By Jacob Gurvis
Last year, basketball player Jared Armstrong made international headlines for his months-long effort to obtain Israeli citizenship. A native of Anne Arundel County’s Severn community, Armstrong — who was raised Jewish and completed a Conservative conversion to help his citizenship bid — was rejected multiple times before being granted temporary residence last May.
The case drew attention from prominent Jewish leaders and drew accusations of racism. It also cost Armstrong, 27, a spot on Hapoel Haifa, a team in Israel’s top basketball league, he said. The team voided his contract because he didn’t receive citizenship in time.
But last weekend, before returning to play hoops in Israel’s second-tier league, Armstrong put aside all of that drama to focus on something else he is passionate about: strengthening the relationship between the Jewish and Black communities.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, Armstrong ran and hosted a free basketball clinic for sixth, seventh and eighth graders in Philadelphia. He plans to start a two-week summer camp next year to continue this work.
“With a rich history of Black and Jewish relations, and kind of where we’re at in society, it’s only right that we come closer together,” said Armstrong. “I thought it would be great to do that starting from the youngest age and up.”
Last year, the controversies and accusations of antisemitism surrounding rapper Kanye West and NBA star Kyrie Irving led to increased calls for collaboration between the Black and Jewish communities, from members of Congress to other prominent sports leaders like New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Armstrong said 28 kids signed up for his clinic, including both Jewish and Black athletes, with some attendees coming in from as far as Connecticut. His goal is to use sports as a vehicle for combating antisemitism and racism, and he hopes that as many as 80 sign up for a camp next year.
“I think at a young age, most kids have a passion for something they love,” Armstrong said. “Sports are normally the first thing they fall in love with, and it’s a great way to build community, build lifelong relationships and learn a lot of life lessons.”
Last weekend’s participants heard from Owings Mills resident Eric Rubin, a veteran financial executive who is involved in several Jewish organizations aimed at using sports to combat hate.
Rubin is the managing director of Project Max, a collaboration between the Maccabi World Union sports umbrella and the Israeli AI company Sighteer. Its mission is to “fight racism, antisemitism, and intolerance through sports.” Armstrong sits on the group’s advisory board. Rubin is also a board member of Athletes for Israel, the organization that has organized Israel trips for a number of top U.S. collegiate basketball teams.
Rubin spoke to the participants about the importance of community and coexisting with others. Attendees also met American former professional basketball player Bilal Benn, who has played in Israel.
Growing up in Severn before moving to Philadelphia during middle school, Armstrong was raised Jewish by a mother whose conversion is not recognized by any of the major Jewish denominations. His own conversion was overseen by Rabbi Michael S. Beals, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom in Wilmington, Delaware, known for his close relationship with U.S. President Joe Biden.
A 1997 graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Beals has said that Israel’s rejection of Armstrong’s citizenship application was an “insult to the Conservative movement,” whose rabbis have struggled for recognition in a state where religious affairs are dominated by Orthodox rabbis.
At the same time Armstrong’s case was denied by Israel’s Interior Ministry last year, Portuguese soccer player Miguel Vitor was granted citizenship to play soccer in Israel. Israeli media questioned why Vitor received preferential treatment while Armstrong saw his case drag on with no resolution.
At the end of the month, Armstrong, who played Division II basketball at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, is headed back to Israel to join Elitzur Ironi Ashkelon, a team in Liga Leumit, or National League, Israel’s second tier of professional basketball. Last year, he ultimately played for Maccabi Rishon LeZion, which is also in Liga Leumit. The season begins in October.
“I have lifelong friends that I’ve made in Israel, not only through my case, but outside of my case and through playing basketball,” Armstrong said. “I love the country as a whole. I love being there. I love the experience. It’s my second home.”
Armstrong said he hasn’t faced any racism in Israel, but rather what he called ignorance from those who question his Jewishness based on the color of his skin.
“I think there’s just a lack of information that I see not only Israel, [but] in the American community as well,” Armstrong said. “That needs to change.”
Rabbi Beals said he and Armstrong are still in touch throughout the year, especially when Armstrong is in the U.S.
“I only have great things to say about Jared Armstrong — his persistence, his vision, his ability to turn lemonade from lemons,” he said.
Rabbi Beals praised Armstrong for staying the course through his citizenship fight. “Other people would’ve given up, but he had a bigger picture of what he wanted to achieve,” he said. “He really personifies everything I would hope for in a human being.”
Jacob Gurvis is the audience engagement editor for the JTA global Jewish news source.
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