After weeks of rain, the sun shone on the uneven and overgrown plot of land in central Bet Shemesh for the groundbreaking of the first baseball facility that Israel Baseball will build in Israel. Unrecognizable right now, thanks to the long-time efforts of the Bet Shemesh Baseball Amuta, the Israel Association of Baseball and JNF Project Baseball, this area will soon be home to a baseball facility that will include a regulation-sized baseball field, and two smaller fields for youth baseball, batting cages, dugouts, lights and stands.

On hand to break ground on Friday, January 6, were the ten visiting players from Major League baseball, who were on a 6-day trip to Israel ahead of their appearance in Team Israel at the World Baseball Classic on March in South Korea. The players were eagerly awaited by hundreds of young baseball playing fans who turned out for the groundbreaking, and also certainly to get a glimpse of their baseball idols in the flesh in their home town.

Officiating at the ceremony were Bet Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbol, Deputy Mayor Meyer Balayish, JNF Chief Israel Officer Eric Michaleson, IAB President Peter Kurz, and Head of the Bet Shemesh Baseball Amuta and IAB Vice President Jordy Alter.

After attending a game three years ago at Kibbutz Gezer, Mayor Abutbol became excited about the sport for the first time and gave the project his support. At the ceremony, he told the crowds that he has learned that, “baseball teaches us many good things, how to behave in life, and in political life as well. You have to work as a group in the team…in this city we need this unity.”

IAB’s Kurz said, “We want Bet Shemesh to be one of our most important centers, and looking at the crowd here, we can do it. I hope that in the future, Bet Shemesh will be the Dominican Republic of Israel baseball.”

“Baseball provides children in Israel with an opportunity to learn life lessons while building lasting friendships,” said the JNF’s Michaelson. “This initiative gives children who’ve made Aliyah a taste of home and provides a tool that will help them bond with their Israeli peers. The JNF is working to build this facility in Bet Shemesh as well as in regions across the country.”

Alter has worked ceaselessly for years to make this a reality, along with the other members of his amuta, and members of the IAB. “The dream is here,” he exclaimed. “We’re standing right now over the batting cages. We will be able to have 60-70 kids playing at one time when this complex is realized. There is a strong opportunity for us to pull together in Bet Shemesh – ultra-Orthodox, modern religious, secular Jews will all come together to play baseball here. This is an important bridge for the Land of Israel and for Bet Shemesh. This project,” he added, “would not have proceeded without the vision of the IAB – past president of the IAB Haim Katz and present president Peter Kurz.”   

Visiting Team Israel player Cody Decker spoke on behalf of all the players. “I can’t wait for you guys to have a complex that is befitting of this beautiful country,” he said, addressing the hundreds of kids, waiting to get autographs and meet the players.

Ike Davis and Josh Zeid joined the JNF’s Michaelson, Mayor Abutbol and other dignitaries in breaking the ground. The mayor buried a baseball in the ground on which the complex will be built, possibly foreseeing the need for a spare ball sometime in the future when balls will be flying and Bet Shemesh players will be enjoying their new complex.

Thanks to all who have worked tirelessly to make this dream come true. 

Jordy Alter, Head of the Bet Shemesh Baseball Amuta addressing the crown	Bet Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbol with visiting  players and dignitaries