NBA All-Star Stoudemire Gets Israeli Citizenship

Amar’e Stoudemire, retired NBA All-Star and active player in Jerusalem’s Hapoel basketball team, has officially become an Israeli citizen.

The basketball center on Wednesday received his new Israeli identity card at a ceremony held at the Ministry of the Interior in Jerusalem. The ceremony was attended by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon.

Stoudemire has been on a spiritual journey in Israel to trace his “Hebrew roots,” and has adopted the Jewish name Yehoshafat. He is learning Torah and Hebrew, and has previously inked a Star of David tattoo on his body.