Israeli NBA basketballer Omri Casspi is having a standout year with the ball.
https://youtu.be/YZiKsaBG-FI
But what makes him an even better role model for Israeli and Jews everywhere is this:
“It’s hard having my family so close to the border, in the line of fire, we call it,” Casspi told SI.com. “It’s really hard to focus.”
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“Every time there’s stuff going on in Gaza, my family feels it because it’s right around the corner,” Casspi said.
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He’s used his global platform as a springboard to advocate for his country, an opportunity he wasn’t afforded before reaching the NBA.
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Life in the NBA opened a door he never imagined. “I feel like people want to know more,” Casspi said. “A lot of players in the Association are always asking, ‘What’s going on?’ ‘What do you think?’ ‘When’s it going to end?’ ‘What’s the solution?’ ‘How can you live like this?’”
Casspi decided to show them, first hand, this summer, escorting fellow Kings players DeMarcus Cousins and Caron Butler, as well as former teammatesChandler Parsons, Tyreke Evans, Iman Shumpert, Alan Anderson and Roger Mason to Israel for one week.
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“I’m in the unique position to show my best friends, it’s the only country in all of the Middle East that you can be free religion. You can practice Islam, you can practice Christianity, you can be Jewish,” Casspi said. “Which is remarkable in that region.”
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“He’s very proud of where he comes from,” Parsons said. “He served over there (in the Israel Defense Forces), his sister served, his dad served, his brother is still in [the reserves.]”
Read the whole thing.
More on mensch Casspi here.
