Israel Bridge Program Supports Student-Athletes

Local real estate agent Keri Greenwald and brother, Ross Greenstein, worked together to form The Israel Bridge, which provides critical emotional and logistical support for Israeli student-athletes. Greenwald and Greenstein are convinced that building bridges through sports is a bulwark for combating antisemitism.

The Israel Bridge nonprofit addresses various challenges faced by Israeli athletes arriving after their service in the IDF, like mental health services, immigration assistance, career coaching, matching host families, mentorship programs, and mini-grants.

Sandy Springs resident Greenwald, and Greenstein, from San Diego, who is a former Division I tennis player at the University of Florida, started The Israel Bridge. Their father, Vic Greenstein, of Minneapolis and Palm Beach Gardens, later expanded the mission. Since 2006, the nonprofit has secured more than $30 million in scholarships for over 300 athletes. In the fall of 2025, more than 240 Israeli student-athletes will attend 140 U.S. universities, competing in NCAA sports and serving as proud ambassadors of Israel.

The “Bridge” also empowers Israeli student-athletes to “bring” Israel to their college campuses through low-cost initiatives. For example, a $1,000 mini-grant supports a campus-wide Israel Day event planned and organized by Israel Bridge student-athletes, while a $300 grant enables them to host a home-cooked Israeli dinner for 10 of their non-Jewish friends. Money for kosher food, an emergency flight home back to Israel, and summer school tuition (which is often not covered by athletic scholarships), are other types of grants available.

In 2024, Atlanta’s Keren Rosenberg, a native of Tel Aviv and formerly with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, became the program’s executive director. She stated, “Israeli student-athletes are the best ambassadors we have on campus – not only because of their talent, but because they are strong, mentally and physically, and always in the spotlight.”

More specifically, Dan Aronovic, who has worked for the group for nearly 20 years, guides athletes through the complex U.S. athletic scholarship process of testing, interviewing, and eligibility. New for the 2024-25 school year is the Local Mom’s Network, a community of Jewish moms in the U.S. offering connection, support and hospitality to the Israeli student-athletes. This holistic approach ensures that student-athletes are equipped to navigate the complexities of campus life while staying connected to their roots.

The Israel Bridge also helps Israeli athletes connect with Jewish communities in addition to Atlanta like Athens, Statesboro, Brunswick, and Lawrenceville. These student-athletes are competing locally in soccer, swimming, basketball, and track. Many athletes arrive in the U.S. without family nearby. The Bridge encourages families to host meals and Jewish holidays.

Jaime Ackerman, of Sandy Springs, hosted six athletes from three different colleges for Thanksgiving 2024 and said, “My kids could not stop asking them questions about their lives and sports they play. We now know we forever have friends to visit when we go to Israel!”

For Passover seder, Michael and Beryl Jackowitz welcomed 10 students in Long Beach, N.Y., and cannot wait to host again next year.

Students also share emotional successes. Anastasia Gorbenko, Israel’s most decorated swimmer and a two-time Olympian, now competes at the University of Louisville. “Representing Israel abroad is a responsibility I carry with pride,” she related. “I’ve faced antisemitism, including being booed on medal podiums. The support of The Israel Bridge reminds me I’m not alone.”

Guy Finkelstein, Florida Atlantic University tennis player, served two deployments in Gaza with his IDF unit after Oct. 7 and recalled,

“I left a tennis tournament in Indiana to return to Israel. After months of combat, I came to Florida to reset and transferred to FAU to study computer science. I’m graduating soon and excited for what’s ahead while staying true to my roots.”

Ester Pushkarov, an Israeli volleyball player at Barry University, flew home to see her father who was serving in Gaza and Lebanon.

Greenstein summarized, “We equip Israeli athletes with strength and support to lead proudly. By backing these students, we invest in the future of Jewish pride, visibility, and resilience.”