Celebrating Jewish Icons - Shahar Tzuberi

 

Shahar Tzuberi's life would be interesting under any circumstance. A gifted athlete, Shahar was making waves by the time he was seven years old, already demonstrating a talent for windsurfing and other watersports. Recognizing that talent, his father encouraged him to train professionally and compete in a number of local surfing competitions.

That faith paid off, Shahar quickly established himself as a rising star in the surfing world. He took a silver medal in the 2000 Windsurfing World Championships for Boys, was triumphant in the 2004 Under-17 World Championships, and took home another silver medal in the Youth World Championships in the same year.

The writing was on the wall, Shahar was going to be an Olympian. While any family would be proud to see one of their own participate in the great games, to the extended Tzuberi family, there was an extra bit of legacy and poignancy to Shahar's Olypmic run.

Shahar's uncle, Gad Tsobari was an Olympian himself. A wrestler competing in the ill-fated '72 Munich Games. When Black September terrorists stormed the Israeli team's second apartment, Gad was taken hostage along with five other athletes in his quarters. However, he escaped their clutches through the bravery and sacrifice of Coach Moshe Weinberg who valiantly attacked his terrorist captors (taking several fatal gunshot wounds in the process), buying the time and distraction Gad would need to escape and warn Olympic officials of the crisis.

From there on, Gad watched the madness unfold. He saw the choppers that would carry his teammates to Fürstenfeldbruck airbase take off. He would later hear the reports of the terrorists fatal shootout with German police, and the cold blooded execution his colleagues. 

For Shahar's family to return to the Olympics, it wouldn't just be a matter of sporting pride, it would mean closing the book on a dark chapter of his family's history. A moment of triumph that was spoiled by hate and senseless violence.

Shahar would do his family proud. Competing among the best of the world, he distinguished himself with a bronze medal victory. He would be Israel’s sole medal winner that year, but what a victory it was.

Shahar Tzuberi's story isn't just one of athletic accomplishment, it is one of the Jewish spirit; of a family's  ability to rise above the hatred and cruelty of others, to excel and carry themselves with pride. It's a story that can inspire us all.