COMMUNITY
CHESS4SOLIDARITY STRENGTHENS TIES BETWEEN COUNTRIES
An interview with Lior Aizenberg - Director, Chess4All and founder of Chess4Solidarity initiative. By Stav Brener, Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida Community Shaliach
What is the purpose of Chess4Solidarity and how did it start?
Chess4Solidarity is a peer-to-peer (P2P) initiative that strengthens ties between countries and promotes camaraderie through the game of chess while influencing diplomatic relations and a growing fondness for the State of Israel.
online participants only. The first event was on Holocaust Remembrance Day with Haim Arbiv, a holocaust survivor, telling his story and playing chess against his opponents. The next event was organized by my friend, Alon Cohen, as the Blitz Battle between teams called Sons of Ibraim and Abraham. Players from Arab countries participated with more than 8,000 players worldwide.
Started in May 2020 when COVID-19 brought restrictions and quarantines to Israel, Chess4All and Israeli chess players had the option to compete with
As the Founder, the initiative has great meaning for players and the bonds created are important to me. I was boycotted four years ago from entering a world chess championship that was held in Saudi Arabia because of my Israeli nationality. I spent more than a year launching media campaigns and a legal process in order to make a change. I now have friends who are players and organizers from many countries who don't have diplomatic connections with Israel. It is a personal triumph.
The organization is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a positive intercultural initiative. Events have received endorsements from celebrities, ambassadors, and politicians with an international staff of arbiters and commentators. More than $40,000 has been awarded to players and we’ve donated chess equipment to five countries.
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How are you personally connected to this initiative?
