For my upcoming Bar Mitzvah in Israel (6/16/2014), I am working on a few "Mitzvah" projects -- one is called, "Soccer for Peace."  It is a New York group that organizes soccer games and tournaments among Palestinian and Israeli children so they get to know each other as real people, not enemies.  My project is a grassroots campaign, where people learn and give what they can and spread the word to their friends, family and co-workers. This project fulfills the mitzvah of "making peace where there is conflict."

"Soccer for Peace" is a charitable organization working to bring together children of war-torn nations in their shared love of soccer.  My goal is to raise Chai ($18 = good luck number) x 55 people = $1000 by December 1, 2013.  As family and frends, please consider donating here Chai ($18) or Double Chai ($36) to our cause. This organization is important to me for a number of reasons:

1) I've been playing soccer since I was 3 years old and I love it. I currently play on a Travel team (ASA) and a Club Team (Benfica) and I'm supportive of both. I’ve met lots of friends through soccer from all over the State of Massachusetts.

2) I feel connected to Israel because I'm going to have my Bar Mitzvah in Israel at the top of the mountain, Masada, overlooking the Dead Sea. My family will join me as we explore the country in June.

3) I spend two months every summer at overnight camp -- Camp Tel Noar -- which is connected to Israeli culture and I am friends with lots of the Israeli staff (and I play inter-camp soccer tournaments when the sport is in the games).

4) My Dad is on the US Men's Soccer Team (35+ age bracket) to compete in the Maccabbi Games (Israeli Olympics)

(Please see attached slideshow on the lower right "SLIDESHOW" for photos of all of the above - my soccer teamates, my bunkmates, club soccer photos, camp photos)

Together, these parts of my life pointed me to "Soccer For Peace." If there's one thing I can do to help the world, it's to help with peace and what better way to do it than through sports. Everyone loves to play and it helps people have something in common to enjoy. When my Dad tried out for the Maccabi Games, I learned that 100 countries compete in sports and that it was a way to get to know and understand each other and to share love for sports and competition. This connection hit me and I looked for other ways that this could be done. This brought me to "Soccer For Peace." To learn more, click on the "LEARN MORE" on the lower left side of this site.

I am excited to raise money for them and make a difference in global peace. There are many ways that I plan to support the cause but this website is my first step.  I'm still thinking about what to do next (maybe a kick-off contest with help from my brother, Alex).

Any help that you can provide will be greatly appreciated. When you're ready, please click on the "DONATE NOW" button above. Thanks again!

Ben Eckman