	Newsletter - January 2014
	Hearing from: Michael Trebuhov Columbus State University Hello Dan and Ross, I hope you are doing well and thank you for messaging me. I am entering my senior year with 3.84 GPA and I am majoring in Mathematics and Science Education. The Jewish community in Columbus, GA is not large, so there is not a lot of activity with the Jewish community, the international community in the university is pretty large and every semester I volunteer 25 hours towards the international development in the city, for example: be a guest speaker in class and talk about Israel and my experiences as an international student, another thing is helping the new coming international students to feel comfortable far from home. Please let me know if you need any additional information. Thank you again for all you have done for me. Sincerely, Michael Trebuhov
	Shira Shecht, Monmouth University BUFFALO, N.Y. – Shira Shecht (Pardessiya, Israel/Hadassim) led 10 Hawks in the scoring column with 10 points, but the Monmouth University women’s basketball team fell to Canisius, 60-52, on Kid’s Day Friday morning at Koessler Athletic Center. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 4-14 (3-4 MAAC), while the Golden Griffins improve to 7-10 (3-5 MAAC). Shecht did her damage on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-for-3 from long range. Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) added nine points and seven rebounds, while Mia Hopkins (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area) chipped in with eight points and four rebounds. Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) also had five points and seven rebounds, but turned the ball over a team-high seven times, part of a 25-turnover day for the Hawks.
	ABOUT THE ISRAEL BRIDGE Who We Are: Ross Greenstein, Scholarship for Athletes President and Founder of The Israel Bridge Dan Aronovic, Head of Operations, The Israel Bridge Our Vision: The Israel Bridge will work to be the largest resource for connecting and developing relationships between Israelis and Americans. Current activities: Finding athletic scholarships for deserving Israeli athletes in the US and assisting them while they live in the US. We have placed over 100 athletes in the US attending schools like Ohio State, UCLA, UNLV, Northwestern, The University of Washington, Arizona, Duke, Tulane, Temple, the University of San Francisco and many others. Visit our website for more info: www.theisraelbridge.org Donate:

SPOTLIGHT ON

DAVID PAPIS-ELON,

University of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - The 75th-ranked University of Utah men's tennis team (1-0) netted a victory in its season opener Saturday against the Weber State Wildcats by a score of 6-1 at the Eccles Tennis Center. After the Utes swept in doubles play, junior Slim Hamza clinched the match at 4-0 for the Utes from the No. 1 singles spot.

In doubles action, senior Devin Lane teamed up with freshman newcomer David Papis-Elon (Herzelia, ISRAEL) at the No. 3 position to top James Smith and Caio Poitena 6-5(0).

Unleashed: Gal Hakak, UW’s 22-year-old Soldier-Freshman

Release: 01/22/2014

After three years in the Israel Defense Forces and a childhood spent dodging rocket attacks, the son of an architect and lawyer outside Tel Aviv has shoulders, wit and a sense of place larger than most seniors. Or graduates.

By Gregg Bell
UW Director of Writing

SEATTLE – Gal Hakak has pride. He has something of an edge.

He also has a background and maturity unlike any in the last decade of Husky athletics.

The freshman tennis player, already among the top three in Washington’s lineup, angrily flung his racquet into his bag Tuesday night. It was immediately after a flurry of service errors had led to the first loss of his dual-match college career, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6 to accomplished Pepperdine senior Francis Alcantara.

“I don’t like to lose,” he said flatly inside the Nordstrom Tennis Center about a half hour after UW (2-1) lost its first dual match this season.

The outburst was a spur-of-the-moment reaction. You see, Gal Hakak has experiences that put losing a tennis match into its proper perspective.

Hakak is a 22-year-old freshman. He has shoulders, wit and a sense of place larger than those of most seniors. Or graduates.

He’s scrambled underground on 10 seconds of notice to dodge incoming rockets. He’s served three years as a soldier in one of the most dangerous, deadly regions in the world.

He has learned counter-terrorism measures, how to apply deadly force. His hands are weapons far more lethal than for their ability to hit blistering first serves or baseline returns.

Hakak didn’t grow up like Huskies senior captain Max Manthou, who was playing on the adjoining court inside the Nordstrom Tennis Center while Hakak finished his match Tuesday. He didn’t grow up like Keith Price. Or like C.J. Wilcox, Jazmine Davis or any other of the approximately 700 Husky student-athletes.

Hakak grew up in Israel. The democracy is also one of the world’s approximately 30 nations that require each teenage male to serve more than 18 months in the military.

In his country all men must serve three years in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF); women are required to serve two years. The IDF is the backbone of Israel’s security against the constant threat of attacks from neighboring Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip and throughout the Middle East, which has been rocked by wars and bloodshed since well before World War I began in 1914.

“Not many of our guys have been holding the weapons that Gal is used to holding,” Huskies tennis coach Matt Anger deadpanned. SEE REST OF ARTICLE