In 2021, I was deeply honored to be chosen by our late founders, Alan Sherman (z”l) and Joe Siegman (z”l), to lead the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (IJSHOF) into its next chapter. Their vision to honor the remarkable achievements of Jews in sports has been truly inspiring, and I embraced this responsibility wholeheartedly.

Since its founding in 1981, the IJSHOF has celebrated over 500 deserving individuals from 32 countries, each with a unique and inspiring story. To continue this legacy, we have established a dedicated Board of Directors of 12 leaders from around the world and expanded our Election Committee to include 25 knowledgeable Global representatives. Additionally, we have updated our criteria for election and developed a Strategic Plan.

In our efforts to modernize, we collaborate with Andrew Exler Marketing to enhance our digital marketing, social media, and website presence. Our mission is to make the IJSHOF accessible to all generations, serving as a key reference for the Jewish sports community. We are not just the “People of the Book” but also the “People of the Story,” with countless inspiring tales in Jewish sports history waiting to be shared.

Due to current circumstances in Israel, our next Induction Ceremony will now be held remotely in Fall 2025, followed by an in-person event in Summer 2026 in Israel, coinciding with the Maccabiah Games. These events will also commemorate the outstanding Jewish athletes lost in the Holocaust and those who survived and achieved athletic greatness.

This tribute coincides with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps. Our previous ceremony honored the 50th anniversary of the Munich Olympics tragedy by remembering the slain Israeli athletes. We invite you to explore the extensive research showcasing the inspiring narratives of Jews in sports. Combating antisemitism is a key goal for us. As leaders, we actively confront the stereotype that Jews are not accomplished athletes. In truth, we have “boxed above our weight,” achieving far more Olympic success than our small numbers might suggest.

We mourn the recent loss of luminaries like Agnes Keleti (of Hungary and Israel), who died at 103 as the oldest Olympic medalist, Allan Jay of Great Britain, and Ken Holtzman (USA), the most successful Jewish Major League Baseball pitcher of all time.

We encourage you to nominate a Jewish athlete for consideration. Nominations are welcomed anytime here on our website, with elections held each summer. Despite the diligence of our historians, there are always more stories to uncover. We hope you will join us on this journey, as the submission of names is a continuous process with yearly elections.

And finally, we encourage you to also check out “Our Case for Support” here on our website. We have a strategic vision for our future growth and development and your support would be deeply and sincerely appreciated. Please learn more about donation opportunities here.