More
EN
Newsletter
More
Newsletter
EN
Support JNS
Howard Blas

Howard Blas

Howard Blas is a social worker and special-education teacher by training. He teaches Jewish studies and prepares students with a range of disabilities for b’nai mitzvah. He regularly leads Birthright Israel “classic” and service trips for people with disabilities. His publications can be viewed here.

Israel’s U20 National played against Auburn University Tigers Men’s basketball team at Jerusalem’s Malha Arena on Aug. 2., 2022. Credit: Courtesy.
Culture and Society
NCAA’s Auburn Tigers win first game on ‘Birthright for College Basketball’ tour
“Our kids also come from a perspective culturally and educationally that they will return to the U.S. as allies and friends of the State of Israel,” said head coach Bruce Pearl.
Aug. 3, 2022
Howard Blas
Eric Reyzelman. Photo by Chris Parent/Courtesy of Louisiana State University Athletics.
Culture and Society
Plucked by New York Yankees, Eric Reyzelman is off to play ball
A 6-foot-2 right-hander from California currently pitching for Louisiana State University, he was the 160th overall pick in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Jul. 27, 2022
Howard Blas
The Uruguay soccer team defeated the United States by 3-2 at the stadium on the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on July 24, 2022. Photo by Howard Blas.
Jewish Life
Wrap-up on the wrap-down: Israel comes up big on much more than medals
Maccabiah educator Jennifer Brodsky says “there is an opportunity to think about Jewish identity and to add context that can often be as impactful” as the sports competitions themselves.
Jul. 25, 2022
Howard Blas
Dr. Leeber Cohen, 65, an ophthalmology from Teaneck, N.J., has been involved in martial arts since he was 12 and now teaches it as well. Credit: Courtesy.
Culture and Society
Never too late (or too old) to be in the Maccabiah games
“The training and working out for hours and hours has been so exhilarating,” says 65-year-old martial-arts expert Dr. Leeber Cohen, who has lost 10 or 15 pounds in the process.
Jul. 21, 2022
Howard Blas
The Maccabiah serves as a way to show athletes and the world the State of Israel in all its glory. Credit: Konstantin Goldenberg/Shutterstock.
Israel News
Maccabiah and Israel: A sporting event of ‘a Jewish nature’
“It is important for us that the Jews of the world know that we are not just praying and fighting here,” says Yaniv Poria, a professor in the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management in the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management at Ben-Gurion University.
Jul. 21, 2022
Howard Blas
The “Leveling the Playing Field” sports-equipment donation program started in 2013 in Washington, D.C. Credit: Courtesy.
Feature
‘Leveling the Playing Field’ does just that, spreading the sports wealth among others
Max Levitt recalls being heartbroken at the sight of usable equipment being thrown away, saying “it really bothered me. It stuck in my head.”
Jul. 19, 2022
Howard Blas
Post-COVID, the Dogiz company has launched an updated app, website and business plan. Credit: Pixabay.
Feature
Going to the dogs (and why that’s a good thing!)
The coronavirus provided an opportunity for the founders of Dogiz to rethink their business.
Jul. 15, 2022
Howard Blas
Michele Kupfer 1980 Olympics Boycotted in Europe
Feature
Into the deep end: American-Israeli swimmer dives into Maccabiah history
A historical film in the making by Michele Kupfer shows the connection “of all of us—Jewish people from Israel and the Diaspora—as part of a big nation with a long tradition.”
Jul. 7, 2022
Howard Blas
Yair and Aviv, two 13-year-olds with autism, celebrate their bar mitzvah in Rehovot, Israel, on May 26, 2022. Photo by Howard Blas.
Feature
B’nai mitzvah program for teens with disabilities is ‘inspiring every time’
Ronen Bar-Abraham, director of Adraba-The Shirley Lowy Center for Children with Disabilities, says it was founded “to fulfill an unmet need in Israel.”
Jun. 21, 2022
Howard Blas
Brightcode is a soon-to-launch program offering eligible Jewish adults ages 18 to 32 a free, six-month, in-depth programming boot camp. Credit: Birthright Israel.
Feature
Everyone jump into the pool! The high-tech talent one called Brightcode, that is
“I call on those who meet the requirements to come to Israel, gain top-tier training and become a part of our cutting-edge innovation ecosystem. We need your spirit and commitment,” said Israel Innovation Authority CEO Dror Bin.
May. 10, 2022
Howard Blas
Preparing food packages for Passover 2022. Credit: Pantry Packers.
Feature
A staple in Jerusalem: Pantry Packers helps fill shopping carts during Passover and year-round
Families typically receive 500 shekels ($155) of food per month, consisting of fruit and vegetables, dry goods and money on a debit card that can be used in supermarkets for perishables, adhering to the specific religious and dietary needs of diverse communities.
Apr. 13, 2022
Howard Blas
Deni Avdija. Source: Screenshot.
Culture and Society
Avdija scores better basketball season, though still strives for improvement on court
The 21-year-old Israeli has the distinction of being one of only five NBA players to play in all 82 regular season games.
Apr. 11, 2022
Howard Blas
Load More