By Aryeh Savir
KIRYAT ARBA, Israel — Sarah Avraham, 20, of Kiryat Arba in Judea, won the Woman’s World Thai-Boxing Championship in Thailand on Thursday, March 20. Officially named Muay Thai, the combat sport is dubbed “the art of eight weapons” because of the use of fists, elbows, knees, and feet. Sarah has previously won the Israeli championship, and now, after overcoming her Brazilin opponent, has become the world champion.
The champion has an outstanding life story. Born in Mumbai, she converted to Judaism in 2008 at the age of 14 together with her family and immigrated to Israel following the terror attack on the Chabad House in November of that year. Avraham’s father, Dr. Aaron Avraham, was the friend and family physician of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, who were murdered when terrorists attacked the Chabad House where they served as emissaries. Sarah and her family felt drawn to the Jewish people, and thus converted and immigrated to Israel.
Sarah learned at the Ulpana, girl’s high school, in Kiryat Arba, and although she was challenged with the learning of a new religion, culture and land she decided to become deeply involved in sports. She was sent to train with Michael Pollack, from the Jewish neighborhood in neighboring Hebron. In 2012, barely a year after she began training professionally, Sarah won the national women’s Thai boxing championship in Israel.
Over the past year Sarah has taken up another challenging ‘hobby’ – she volunteers with the local fire department. She is highly praised by her superiors at the fire house, as they point out that she has participated in tens of firefighting operations and is always present when required, even though she bears a grueling training regime of five days of training weekly.
Aaron currently works at the Bnei Brak Hospital and serves as a physician at the Kiryat Arba medical center. Sarah doesn’t see herself giving up boxing, but that doesn’t preclude other plans for her future. “When I grow up,” she was quoted in Maariv as saying, “I might want to be a doctor, like my father.” More recently she has expressed her desire to become a professional fire fighter.
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Aryeh Savir is a staff writer for the Tazpit News Agency in Israel. He may be contacted via en@tazpit.org.il San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. This is an ideal opportunity for your corporate message or to personally remember a loved one’s contributions to our community. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com