June 12, 2008 / 9 Sivan 5768

Tal Brody is one of Israel's greatest aliyah stories. Say his name in Israel and it is like saying Dr. J in America. New Jersey-born Brody first came to Israel in 1965 as a member of the Maccabiah basketball team from the US. At the time he was one of America's highest ranked basketball players. Brody fell in love with Israel. A year later, after he led the US basketball team to a gold medal at the Maccabiah he made aliyah, and was recruited by the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team.

"I came to play basketball for one year in '66, that's turned into 30 years and there's never been a dull moment. I feel like I'm at the pivot of the center of the world here," writes Brody on his website.

Brody became a legend in Israel in 1977 when he led Maccabi Tel Aviv to clinch the European Basketball League championship for the first time Israel's history.  Following his illustrious basketball career, Brody turned to business and to becoming an "ambassador" for Israel. He works tirelessly to promote aliyah and to help disenfranchised youth.

Brody has been on the board of Spirit of Israel since its inception in 1998, and was one of the organizations first volunteers. As the Chairman, his role will be to raise awareness about the organization among Israelis and to advance its resource development.

The Spirit of Israel raises funds among Israelis and a growing number of corporate businesspeople for children-at-risk, new immigrant soldiers and students who are alone in Israel, strengthening the priority regions of the Negev and the Galilee, integration of new immigrants and closing educational gaps.

"I believe that Tal Brody will lead the Spirit of Israel to new heights that will allow the organization to grow and continue to bring positive change to Israeli society," said Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski.