From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
14 Jewish athletes inducted into International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
Israeli tennis player Shahar Pe’er and basketball star Amar’e Stoudemire are among the 14 Jewish athletes being inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame was founded in 1981 to honor Jewish athletes and sports heroes throughout the world. In light of the global rise of antisemitism following October 7, 2023, it has expanded its online presence to promote understanding, pride, and tolerance through the universal language of sports, the organization says in a statement.
The new inductees will join some 500 other Jewish athletes, including 40 Israelis.
The 2025 inductees include:
Amar’e Stoudemire, the National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year in 2003, who played in six NBA All-Star games and was named to All-NBA teams five times. He was on the US 2004 Olympic team that won a bronze medal and later played on championship teams in Israel for both Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He formally converted to Judaism and adopted the name Yahoshafat Ben Avraham in 2020.
Shahar Pe’er, who represented Israel in two Olympics and won five singles and three doubles titles on the World Tennis Association Tour. She reached her peak with a World No. 11 ranking in 2011.
Abraham Kurland, a champion Greco-Roman wrestler in the 1930s and 1940s. He was favored to win the gold medal in the 1936 Olympics, but refused to participate because of their location in Nazi Germany.
Gary Jacobs, arguably the greatest Jewish boxer of the past half-century, according to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He won the European, Commonwealth and British championships in the 1980s and 1990s.
We're proud to announce the 2025 Class of Inductees into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame! ???? ????These remarkable individuals have made history with their unparalleled achievements in sports and media, inspiring generations with their dedication, resilience, and excellence.Follow along to honoring their legacy and celebrate their incredible contributions to the global sports community. Stay tuned for more highlights and profiles coming your way!Learn more ➡️ https://jewishsportshof.org/
Posted by International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Hanoch Budin, who won eight medals representing Israel at six Paralympics between 1984 and 2004, setting two world records along the way.
Israel’s Oren Smadja, who won Olympic bronze medals for Israel as a judoka athlete in 1992 and as Ori Sasson’s judoka coach in 2016.
Andres Cantor, an Argentine broadcaster, famous for bellowing “Goooooooooooal” in soccer matches. He won six Emmy Awards and covered many World Cups and Olympic Games for Telemundo and Universo.
