Dallas, TX
Dallas Jewish community is contributing to healing after Oct. 7
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/4YLP456UDI4FYK66F2SZZYK3XY.jpg?ssl=1 "Dallas Jewish community is contributing to healing after Oct. 7")
Last month, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas invited nearly 50 leaders from the Dallas Jewish and Christian communities to travel to Israel to bear witness, speak with survivors and family members of hostages, and console a grieving nation. It was a powerful and riveting experience, in large part because of the already-close bonds that are shared between Dallas and Israel.
Some in our group arrived early or stayed late to spend time visiting family. For those of us with loved ones in and personal connections with Israel, the war with Hamas is not a remote conflict happening halfway around the world, but a real-time, daily trauma.
During our mission, we visited Mount Herzl, Israel’s version of Arlington National Cemetery. We moved somberly among the graves, noting men and women who died on Oct. 7, and in the days since, as recently as the week before.
We passed the grave of Ben Zussman, whose mother spoke to us on our first night in Jerusalem, and the final resting place of Aner Shapira, a young man who heroically sacrificed his life by tossing multiple Hamas-launched grenades out of the shelter that he and others crammed into, seeking safety from the terrorist onslaught. We gathered together to pay our respects to Binyamin Meir Airley, whose grandparents are beloved members of the Dallas Jewish community.
Connections between Dallas and Israel are myriad. Each week, many Dallasites participate in what has become a walk to amplify the plight of the 134 Jews, Christians and Muslims, many of whom are American citizens, still held captive in tunnels and parts unknown in Gaza.
Over dinner in Jerusalem one night, we were joined by native Dallasite Josh Lynn, a product of Dallas Jewish institutions Temple Emanu-el and Akiba Yavneh Academy. Later this spring, he will visit Dallas to amplify the close connections between Israeli and diaspora Jewry. He is one of several Dallasites who have proudly served the Jewish state.
For 25 years, the Jewish community of Dallas has grown a partnership with Western Galilee, including the cities of Nahariya and Akko. The latter is known for its important history as a city where Jewish and Arab citizens live together peacefully.
Our Jewish Federation has proudly supported initiatives that have improved lives for thousands of residents of the region, of all backgrounds. Notably, Western Galilee Medical Center, supported by the Dallas Jewish community, played a pivotal role in treating Syrian civilians affected by civil war across Israel’s northern border. It is now preparing its underground emergency rooms for Hezbollah attacks on Israeli cities in the region.
Using models established through this long-term partnership, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas has initiated a similar relationship with one of the kibbutzim devastated by the acts of terrorism perpetrated on Oct. 7.
The community of Zikim was targeted that morning by Hamas, with terrorists storming the beach from speed boats. Over an evening discussion with a young mother and her pre-teen daughter, we learned that, were it not for pollution that had made the beach uninhabitable, many of the kibbutzniks would have been celebrating the Simchat Torah holiday by camping on the beach. They would have certainly been slaughtered or kidnapped in staggering numbers.
For the next several years, through funding, resources, and personal connections, these partnerships will rebuild infrastructure, mend social bonds, and foster lasting connections. An early challenge will be to help community members achieve sufficient degrees of psychological safety needed to enable families to return home, even as they are quickly losing patience with displacement. However, despite all these challenges, hope shines through as the community looks toward rebuilding and restoring normalcy.
As this partnership continues to grow over the years, so will the relationships between the people of Dallas and Zikim. These connections create a sense of shared experience, allow pathways for empathy and assistance, and afford Dallas the opportunity to help heal a traumatized community.
Igor Alterman is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. Joel Schwitzer is regional director for American Jewish Committee Dallas.
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The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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For a moment, it looked like FC Dallas was on its way to another statement win at home tonight.
Petar Musa scored two first half goals, to extend his Golden Boot leading tally to nine goals. But after Dallas grabbed control, the Galaxy found a way back before halftime with goals from Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil.
The second half brought more chances and more frustration for Dallas, which finished the night with 13 shots to LA’s nine. In the end, the point stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to five games, though just like last week, it felt like another match where Dallas left points on the table.
Key Moments
7’ – GOAL! After a poor pass back by a LA defender, Petar Musa was free to go one-on-one with the LA goalkeeper. After a touch to get ahead of a defender, Musa slotted home his eighth goal of the season from outside the penalty box.
21’ – Offside! Joaquin Valiente sent a floating ball over the Galaxy defense, where Musa was able to get behind the defense and make an easy play for what appeared to be his second goal of the night. The play was called offside despite a fairly lengthy review period.
38’ – GOAL! This one counts! Musa gets his second of the night off a great ball from Chris Cappis. Logan Farrington picked off the ball in the midfield. He then played Cappis wide to the left of the penalty area. Cappis immediately played a ball back across the goal for Musa to slide in and finish for his ninth of the season.
43’ – Goal LA. Lucas Sanabria got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He took a couple of touches to get outside the penalty box before firing a shot that beat Michael Collodi at the near post.
45+4’ – Goal LA. Gabriel Pec got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back a bit, which caught a pair of Dallas defenders. This allowed Joseph Painstil to get free behind the Dallas defense as Pec played him through inside the penalty area. Pec immediately smashed home a shot above Collodi to tie the game.
75’ – Another offside goal. This time on a corner kick for Dallas, after a scrum in the penalty box, Kaick hammered home what looked to be the go-ahead goal. But after a few seconds the flag was raised due to a deflection on Osaze Urhoghide, who was in an offside position.
Instant Reaction
Yeah, this is another disappointing result for this team. In a real way, it felt like the first half against Houston from last month. Dallas grabbed the lead, looked in control, but some defensive miscues opened the game up for the visitors to climb back.
With a double-game week coming up, this will certainly be another game where Dallas will wonder ‘what if’ more than anything else…especially when you factor in the two goals called off for offside.
About the Subs
Eric Quill went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, as he brought on Santiago Moreno for Logan Farrington. Quill went to his bench again 81st minute with Ran Binyamin and Nolan Norris coming on for Sebastien Ibeagha and Deedson. The final sub came during stoppage time with Herman Johansson and Joaquin Valiente coming off for Sam Sarver and rookie Nick Simmonds, who made his MLS debut.
Man of the Match
No question about it tonight, it has to be Musa.
Where does this fit into the season
As of this writing, the draw puts Dallas into a three-way tie for 5th place with Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Both are in action right now and look firmly in control of their games. I’d expect Dallas to be in 7th place by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas
Dallas wraps up a three-game homestand next Wednesday night as they host Minnesota United.
Dallas, TX
Akheem Mesidor selected by Cowboys by Blogging The Boys in SB Nation’s community mock draft
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Pass rush has been an issue since the Micah Parsons trade. The Rashan Gary trade helped, but Dallas still needs an injection of talent. Akheem Mesidor fits here because his body size allows for some versatility inside and out, something DC Christian Parker utilizes. Mesidor is also a high-motor player with a deep bag of pass rush moves.
His last season at Miami was full of disruption in the offensive backfield and he shows an all-around game, not just a bend-around-the-edge pass rusher. Yes, he’s a little older than you’d like in a rookie (25), but his motor, pass rush toolbox, and ability to play the run matches up with a need and makes him a quality pick at number 20.
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