Jewish culture is helpfulness.”

Gold-Onwude said she continues to help others in a variety of ways, including mentoring young girls, raising awareness for mental-health issues, working with women in business and her ongoing efforts in Africa. She has participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Program and in the NBA Africa Game. On her visits, she has helped children develop basketball and life skills. She has also worked with the Hope 4 Girls basketball camp in Nigeria.

Rosalyn Gold-Onwude and her mother, Pat Gold, who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Source: Instagram.

She added that she really got to know both Nigeria and the continent of Africa through her involvement with the Nigerian women’s national basketball team. She represented the team in the 2011 FIBA Africa Championship for Women, averaging 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and two assists per game.

Gold-Onwude concluded her presentation by noting how basketball changed her life.

After all, she now travels the country and world following her passion for the game: “It’s crazy what I’ve been able to see and experience!”

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On the Jewish holiday of Purim, which took place 3 weeks ago, there is a custom to give mishloach manot, gifts of ready to eat food, to friends.  While most people give “eat now” food—things which can be consumed right away, some have the custom of giving Kosher for Passover foods which can be eaten exactly one month later on Passover.  I am happy that the Chessler Family is in the first category!

Noah Chessler celebrated his bar mitzvah February 25th on Purim evening.  It was not the Purim bar mitzvah Noah or his family had envisioned.  For years, the Chesslers were anticipating a Purim bar mitzvah and party with an in person megillah reading and costumes, accompanied by hot dogs, cotton candy, games, booths and other festivities for all guests to enjoy. Instead, the bar mitzvah took place in their apartment, on Zoom.  In the age of Covid, Zoom bar mitzvahs have become the norm.  And it is up to families to make these events meaningful and fun.

I recently wrote an article about the Moving Traditions organization, and their guide booklet for Zoom bar and mitzvahs.  One key takeaway from Moving Traditions, rabbis and families interviewed is that these do-it-yourself b’mitzvahs have offered an unprecedented opportunity for a return to meaning and basics—with less emphasis on dress, invitations and the party.  And they are empowering to families. 

The Chesslers hired a skeleton crew to make sure the Zoom and the videos ran smoothly, they borrowed a megillah (Scroll of Esther) from Noah’s grandfather, and purchased cute and simple costumes (Ramen Noodle, potato chips and Heinz Ketchup t-shirts) for the family.  Noah read several megillah chapters “live,” from his home, while family and friends read megillah chapters from locations from New York to Massachusetts, California and even Israel!  The Chesslers made a truly inclusive and festive celebration out of a pretty straightforward 10-chapter story.  They essentially embellished the 10-chapter story by telling it in 20 acts with friends and sharing pre-recorded videos, tributes to Noah and more.

I was one of Noah’s teachers and was lucky enough to be on-site to help Noah lead maariv, the evening prayer, “spot him” as he read from the scroll, address him and present him with a bar mitzvah gift. I was also able to quickly change out of my dress clothes to sport an Israeli basketball uniform for most of the megillah reading.  It was a really fun evening! 

Noah's mom liked being able to personalize the experience and bring in and engage guests and participants.  “It really made the event feel lively and warm!”  In addition, she notes a silver lining of Zoom–“active” participation from Israel, Canada, the UK, Belize, and across the US including Oregon and New Hampshire!

I was impressed by nearly every decision the Chessler Family made in order to make the bar mitzvah fun and meaningful. One decision which was particularly close to my heart was Noah and the family’s support of three disability owned businesses as they planned their mishloach manot/guest bags. They provided gift bags and t-shirts printed by Spectrum Designs (https://www.spectrumdesigns.org/), flavored popcorn by Popcorn for the People (https://www.popcornforthepeople.com/), and chocolate covered treats by Truly Scrumptious by Alexa  (https://www.trulyscrumptiousbyalexa.com/).  Please read about Jewish organizations and individuals who have found ways to support disability owned businesses—and please consider ways to do the same!

Noah’s very special bar mitzvah is a recent memory, and Pesach is almost here.  We are all feeling hopeful that we will soon be able to return to in person prayer services and bar and bat mitzvahs.  May we continue to offer Zoom options as needed and appropriate, and may we continue to search for meaning—supporting disability owned businesses in the process is one great way!


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