INDIANAPOLIS - Israeli and Hungarian young adults who are visiting Indianapolis in November will soon be able to take home a little bit of American sports ability.

In addition to participating in young adult-focused activities, several visitors will draw their paddles and learn how to play pickleball during the open play session at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, at the Jewish Community Center (6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis).

”I visited Israel in April 2018 as part of the Partnership2Gether program and in thinking about hosting a delegation here, I wanted to introduce them to what is uniquely American. Pickleball seemed like a great fit,” said Elan Daniel, chair of the regional Partnership2Gether program and organizer of the visit. “It’s one of the fastest-growing league activities at the J and it’s easy to learn for all levels of ability.”

Pickleball is a paddle sport for 2-4 players that combines elements of tennis and ping pong, using an oversized ping pong paddle and wiffle ball played over a net. Visitors will be taught by Mindy Simon, USAPA and PPR Professional Certified Pickleball Instructor and member of Pickleball Coaching International.

 “What a great opportunity for all of us to introduce the sport of pickleball to our visiting JCC family! Very exciting for everyone and for pickleball,” Simon said.

The delegation is from the Partnership2Gether WesternGalilee. Partnership2Gether is an inclusive and active network of people from the U.S., Israel and Jews in countries overseas that is focused on the exchange of ideas and programs with the goal of developing relationships to strengthen Jewish identity across the globe. P2G communities of Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown, Ohio; Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Northwest Indiana, and South Bend, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Des Moines, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, Texas are linked with Budapest, Hungary and the Akko and Matte Asher Regional Council in the Western Galilee.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis and its constituent agencies are hosting the visitors from Hungary and Israel from Nov. 17-19 to connect and build camaraderie for collaboration between future Jewish leaders in Indianapolis with young adult leaders in the Western Galilee Partnership region.

“Every year we send members of the Indianapolis community to experience Jewish culture overseas,” said Michelle Korin, U.S. Partnership Co-Chair for Partnership2Gether Western Galilee. “We’re thrilled to be host and showing off Indianapolis as an example of American Jewish community.”

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**The JCC will have photo opportunities for media from 1-2 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 18. Interviews with visitors can be arranged before, during or after their visit.

Media Contact

Andrea Hirsch

Communications Manager

317-417-2609

ahirsch@jfgi.org