Brits bowled over at annual Israel tour

Maccabi GB’s lawn bowlers returned from Israel having enjoyed their most successful ever tour.

Despite the ongoing troubles in Israel, the 2015 tour included 47 bowlers and 19 supporters, who played matches in all six of Israel’s bowls clubs – Ramat Gan, Ra’anana, Kiryat Ono, Savyon, Netanya and Haifa. The delegation were also guests at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, the Israel Tennis Centre in Jaffa that works with disadvantaged Israeli and Arab children, an IDF Fire Fighting Base and Emunah’s Sarah Herzog Children’s Centre in Afula where the children entertained the group with a specially prepared show.

Away from the bowling, there was something for everyone to enjoy, with belly dancing, cookery workshops and a bridge tournament on offer, while the group also enjoyed Saturday night at a karaoke restaurant. Special tour awards were presented to Angela Feuer, David Jessener, Laurence Pinkus, Ruth Harris and David Stockman for their contribution towards the success of the tour.

Stuart Lustigman, a Maccabi GB Vice-President, who first initiated the bowls tours in 2011 said: “I can’t believe that since our first visit in 2011, some 275 people have participated in these tours. I am particularly proud of this group as not one person withdrew from the tour because of the current problems. Although this was probably our most successful tour in terms of results, we were just delighted to demonstrate our support for the Jewish State.”