The trend has swept the globe, with ninja warrior-inspired courses popping up in parks and community centers for both kids and adults. But for Haredi children – many of whom spend most of their days studiously pouring over holy texts – the idea of participating in this kind of activity is novel.
That is why I decided to open up my very own sport studio in my neighborhood of Givat Ze'ev in Jerusalem. Our studio provides children with self-discipline, self-esteem, and self-awareness. It also reinforces Haredi youths' athletic skills and builds muscle tone and coordination – making them both strong in mind and spirit.
As a Haredi woman, my life was not always one of devout belief. I saw the world of sports from a secular viewpoint. I was enrolled in dance classes three times a week; studied ballet, aerobics, and step; and eventually went on to become a trainer. Although my religious beliefs and lifestyle have changed, my passion for sports has never wavered.
In the Haredi community, those who participate in such physical activities are experiencing something they've never seen before and, for the first time, taking ownership of their bodies. There's nothing more heartbreaking to see a teenager be weak, devoid of joy, and squander their youth without knowing the wonderful things their body can and wants to do.
Every time I see a child complete an obstacle course or beat their personal record, I see the glimmer of triumph in their eyes and they learn the most important lesson of all – that anything is possible if they push themselves. My studio caters Haredi children from age four to adults and offers gymnastics, challenging sports for girls and ninja warrior classes for boys. They come in after a long day of school in which the breaks are few and far between. Naturally, their growing bodies have a lot of pent-up energy. They come to us happy to let off some steam and learn the amazing things their bodies can do.
The studio also becomes a community where the girls engage in a variety of activities that go beyond the physical.
We can, and hope, to do more. But in order to grow, we need more equipment and to expand the studio itself. Still paying off the initial loan that I took out to open the studio, I felt as if we'd be stuck in this current position for the foreseeable future. Then I heard about SparkIL, the first peer-to-peer lending platform for supporting Israeli small businesses.
Together with The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Ogen Group, SparkIL helps give people like me – fledgling business owners with a dream, but not quite enough capital to fully let that dream thrive – interest-free loans. As such, I applied and was approved to launch my campaign for $15,000 which will take my studio to the next level.
It's thrilling to know that Jews and non-Jews alike from around the world are investing and supporting us from thousands of miles away. We look forward to building a connection with them as we repay their loan and hope they will continue to pay it forward by relending the money to another Israeli small business.
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