New Jersey community creates 'Wall of Mensch' in tribute to Israeli NBA player’s message

The Jewish community in Livingston, New Jersey, marked Israel’s Independence Day on Wednesday with an event featuring live music, family activities and a public show of support for a community-building initiative by the non-profits LITTLELIGHT and Maccabi USA.

At the event, participants gathered around a billboard to pin contributions to the “Sneaker Spotlight” program. The initiative was inspired by Israeli NBA player Deni Avdija, who wrote “Yizkor” (“Remember”) on his sneaker during a recent nationally televised game.

That gesture prompted a group of local artists to create cards interpreting Avdija’s message, allowing community members to visibly express their support. The contributions became part of the “Wall of Mensch” – a collaborative installation featuring a pixelated sneaker and graffiti-style elements, with the cards mounted onto hand-cast concrete panels.

“I was stoked as I tried to emphasize the meaning of the shoe,” said Luke The Cardist, one of the participating artists.

The cards included messages of courage, family, resilience, unity, pride, and hope, including “For my grandparents,” with each small message adding up to a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.

Paulette Dorflaufer, a Holocaust survivor and longtime crossing guard in the Livingston community, posted a note which simply said “Be safe and careful. Always with love.”

“This is what it looks like when identity moves from something you carry to something you express,” said Dan Kurtz, Director at Maccabi USA. “Sport gave us the spark. This gave people a way to step into it.”

“As fewer firsthand voices remain, we have to create new ways for the next generation to connect to identity and memory,” said Zev Ziegler, Engagement Director at LITTLELIGHT. “Deni used his moment to say something that mattered. This gives others a way to do the same, on their terms and in their voice.”

The board is planned to become part of a traveling exhibit that will appear at various regional events to build more points of connectivity among generations, communities, and individuals.

According to a statement on its website, LITTLELIGHT “is a volunteer-led initiative focused on creating moments of connection through community-driven experiences. Its work centers on participation, creativity, and shared expression, with projects designed to bring people together in meaningful, accessible ways.”

Maccabi USA, meanwhile, describes itself as “a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building Jewish pride and connection through sports,” through athletic, cultural and community-based programming.

The organization sponsors a range of athletic initiatives in Israel, from amateur leagues and clubs to broader programming. Every four years, the “Maccabi Games” – often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics” – are held in Israel, bringing together Jewish athletes, coaches and trainers from around the world.

The next Maccabi Games are scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 14 and will feature 40 athletic competitions, along with cultural events under the affiliated “Israel Connect” program.