Daniel Klosk of New York City, combined his love of basketball and Israel, and decided to donate all of his Bar Mitzvah gifts towards a basketball project for kids his age in Israel. The wonderful project came to our attention from the “Give a Mitzvah–Do a Mitzvah” program of the UJA-Federation of New York.
The Klosk family along with 40 other New Yorkers flew to Israel this past December where they attended a dedication ceremony for the new basketball court. The court was built in the “Yud Alef” neighborhood of Beersheba, a neighborhood that is mainly home to immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union.
The new basketball court will offer free lessons by seasoned basketball coaches twice a week to the neighborhood kids and new basketball team uniforms
Asked why he wanted to donate all of his money Daniel said, “I thought it’s important to give the kids in the neighborhood not only a new basketball court, but also the opportunity to enjoy the experience of learning and playing competitively on a real basketball team, with a real basketball coach, and to give them the same kind of opportunity that was given to me.” Klosk continues, “I hope that this basketball training will give the kids the inspiration, ability, and motivation to successfully overcome their daily challenges.”
Daniel is a major basketball lover, and today he plays for New Renaissance, a nationally ranked team of the Amateur Athletic Union in New York. Last August, he won the title of Most Valuable Player of the 6th-Grade Game at the J.E.M. All Star Classic. He also plays on the New Renaissance Team of New York, a nationally ranked Division One team of the American Athletic Union.
“The Give a Mitzvah–Do a Mitzvah program of the UJA-Federation of New York enables Bar and Bat Mitzvah students to create their own unique Mitzvah project that connects their interests and hobbies,” said Sheila Devore, the Director of the Center for Youth Philanthropy and Leadership at UJA-Federation.
