Mayor Ed Lee opened the clinic, signifying the importance of the initiative to the city of San Francisco, and the San Francisco-Haifa Sister City relationship. Mayor Lee praised the ‘international event’ in the diverse city of San Francisco, paying tribute to the power of sport to engage the younger generation, but also emphasizing that ‘the world beings with friendship and understanding’.
The event was also attended by the Consul General and Deputy Consul General of the Israeli Consulate to the Pacific Northwest, Jennifer Gorovitz (Jewish Community Federation CEO) and Phil Ginsburg (General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation & Parks department). Jennifer Gorovitz marked the similarities between Haifa and San Francisco, two cities with ‘beautiful hills, beautiful views and beautiful ocean’.
The basketball clinic was in support of Haifa Hoops for Kids, a joint initiative between Maccabi Haifa and United Jewish Communities of Metrowest New Jersey. The scheme has brought over 11,000 underprivileged and special needs children in northern Israel to Maccabi Bazan Haifa home games to experience a night of fun with some of Europe’s leading basketball stars.
On October 11th at 7:30pm, Maccabi Haifa will play against the Golden State Warriors at the Oakland Arena, in what promises to be a scintillating international encounter.
Following the game, Maccabi Haifa players will join a Q&A at the Oracle Arena.