Israel’s Women’s Lacrosse Team recently gave the world an inspiring lesson in sportsmanship.
The team recently competed in the 2019 Women’s Lacrosse U19 World Championship in Peterborough, Canada. In the playoffs against Kenya’s national team, Israel won handily, 13-4. But instead of rejoicing in their victory, the Israeli players left the game disturbed. They realized that they’d enjoyed an unfair advantage: while the Israeli players wore state of the art sports shoes with cleats, their Kenyan opponents wore plain old gym shoes.
After the game, three of the young Israeli players called their parents asking if they could help pay for new shoes for the Kenyan players. Without proper cleats, the Kenyan players found themselves sliding in the muddy parts of the field. One Israeli player, Ella Duvdevani, in particular was in a position to help. Her father Michael owns a ped-orthic clinic in the US. He was concerned about long-lasting damage the Kenyan players might be doing to their feet by playing in improper shoes.
That night, Michael Duvdevani called the team’s coaches, committee members and some other parents, and soon the parents of the Israeli players were all pitching in to buy new shoes for the Kenyan team. They asked the Kenyan coach for a list of each player’s shoe size and asked them to keep the gesture secret overnight.
It wasn’t easy to find so many specialty shoes at such short notice. The Israeli team turned to a specialty store which stayed open much of the night in order to source the shoes and fill the order quickly. By the following morning, the Israelis had bought shoes for each member of the Kenyan team. The next day, the Israeli team surprised their Kenyan friends on the field; each team member gave a bag containing a brand new pair of shoes to their Kenyan counterparts. It was an emotional moment, with the Israeli and Kenyan players hugging and crying together.
The bond they formed was lasting. Lielle Assayag, Israel’s goalie, said, “This is what I’ll remember in 20 years: my friends. My old ones and my new ones.”
The athletes didn’t seek publicity but Kenya Lacrosse posted a video on Twitter of the Israeli women delivering the new shoes to the Kenyan team on the field the day after they played. “Yesterday we played @Israel_Lacrosse and had no cleats...after supporting their game today, Israel surprised the whole Team on the sideline with brand new cleats!” Kenya’s team announced.
Even though Kenya’s Women’s Lacrosse Team only has a few hundred followers, the moving video went viral. Within days, hundreds of thousands of people had watched it.
After donning their new cleats, Kenya went on to win their second game in the championship, beating Belgium 16-9. “1 game in cleats today = 1 win!” they Tweeted, adding “You can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone.”
That comment resonates with Hillel's statement in Ethics of the Fathers, “In a place where there are no leaders, strive to be a leader” (Pirkei Avot 2:6). We each have to make a difference wherever we find ourselves. As the Israeli Women’s Lacrosse Team just showed, sometimes even a small gesture can make a huge difference in the lives of others.
(13) Sondra Brown, August 25, 2019 10:23 PM
Seeing beyond ourselves
Proud that justice, leveling the playing field & 'Tikun Olam' is more important than field goals
(12) David muya, August 17, 2019 3:18 PM
I am very much pleased to discover that my country received your kindness ,I long for the day I will have the advantage to extend my kindness to jews
(11) Anonymous, August 15, 2019 8:39 PM
Just goes to show, how Israelis care about others pity the rest of the world don'e see it, and don't do the same
(10) Anonymous, August 15, 2019 12:09 AM
I learn something new every day. Today was very special. Thank you.
This was very special for me.
(9) Carole Perl, August 14, 2019 11:45 PM
Jewish pride
Just when you feel that people's values are nonexistent, you read a story like this and are reassured that there is goodness in the world.
(8) David Levine, August 14, 2019 8:19 PM
A Great Gesture
his certainly was a great gesture. I hope the Kenyan government keeps it in mind when the Arabs bring up another anti-Israel outrage at the UN and other international forums.
K.H. Ryesky, August 15, 2019 8:09 PM
No good deed by Israel shall go unpunished.
No good deed by Israel shall go unpunished.
(7) JOEL KUTNER, August 14, 2019 7:32 PM
kiddush hashem on sports field
Kudos to the young women of the Israel team for such exemplary behavior. Too bad the local/foreign press isn't giving this the coverage it deserves - especially in contrast to the egregious behavior of those Israeli teens on Cyprus a few weeks ago,
(6) Ra'anan, August 14, 2019 4:37 PM
Pure
Pleasure to read, I remember reading about something similar with an American yeshiva playing against a public high school.
(5) Chanit Roston, August 14, 2019 2:35 PM
Happy about this beautiful gesture in this world.
I who loves everything about Israel, am very happy to read of this beautiful and thoughtful gesture and act. Happy, yet not surprised. This needs to be a known fact to as many people as possible.
(4) Anonymous, August 14, 2019 2:13 PM
Unselfish Act
This story brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful kind act of love and care to the ladies of Kenya.
(3) Anonymous, August 14, 2019 1:39 PM
Cleats in the context of the Prophet Micah
As Jews, we comment in our deeds. How will this simple deed resonate among those who hate us? I am proud merely to know of this.
Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your G-d.
(2) Anonymous, August 14, 2019 1:16 PM
What a kiddush Hashem. So proud of you
(1) Laura, August 13, 2019 5:55 PM
Making new friends, showing acts of kindness, having good sportsmanship and caring about others are gifts that will last a lifetime.