Captain of Israel's ice hockey team Eliezer Sherbatov found himself in the hot seat this week after news that he had signed a contract to play with Poland's Oswiecim hockey team, making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Oswiecim is the Polish name for Auschwitz – the seat of the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp where the Nazis murdered nearly 1 million Jews during the Holocaust.
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Sherbatov, 28, signed with the team last week, telling local media that he "felt welcomed" by his new teammates and was not concerned about hockey fans potentially hurling anti-Semitic slurs at him.
"People here in Poland are happy that a Jew from Israel came to play for Auschwitz," he said. "I am happy to make this history, and of course want to help everyone remember the Holocaust."
Sherbatov stressed that he was motivated to help the team succeed precisely because of the dark history that unfolded a stone's throw away from the team's home rink.
"I have a great deal of motivation because it is Auschwitz," Sherbatov said. "I want to win the championship, the Polish Cup and the continental title, and then everyone will know the one who did this is an Israeli Jew."
Rabbi Elchanan Poupko, president of EITAN – The American Israeli Jewish Network, called the move "a betrayal of the Jewish people."
Never thought I would have to say this:
For a #Jew to play for team #Auschwitz is treason, a betrayal of the #Jewish people, and a shameful stab in the back for millions.
There are lots of hockey teams out there, @Sherbatov1 , find another one. https://t.co/KorLyQJG2w
— Rabbi E. Poupko- WEAR A MASK (@RabbiPoupko) August 10, 2020
"Never thought I would have to say this: For a Jew to play for team Auschwitz is treason, a betrayal of the Jewish people, and a shameful stab in the back for millions," he tweeted, adding,
There are lots of hockey teams out there – find another one."
Sherbatov tweeted in reply, "Yes I had other opportunities. But if you can't see that this is bigger than me and you, then I am disappointed. My goal is to lift the cup so people can cheer a Jewish hockey player. That's what I call, creating a new history for us Jews!"
Yes I had other opportunities. But if you can't see that this is bigger than me and you, then I am disappointed.
My goal is to lift the cup so people can cheer a Jewish hockey player.
That's what I call, creating a new history for us Jews!#hockey #jew #israel #poland #Auschwitz https://t.co/Pl7N2QLQD3— Eliezer Sherbatov (@Sherbatov1) August 10, 2020
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