Jewish football player looking for love
After making aliyah, college football player Gideon Reiz, 23, is all too happy to get chance to represent country he loves playing sport he loves.
Reiz is a Jewish-American football player, and was among 62 other Jews making aliyah on a flight organized by Nefesh B'Nefesh, along with The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, The Jewish Agency, and the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) organization.
After four years (2010-2014) playing as a starting tight-end for the Oberlin College football team in Ohio, Reese came to Israel to play for the Judean Rebels football team, representing Gush Etzion in the IFL – the Israel Football League that features nine teams and over 500 players all across the country.
In his first season in the league, Reiz set records for most receptions and most yards received in a single game, as well as yards received and touchdowns received in a single season. He also took part in winning the Israel Bowl (the IFL Superbowl) with his team, the Judean Rebels (it was the clubs' second championship). After a perfect season and a championship, Gideon planned on returning to the United States, but then he got the phone call that changed his life: he was asked to don the blue-white uniform of the Israeli national American football team.
He decided to make aliyah, became an Israeli citizen, and will even represent Israel in the European Championship of American Football qualifying round games that will take place next month. Gideon plans on making his living by working as an instructor for Jewish-American youth groups spending a year in Israel following their high school graduation, and will also do construction work. In between, he'll live in a Tel Aviv bachelor pad and try and find an Israeli bride.
"As someone who grew up with Zionist values, I've always wanted and planned to make aliyah. But when I came to Israel to play football, I never imagined I'd end up with an Israeli passport in my hand", said Reiz. "When I joined the Judean Rebels at the start of the season, no one greeted me by saying 'Welcome to the Rebels', they said 'Welcome to the family'.
"To be honest, I thought it was just a weird thing, but with time these guys became more than just a team, they became my family in Israel. We started hanging out a lot outside the football field on nights and weekends, ate Shabbat dinners together, and they even started looking for a girl for me."
He went on to say: "When I got the call to join the national team, it wasn't an easy decision. I thought about it a lot, and thanks to the support of my family in the United States and my new family in Israel, I decided that there's nothing better than playing the sport I love and representing the country I love."
"In many people's eyes, making aliyah to Israel is the ultimate realization of the Zionist dream. What Gideon Reiz id was take that dream one step further", explained Nefesh B'nefesh senior director of operations Zev Gershinsky.
"Gideon isn't just choosing to play the sport he loves in the country he loves, he's also going to represent Israel on the biggest international stages that exist. Athletes like Gideon are an example of the significant contribution by North American Olim to Israel, not just in social and economic areas, but in international sports as well".
