                                                               
                      A Voice from Hebron
                     by Gary M. Cooperberg
                        Shlomo Scharf, 
         An example of Jewish leadership and Integrity
                          May 1, 1997
                                
     I am not a sports enthusiast.  Soccer is a very hot item for many Israelis, and riots often
break out as an extension of the enthusiasm engendered by this national and international sport. 
Personally soccer holds absolutely no interest for me.  As such, I would never have imagined an
occasion which would find me writing an article on this subject; but such an occasion has, indeed
arisen.
      I really do not understand why, but a disciplinary decision made by Israel Soccer coach,
Shlomo Scharf, was cause for news headlines in this country.  Scharf was interviewed by both
television channels and harshly criticized for his decision.
     It seems that, the day prior to a key game against the Cyprus team, five of the top players
for Israel arrived at their hotel rooms after curfew and without having requested permission to be
late.  Two claimed to have been watching a sports event on television in the room of a friend,
while the other three admitted to having attended a movie.  Clearly neither "violation" seemed to
be a serious crime, yet the coach decided to put all the offenders on the bench for the upcoming
game.
     The game against Cyprus, as I said before, was deemed crucial for Israel.  Fans were
aghast that the coach would risk losing this game by grounding five of his best players.  Why
couldn't the offenders just be fined?  How could the whole team be jeopardized for the mistakes
of some of its players?
     I cannot remember when I last witnessed such a strong and selfless expression of honesty
and justice as I watched Mr. Scharf  take on all of the commentators with cool confidence and
unswerving certainty of his position.  He disregarded all personal attacks and pleas to find a way
to permit the players to participate.  As a genuine professional coach, he had made the only
decision he felt that he could have made.  If he were to give in to pressure and permit the men to
play, he would have signaled to all his players that, if they were good enough players, and
important to the team, they would be immune from discipline.  That he just could not and would
not do. 
     You may now ask why I found it necessary to discuss this story.  The answer is simple.  I 
saw in Shlomo Scharf the integrity and self-sacrificing leadership qualities which are so sorely
lacking elsewhere in this country.  Here is a man whose principles come before petty interests. 
His face and build bore a slight resemblance to Defense Minister Yitzchak Mordechai, but his
calm, self-assured sincerity shone through like a light in the darkness.  How much better this
country would be were Scharf the Minister of Defense, and Mordechai the soccer coach.  I don't
know if we would win any soccer games, but I have no doubt that we would see pride, self
respect, and genuine security return to our country under such leadership.
     Unfortunately Mr. Scharf is more than happy with his profession and does not seek to
involve himself in politics.  But I would hope that his example, which, unlikely as it was,  was so
wonderfully broadcast all over the country, would serve as an inspiration that there really is hope
for our people.  While I have little hope that our political leadership would recognize this display
of genuine integrity, I do have hope that the people of Israel were encouraged by this proof that
the quality of leadership still exists in this country.  We can only hope that it will be emulated by
those who are prepared to be true Jewish leaders in Israel.  By the way, in spite of the
disadvantage of grounding five of his best players, the Israeli team did win the game!