Israel Matzav

Aly Raisman and family visiting Israel in December

US Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Aly Raisman will visit Israel with her family in December as a guest of Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein. They've never been here before.

In a phone conversation facilitated by US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, Raisman told Edelstein that she was really happy to be invited and that she would decide with her family when would be the best time to come.

A source close to Edelstein said the end of December would be a likely choice because Raisman's younger siblings Brett, Chloe, and Madison would be on vacation from school. Raisman and her family have never been to Israel.

The gymnast won a gold medal for her floor routine, which she performed to the tune of “Hava Nagila.” She won another gold medal for the performance of the US women’s gymnastics team she captained and a bronze in the balance-beam competition.

Likud MK Danny Danon, who chairs the Knesset's Diaspora Affairs Committee, said he would invite Raisman to the Knesset to address the committee.

Raisman may not be the only medal winner to come to Israel. Sailor Jo Aleh, who won a gold medal for New Zealand in women's 470 class sailing, is expected to come to Israel for the Bat Mitzvah of her half-sister, who lives on a kibbutz with her father Shuki.

Hero worship? What do they expect an 18-year old who has never been here to tell a Knesset committee? Leave the kid alone and let her enjoy her time here so she'll want to come back.

Labels: American Jews, London Olympics

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:49 PM