Long after all the medals are distributed at the Summer Olympics now underway in London, the Jewish community there will proudly remember the role played by Efrayim Goldstein, a Chassidic Jew. Goldstein was chosen as one of 187 carriers of the Olympic torch as it made its way to the Olympic Stadium.
As Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu reported in Israel National News,
Chassidic London Jew Ephraim Goldstein carried the Olympic torch Monday. He has worked with seven charities and runs a soup kitchen.
Many members of the London Jewish community turned out in the early morning to watch Goldstein carry the Olympic Torch for 330 meters, approximately 1080 feet, in southeast London.
The British Jewish Defense League website described Goldstein as being so excited he felt like was in “flames.”
He is 22 years old, and has started up and worked with charities since the age of 16, including the London Shomrim organization, which has 300 volunteers.
The League noted he carried the torch in memory of the 11 Israelis who were massacred in the Munich Olympics in 1972. The International Olympics Committee, which includes more than 40 Muslim representatives, has refused to allow the opening ceremony next week to include a one-minute silence in memory of the murdered athletes.
Goldstein told the League, “He told us he wanted people to know that he wanted to pay homage to the 11 Israelis that were murdered by the Palestinian terrorists during the Munich games in 1972, so we designed a banner to express his wishes.”
“It’s an honor and a privilege to carry the torch,” Goldstein said. “It’s a unique opportunity in life and I’m very happy to be part of it.”
This video follows Goldstein as he travels by bus to the starting point of his run, the lighting of the torch, and his run for almost a quarter of a mile until he hands off the flame to the next runner. Enjoy!
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(A tip of the kippah to Sheila Zucker for bringing this story to our attention.)
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A wonderful moment for the Jewish communtity. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't see where humor comes into it.
ReplyDeleteNot everything we post is humor. As we say on the masthead,
Delete"Jewish Humor Central is a blog to start your day with news of the Jewish world that's likely to produce a knowing smile and some Yiddishe nachas. It's also a collection of sources of Jewish humor."
This is a formula that seems to be working and that resonates with most of our subscribers. We are reminded of the famous line from "Forrest Gump": "Life (in this case, Jewish Humor Central) is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get.)"
We welcome your comments to validate or differ with this approach.
As always, enjoy...
What a creative and thoughtful to bring a piece of Yiddishkeit into our overcrowded and busy lives. Thank you, Mr. K, have many blessings and did you hear the one about the 96-year old nonagenarian who asked his 95-year old wife if she would enjoy going upstairs and having sex with him...she said she would love it but to pick one, she can't do both....Enjoy!!! A sweet "mature" Jewish lady.
DeleteWe Jews are less than a tenth of a percent of the world's population. Yet, we have earned over 25% of the Nobel prizes and are known and respected for our work in medicine, science, entertainment, and yes humor. The problem is that we have forgotten why we have these abilities and we have forgotten HE who has given them to us.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great way to start a day, about a Jew who unselfishly gives of himself, given an honor, and chooses instead to use the opportunity to remember those who were massacred in Munich.
A great way to start a day.
An Orthodox Jew carrying the torch...This is good and well in another circumstance, but, why must we contribute to this Olympics whose management flatly REFUSED TO GIVE ONE MINUTE SILENCE FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF ISRAELI ATHLETES in 1972??? Just my 2¢. :) Adela
ReplyDelete