“Hoop it Up for Israel! Celebrate Israel’s 60th Birthday” fills the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. In the spotlight will be the legendary Tal Brody
(Springfield). Here’s your chance to meet the top-ranked player who turned down a spot in the NBA draft to join the fledgling Maccabi Tel Aviv Team — and hear his story.
“Hoop it Up for Israel! Celebrate Israel’s 60th Birthday” fills the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA on Sunday, May 18 from 12:00 – 4:00 PM. In the spotlight will be the legendary Tal Brody, along with fellow Maccabi great Mickey Berkowitz and Shimon Mizrahi who, as Chairman of Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club, was ranked by Time as one of the world’s 50 most important sports executives.
Not only will fans get to hear from these consummate athletes who have played such dramatic roles in the history of both basketball and Israel at a 2:30PM presentation, they’ll also have the opportunity to shoot hoops on Center Court at the Hall of Fame, enjoy a day of family entertainment, authentic kosher Israeli food and heavily discounted admission to the Hall of Fame.
A BONUS: Witnessing the unveiling of the new Hall of Fame exhibit, “Putting Israel on the Map; the Macabbi Tel Aviv Story,” boasting historic footage, European Cups, team jerseys, photos documenting the Cold War-defying Maccabi Team and more. The exhibit, remaining up until September, promises to attract countless Berkshires summer tourists.
At only 2½ hours from New York City and 1½ from Boston, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame draws fans from across the East Coast.
Tickets for this special day cost $6 for adults and $3 for kids
15 and under (4 and under are free) at the door on Sunday, May 18 ONLY. In honor of Israel’s birthday, this price admits visitors to not only the event and the new exhibit, but to the entire Basketball Hall of Fame (usually costing $16.99 for adults and $11.99 for kids).
“Hoop it Up for Israel!” is sponsored by the Anna P. Housen Israel Desk of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts with additional support from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and individual donors.
For more information, call the Federation at (413) 737-4313 or visit www.jewishwesternmass.org.
Note: Advance tickets ($5 adults, $3 kids
5-15) are available at the
Springfield JCC, the Yiddish Book Center Bookstore in Amherst or by calling 413.231.5513 at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
(Separate page)
The Amazing Story of Tal Brody
In 1965, New Jersey native Tal Brody, named to the All Big Ten First team and Sporting News All-American Top Ten, turned his back on his number-two draft spot on the Washington Bullets for a start-up team in Israel. Over the years, Tal became an idol to thousands of Israeli kids, returning home long enough to star in the U.S. National Team in the 1970 World Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia and fulfill his US military obligation.
Tal made Israel his permanent home in 1970 and was called up to serve in the Israel Defence Forces. Not only did he serve in both armies, but will go down in history as being the only individual who played on the National Teams of two countries.
Tal who was both Captain of Maccabi Tel-Aviv and the Israeli National Team, represented Israel in the European Championships as well as in the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, Iran, where Israel won the Gold Medal. With Maccabi Tel Aviv he won several National Championships, culminating with the 1977 European Champions Cup in Belgrade.
During his playing career, Tal created basketball clinics for the younger generation and regularly lectured to coaches and students of physical education. Upon his retirement in 1980, he started his “Let’s Play Basketball Ball” program which involved over 200,000 children all over Israel. In 1985, Tal launched one of the largest basketball programs in the world, based in Herzelia, a city of 100,000 on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. This program, called Bnei Herzelia, involves training 1,100 boys and girls from 5 to 18. Tal is currently President of the organization.
All this did not pass without appreciation and gratitude. Tal has won countless awards, among them the “Yedid Tel-Aviv” and Dov Hoz Prizes by the City of Tel Aviv. On Independence Day 1980 he was honored by the President Yitshak Navon with the Israel Prize, the highest honor any Israeli citizen can receive.
For his official retirement game, Maccabi Tel Aviv faced a European All-Star Selection Team before 10,000 in the Tel-Aviv Stadium with millions more watching the game and ceremonies on TV in Israel and Europe.
In 1981, Tal was chosen to carry and light the Maccabiah Torch at the Opening Ceremony of the Games before an audience of 45,000 at Ramat Gan Stadium.
Tal continues to be associated with Maccabi Tel Aviv,
handling special projects like the Goodwill Games that were played in the U.S. and in Tel Aviv against NBA teams. Every year he also sponsors the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament for the mentally retarded.
During the 56th Independence Day Celebrations, Tal was chosen to represent all of Israel’s Sporting Heroes, past and present, in lighting the Independence Day Torch.
