After throwing the first pitch at the Trenton Thunder game, Gov. Jon Corzine and Israeli Consul Asaf Shariv shake hands with Thunder players pitcher Bo Hall, left, and catcher Joe Muich.
Photo by Bill Cook/Trenton Thunder
July 22, 2008
Asaf Shariv has many diplomatic duties as Israel’s consul general in New York, although donning a baseball cap and firing a fastball over home plate is usually not one of them.
But that is exactly what happened as he and New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine tossed out the first balls during a July 10 game between the minor league Trenton Thunder and the visiting Altoona (Pa.) Curve in celebration of Jewish Heritage Night.
The evening’s festivities, which marked Israel’s 60th anniversary, were attended by a contingent of more than 600 people affiliated with the United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, the Jewish Community Center of Princeton Mercer Bucks, and synagogues and organizations from their respective communities.
They were among a crowd of 7,398 at Waterfront Park along the Delaware River in Trenton who watched the Thunder, a Double AA affiliate of the New York Yankees, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates-affiliated Curve, 5-3.
Shariv and Corzine took off their jackets and chatted with Andrea Yonah, director of the New Jersey-Israel Commission, and others as they prepared to make the ceremonial toss.
When asked if he is a baseball fan, Shariv shrugged and shook his hand back and forth, adding diplomatically, “I’m a big Jewish fan.”
“I go wherever the governor goes,” he jokingly told NJJN. “But, this is important because it’s Jewish Heritage Night and I’m part of the Jewish heritage.”
Andrew Frank, executive director of the United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, chats with Stacey Tuohy and her daughter Sarah, four, of Yardley, Pa., while handing out American and Israeli flags during Jewish Heritage Night July 10 at Waterfront Park.
Photo by Debra Rubin
The evening’s festivities began with a concert outside the stadium by Blue Fringe, a Jewish-themed rock band that performs in Hebrew and English.
Inside, federation volunteers passed out small Israeli and American flags as the Thunder broadcasters shared facts about Israel and Jewish major leaguers past and present.
Day campers and counselors from the Jewish Community Center of Princeton Mercer Bucks came out onto the field during the seventh-inning stretch to lead the crowd in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” After the game, the crowd was treated to a fireworks display.
Bruce Birnberg and Nancy Violette of East Brunswick said they came to the ballpark for several reasons.
“We are big fans of Blue Fringe,” said Violette. “They are one of my favorite groups.”
Birnberg said he loves baseball, and “we are also big fans of fireworks and it rained July 4 — and we love being Jewish.”
Pam Frank, a Princeton Mercer Bucks JCC board member and wife of Princeton Mercer Bucks federation executive director Andrew Frank, echoed a NJ tourism slogan, saying, “Jews and baseball, perfect together.”
Paul and Phyllis Browne of Fairless Hills, Pa., live only 10 minutes from the stadium. “We came to celebrate Jewish Heritage Night,” said Paul, pointing to his cap, which was emblazoned with the word “Phillies” spelled in Hebrew letters.
“It’s a beautiful night and we’re here celebrating Israel and our Jewish heritage,” said Harlan Tuckman of Monroe. “What could be better?”
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