Reviews from supporters Gerald Halon, Anne Erdunast, and guest testimonials
Gerald Halon’s take on the talk at Bushey Synagogue Shabbat 20th June 2026
It was a tonic to hear from Lee Wilson and Riham Namle during the 11 am breakout session on Shabbat morning, 20 June, at Bushey United Synagogue. At a time when news from Israel and the wider Middle East is often bleak, it was deeply heartening to learn about the positive work of the Freddie Krivine Initiative, which brings Israeli Arabs and Jews together through tennis to promote understanding and shared learning.
The audience was captivated by Riham’s account of her work and her commitment to improving the life skills of children from small Arab communities, helping them integrate more fully into wider Israeli society and strengthening their future employment prospects. Lee also spoke engagingly about her efforts to build understanding between young girls from the two communities. She described how an initially awkward social gathering began to change once the girls discovered their shared interest in a popular boy band from South Korea.
Although we recognise that Israeli society still has a very long way to go before its divisions can heal, Lee and Riham’s dedication to making this initiative succeed, even in a modest way, is deeply encouraging. Knowing that many other grassroots initiatives are working towards the same goal helps counter the sense of despair that nothing can ever be achieved.
Although we recognise that Israeli society still has a very long way to go before its divisions can heal, Lee and Riham’s dedication to making this initiative succeed, even in a modest way, is deeply encouraging. Knowing that many other grassroots initiatives are working towards the same goal helps counter the sense of despair that nothing can ever be achieved.Many thanks, therefore, to Jenny Nemko for organising and introducing such an illuminating presentation and discussion, and to Lee and Riham for travelling to the UK to share their enthusiasm for the Freddie Krivine Initiative
Anne Erdunast at the Cumberland Tennis Club
What a privilege to have attended TalkMatters’ (TM) 6th anniversary celebration event at the Cumberland Tennis Club, in West Hampstead, where we treated to a sumptuous tea and such inspirational speakers in a lovely venue.
This tennis themed event showcased the Freddie Krivine Initiative (FKI) represented by Jane Krivine, Lee Wilson and Riham Namle. Lee and Riham explained how FKI brings together Jewish and Arab Israeli children from surrounding villages to have fun together, developing their tennis skills and getting to know each other in neutral, inclusive surroundings. Although FKI are primarily known for their tennis programme first and foremost, this is far from all that they do as they also have a programme of cultural and educational after school events which engage the whole family too. It was inspiring to hear how families from quite isolated villages engage in the programmes and how the Arabic speaking children are given the opportunity to improve their Hebrew speaking skills and understanding of the society in which they can then aspire to play an active part. Activities are also run for the parents (mothers mostly), helping to bring them out of isolation too. I was particularly moved by the story of the girls from the two communities how thought they had nothing in common and struggled to connect but when asked to find a song they could all sing together realised they all listen to the same pop music!
We were also introduced to Shahar Perkiss in a prerecorded video interview by Jane Krivine. Shahar played at Wimbledon it he 1980’s and is a great supporter of FKI.
Last but not least we heard from Sandi Procter who took us through her life story from PE teacher to President of the Lawn Tennis Association, of which she is the immediate past president. And what an inspirational story! She was the first of her family to go on to further education, being from a working-class background, and having shown great sporting promise at school. She became an innovative tennis coach, coaching several household names including Emma Radacanu and then worked her way up to the top job at the LTA – I could have listened to her for hours.
But the heart-warming message from the afternoon was really how the passion and commitment of FKI, of Lee and Riham in particular, is giving young people in Israel the hope of a future which is filled with something other than constant conflict, a future where all communities can live side by side recognising the humanity in each and every individual.
One of the most poignant questions was whether it would be possible to replicate this initiative in another part of Israel. I believe, the seeds of this are being sown as the answer has to be “YES PLEASE!”
Guest Testimonials
“Idealism is nothing if it doesn’t work in the real world, and I was moved to tears hearing Riham and Lee talk about the combined tennis clubs, art classes, language classes, and parties celebrating both Muslim and Jewish festivals. This is idealism on the ground, idealism that actually works.”
“Thank you for your invitation to such an insightful and important conversation, and for your continued vital work.”
“It gives me a tiny crumb of hope for the future to hang on to. I just wish there were many, many more like-minded people out there to make a difference.”
“Knowing that many other grassroots initiatives are working towards the same goal helps counter the sense of despair that nothing can ever be achieved.”
