The New England Patriots will honor Ezra Schwartz with a moment of silence before they host the Buffalo Bills on Monday.
Schwartz, who was studying abroad in Israel, was killed in a terrorist attack in the West Bank on Thursday. The 18-year-old lived neared Gillette Stadium in Sharon, Mass., and was a big Patriots fan.
Dov Lipman, who is a former member of Israel’s parliament, wrote a letter to Patriots owner Robert Kraft asking the team to honor Schwartz before Monday’s game.
Dear Mr. Kraft,
By way of introduction, I served in the Israeli Knesset and played in the flag football league here in Israel years ago. We thank you for all that you have done to make that league and the stadium become a reality.
I was with the boys of the Ashreinu school when they were told that their friend, Ezra, was killed and have been with them daily since. The one theme which comes out over and over again was his passion for the Patriots. One boy actually apologized to “his soul” for telling him to stop screaming with joy as he watched games in his dorm room at 3:00 a.m. Last night at the funeral, Ezra’s body was outside the building during the service so what did they put in the middle to represent Ezra? An Israeli flag and Ezra’s Patriots jersey (#87).
Many in Israel and around the world have been shocked that almost no media outlets covered the murder of this boy who came to Israel for a year of study and volunteering and was shot by a Palestinian terrorist while on his way to his volunteer activity.
It would mean so much to the people of Israel, to supporters around the world, and to Ezra’s family and friends if the Patriots could do something in his memory — perhaps a moment of silence before tomorrow night’s game, perhaps an EZRA patch on their jerseys for a game — whatever you believe is the right way to honor Ezra and to bring awareness to his story.
May we only share good news,
Dov Lipman
Member of the 19th Knesset
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
