Miss Israel Pays Surprise Visit to Sixers Practice
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Anne Cohen February 20, 2014
It may have been raining outside, but the Philadelphia 76ers were in for a bright surprise.
Our favorite Miss Israel, Yityish “Titi” Aynaw, dropped in on their practice this week during her tour of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The first woman of Ethiopian descent to win the competition in Israel is touring America on an ambassadorial trip that will include stops in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago and San Diego.
“I’m here as a representative of Israel, the Ethiopian community and of the Jewish people,” she told the Jewish Exponent.
The 22-year-old is apparently a huge basketball fan (but eat your heart out NBA, she supports Maccabi Tel Aviv) and was quick to crash the practice, showing off her moves and dribbling skills. “It’s so cool,” she said. “I want to play.”
While posing for a picture with the players, she joked: “I feel so short!” Aw.
At 6 feet tall, she has nothing to worry about.
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
