C ommunity
COMMUNITYBRIEFS Israeli Leaders Meet with UAE and CHOP
Counterparts to Discuss Health Cooperation
ACTING CONSUL GENERAL of Israel in New
York Israel Nitzan visited the Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia on July 28 to discuss the possible expan-
sion of pediatric health cooperation between Israel,
the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Nitzan and Consul General of the UAE in New
York Abdalla Shaheen toured the hospital with CHOP
President and CEO Madeline Bell.

The hospital led discussions on partnership oppor-
tunities ahead of the first anniversary of the Abraham
Accords, which normalized relations between Israel
and the UAE. Leaders of Israel’s Schneider Children’s
From left: Abdalla Shaheen, the U.A.E.’s Consul General in
New York; Dr. Jack Rychik, associate chief of academic affairs
and director of the Fetal Cardiac Center at Children’s Hospital
of Philadelphia; and Acting Consul General of Israel in New
York Israel Nitzan
Courtesy of the Consulate General of Israel in New York
Hospital attended the event virtually.

“The Abraham Accords are spreading far and
wide, from Philadelphia to Abu Dhabi to Jerusalem
and beyond,” Nitzan said. “Meetings, such as this one
in Philadelphia, give everyone involved an opportu-
nity to learn from one another ... It shows that we will
build meaningful relationships in order to save lives.

Nothing is more important than that. Israel and the
UAE have proven that focusing on the well-being of
our citizens is the essence of our peace.”
Nitzan and Shaheen also spoke with Associate Chief
of Academic Affairs and Director of the Fetal Cardiac
Center Dr. Jack Rychik about his work at CHOP.

Nazi Graffiti Found in Delaware
Nazi SS graffiti was found spray-painted on a bridge
at Bear, Delaware, on July 28, the Delaware News
Journal reported.

The black-paint graffiti, which said, “Crackers
Matter” then featured two lightning bolts similar to
those used by the Nazi SS, was removed that day by
the Delaware Department of Transportation.

“In the event the same ‘tags’ are presented somewhere
else in the area, we would take the necessary investiga-
tive steps, if notified,” Delaware State Police spokesman
Mast Cpl. Gary Fournier said. He said police are inves-
tigating, but don’t have leads or suspects.

“We are witnessing increased acts of hate and
antisemitism around the country and the world which
is alarming, but to have this hateful graffiti occur in
our own backyard is very disturbing,” said Seth
Katzen, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation
of Delaware. “Our community must remain vigilant
against these senseless acts and thank DelDot for the
immediate removal of the graffiti.”
Anyone with information about the graffiti is
asked to contact Crime Stoppers online at delaware.

crimestoppersweb.com or by calling 1-800-TIP-3333.

From left: Sam Mattis and his coach, Dane Miller
Courtesy of Garage Strength Sports Performance
Jewish Discus Athlete with Area Ties
Finishes Eighth at Tokyo Olympics
In his first Olympics, Jewish Olympian and University
of Pennsylvania graduate Sam Mattis reached the
final of the men’s discus event.

But in the final at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo,
Mattis fell short of a medal, placing eighth with a
distance of 63.88 meters. He was, however, the highest
finisher among U.S. male athletes in the event.

The East Brunswick High School (New Jersey)
graduate earned a spot in the medal round by
recording the eighth-longest distance, 63.74, out of 30
competitors in the qualification round. Mattis made
the U.S. Olympic team with a third-place finish in the
U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

He was also the 2019 U.S. national champion and the
2015 NCAA champion. He missed the 2016 Olympics but
kept working for five years to make the games in 2021.

“This has been my goal for years at this point,
probably close to a decade,” Mattis said. “That I’ve
achieved it feels pretty good.” l
— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb and Jarrad Saffren
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