NBA Star Amar'e Stoudemire Awarded MLK Prize in Jerusalem – Forward
Posted By richards on February 28, 2017
On Sunday, former NBA player and now Israeli basketball star Amare Stoudemire, was awarded Israels Martin Luther King Jr. Award, given to individuals who embody the spirit and ideals of Dr. King.
I am truly honored to be receiving this amazing award, said Stoudemire, who signed a two-year contract with Israels Hapoel Jerusalem club last year. In a video to his Instagram followers, Stoudemire stood against the night skyline of Jerusalem and described the award as honoring my courage to be an Israelite and also to be able to work and talk about equality to all nations.
Every Black History Month, the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and the State of Israel give out this award to individuals who promote diversity and tolerance, a press release read.
Amare Stoudemire paints with children in Chicago last year as part of his In The Paint series, which combines sports and art activities.
Stoudemire runs the Amare and Alexis Stoudemire Foundation with his wife, Alexis which supports at-risk youth around the world, according to the foundationss website.
In Israel, Stoudemire is continuing his philanthropic work. He hosted a basketball peace camp this summer, which drew participants from a range of distinct Israeli communities, including Palestinians, Hebrew Israelites and Ethiopian Jews. Stoudemire also hosted another childrens camp at the Israel Museum, part of an annual series called In The Paint, which joins together basketball and art activities.
Israeli officials lauded Stoudemire.
Stoudemire has again set an example that sportsmanship supersedes nationality, ethnicity, or religious affiliation, said Russell F. Robinson, CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA. Robinson said that all of these qualities are welcome in Israel, a country he called a beacon of democracy in an otherwise turbulent part of the world.
Amare Stoudemire has spearheaded many initiatives that empower the less fortunate and advance important principles like tolerance, peace, creativity and healthy living, said Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York.
Past recipients of Israels MLK Award have included former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, the author Toni Morrison, entrepreneur Russell Simmons and Harry Belafonte.
When Stoudemire signed his deal with Hapoel in early August moving to Jerusalem with his entire family his spiritual and professional paths converged.
Stoudemire has been on a years long journey into religion and heritage, a path that has fascinated, and at times bewildered, American Jews and Israelis. He is not Jewish, as some continue to report, but a Hebrew Israelite meaning he views the Torah as an ancestral record of African Americans, and sees the land of Israel as part of his heritage.
Stoudemire poses in an Instagram photo, wearing a fur and a piece of jewelry modeled on the priestly breastplate of ancient Israelites.
Stoudemire maintains close ties with the Hebrew Israelites of Dimona, and even executive produced a documentary film about that community. Stoudemire regularly peppers his social media with biblical quotes.
If your ancestors were brought to America, or any other part of the world by slave ship, you are from the ancient tribe of the Hebrew Israelites, Stoudemire said in a February 2016 YouTube video alongside a Hebrew Israelite pastor in Chicago. This is black history, this is true black history.
Despite the praise from Israeli officials, since the move to Jerusalem Stoudemire has faced some adversity.
The Stoudemires 12-year-old son, Deuce, was barred from playing games with Hapoel Jerusalems youth team because he is not an Israeli citizen. Deuce was invited to play baseball instead.
Stoudemire has also clashed with Israeli basketball referees on a number of occasions, even taking to social media to rail against the officials. I have witnessed the worst officiating in the world of basketball, Stoudemire wrote on Instagram. Way to discourage other top players from coming to play in Israel.
