Pure Israel: A Generous Act

Proverbs 14:31 says, “He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker; but he that honors Him has mercy on the poor.” A living illustration of this passage occurred recently at the World Championship Lacrosse Competition for the under-19 in Peterborough, Ontario. The Israeli girls team played the girls team from Kenya. The Kenyan team played at a severe disadvantage, however, as they had no cleats. Ashlee Aitken, Kenyan Liaison for the Kenyan team in Canada said, “The shoes that were ordered and sent to Canada were the wrong size so they had no cleats to play.”

After winning their match with Kenya 13-4, the girls approached their coach and parents along with the Kenyan coach, and they requested to buy the Kenyan team their needed shoes. After approving their request, a local shoe store filled the order.

The next day the Kenyan coach brought his team to watch the Israel-Belgium game. “When the game ended the Israeli girls sprang into action and presented the Kenyan team with the shoes.” The tweet from the Kenyan team said, “Yesterday, we played @Israel_Lacrosse and had no cleats…after supporting their game today, Israel surprised the whole team on the sideline with new cleats.”

The new cleats evened the competition for the Kenyans as they defeated Belgium 16-9, and in a rematch narrowly lost to Israel 11-10.

The Israeli girls team demonstrated more than just good sportsmanship, or even fair play. They demonstrated generosity in aiding the Kenyan team. In the words of Proverbs 14:31, they showed mercy on the poor, on the team from Kenya. They gave from their hearts to meet a need. Well done ladies!

(Source: Staff of The Times of Israel)