Huffington Post blogger Arsen Ostrovsky reports six-time NBA All-Star and NY Knicks player Amar’e Stoudemire is currently in Israel, where he is the assistant coach for the Canadian basketball team playing in the Maccabiah Games, also known as the ‘Jewish Olympics’, the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition. Asked what draws him to the Holy Land, Stoudemire said “it’s a great honour to be here. Israel is a beautiful country,” adding that visits like these allow him to “be a role model for children in Israel.” Stoudemire recently became part owner in local basketball team Hapoel Jerusalem, cementing his already close ties to Israel, even further.

HRC wishes good luck to the 9000 athletes competing at the Maccabiah games!