Email Sam Kestenbaum at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum
Here is the original post:
NBA Star Amar'e Stoudemire Awarded MLK Prize in Jerusalem - Forward
- 64 Hours In An Ice Cube [Last Updated On: January 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 27th, 2010]
- Jewish Rabbi admits Islam is the oldest religion - Video [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2010] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2010]
- Israel investigation [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2010]
- EU-Egypt meet on Israel settlement [Last Updated On: March 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 15th, 2010]
- Dogs Do Amazing Tricks [Last Updated On: March 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 16th, 2010]
- Israel approves 100 Jerusalem homes [Last Updated On: March 24th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 24th, 2010]
- Israel closes West Bank for Passover [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2010]
- Legless Dog [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2010] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2010]
- Fiddler On the Roof Interviews [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2010]
- Fiddler on the Roof Interview: Part Two - Deborah Grausman [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2010]
- Obama Oil Spill press conference - Cable Network Production audio feed accidentally picked up [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2010]
- Israel rejects NPT resolution [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2010]
- Axelrod and the jews behind Obama [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2010]
- Israel condemned over ship action [Last Updated On: May 31st, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 31st, 2010]
- Israel perpetró agresiones contra Flotillas de ayuda humanitaria propalestina [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Hace un año que NN.UU. exige desbloqueo y retiro de tropas de Gaza. Israel hace [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Liga Árabe denuncia actitud desafiante de Israel [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Activistas propalestina proponen boicot contra Israel [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Primer Ministro turco califica a Israel como Estado terrorista [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Consejo de Seguridad ONU repudió agresión a Flotilla pero no condenó a Israel [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Analista peruano opina que el tema de Israel gravitará en la reunión entre [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Ian Bremmer "Vastly More Concerned About North Korea" vs. Israel-Gaza [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2010]
- Israel reitera que no permitirá que ningún barco llegue a Gaza [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Raw Video: Israel seizes new Gaza-bound aid ship [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Rachel Corrie flotilla: Israel releases new images [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Legendary White House reporter's Israel gaffe [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2010]
- Helen Thomas, a Hero for Telling the Truth [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2010]
- Israel Soldiers are random shooting to civils on aid ship mavi marmara [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2010]
- Find Israel t-shirts, funny Jewish t-shirts and Krav Maga T-shirts [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Israel t-shirts, funny Jewish t-shirts and Krav Maga T-shirts [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- A Day in the Life of Israel Miller – Turning Dreams to Reality [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2010]
- Ofensiva de EE.UU. e Israel contra Irán detonará pronto guerra nuclear: Fidel [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2010]
- Dancing soldiers video goes viral in Israel [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2010]
- Should Israel Apologize for Flotilla Raid? [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2010]
- We Love You Israel! [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2010]
- San Remo's Mandate: Israel's 'Magna Carta' - CBN.com [Last Updated On: July 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 9th, 2010]
- Israel anuncia que devolverá, con condiciones, barcos de la flotilla humanitaria [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2010]
- Ahmadinejad says US, Israel to attack [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2010]
- Meshaal rechaza cualquier diálogo directo o indirecto con Israel [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2010]
- Israel mata a tres soldados libaneses y a periodista durante ataque en frontera [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2010]
- Continúa tensión tras enfrentamientos de tropas en frontera entre Israel y [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2010]
- Trouble Brewing for Israel? [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2010]
- Marquis Laughlin Travels to Israel, The Holy Land [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2010]
- Nasrallah presents Israel 'evidence' [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2010]
- Travel To Israel [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Israel's Top Cities [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Israel's Top Attractions [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Will Israel Launch Strike Against Iran Nuclear Plant? [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2010]
- Negociaciones de paz entre Palestina e Israel generan reacciones en distintos [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2010]
- Inicia segunda ronda de negociaciones de paz entre Israel y Palestina [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2010]
- Barry Segal: Vision for Israel - CBN.com [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2010]
- World's Biggest Rocking Horse [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2010]
- Israel reanuda construcción de asentamientos en territorio palestino [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2010]
- Sirios víctimas de minas antipersonas que Israel dejó en el Golán [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2010]
- The Samson Option explodes one of the world’s most closely guarded secrets—the secret of Israel’s atomic arsenal. [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2010]
- Brush Fires Rage on in Israel [Last Updated On: December 4th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 4th, 2010]
- Robot Surgeon Comes to Israel [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2010]
- Jewish Professor: Israel is a client state to the US in the region [Last Updated On: January 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 1st, 2011]
- Jewish American Heritage Month » B'nai B'rith International ... [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2011]
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz Recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month 2009 [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- Why I Left Judaism [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- DEFAMATION - Theatrical Trailer [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- Recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2011]
- Cast of "House" visits Israel [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Surviving the Holocaust: Zanne Farbstein's Story [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Anti-Defamation League ADL Part 2 [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- JAKE TAPPER on Washington's "Middle East Week." [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Elie Wiesel honored with first US Holocaust award [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Anti-Defamation League ADL Part 1 [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2011]
- Marking Jewish American Heritage Month [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Arab Spring not good for Israel [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Eye for Eye? Gazans 'blackmailed' to spy for Israel [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Ann Coulter Insults Judaism [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- The Holocaust that changed the world [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Christian Anti-Defamation League: "Bashing" [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2011]
- Cool Facts about Israel [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2011]
- Gaza: The Killing Zone - Israel/Palestine [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Hatikva-The National Anthem of Israel [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Harel Skaat - Milim (Israel) [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Canadian PM: I Will Defend Israel 'whatever the cost' [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
Comments