Dear Melissa,
When the Astros won the World Series, the entire city of Houston rejoiced, and we are still rejoicing! The truth is that few things can unite a community more than a victorious sports team, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the Astros gave the city of Houston something to cheer about.
In a very similar way, the entire State of Israel was united in 1977 when the frequently defeated Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv was victorious over the heavily favored Moscow team for the European Cup basketball title. This victory (which took place during height of the Cold War and in the lingering aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics, when eleven Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists) literally put Israel on the map. It showed Europe and the rest of the world that Israel was a contender, and it would not be pushed around by superpowers or terrorist organizations.
This underdog story is the topic of a powerful documentary called, On the Map. The film is filled with suspense, momentum, and an emotional twist that pulls the audience in from the start.
If you enjoyed rooting for the Astros this year, you will really enjoy this movie! A video preview of On The Map can be found here.
Join us this Sunday at HCRJ at 2:00 for the screening of On The Map. There is no cost to attend, donations are appreciated.
L’Shalom,
Steve