Zionism

Dan loved the country and the homeland, literally.  He represented the country he loved so much at every station in his life - in tennis, in the military and also in college in the US and then in his work.
During his tennis career and from a very young age, Dan represented Israel not only in competitions  But also in fundraising trips for tennis centers in Israel. "The fundraising campaigns in the United States, Canada and other places in the world were meant to open not only the pocket but also the warm Jewish heart, and there was no one on these trips of the children of the tennis centers over the years who did it better than Dan." To "played" on the Zionist heart of the donors, and Dan Dan, nicknamed "The Smurf" by Ian Froman, played best of all!  

Dr. Ian Froman - Founder and Director of the Israel Tennis Center: "I first met Dan when he was a really small child. 5 or 6 if I remember correctly. Dan was one of dozens of children his age in the center of Ramat Hasharon, but it soon became clear that he was not "another one." He was revealed very quickly as a real prodigy. It was not long before we realized that Dan was an asset in everything related to the groups of children we took out at the time for fundraising trips for the tennis centers abroad. He was not only a great tennis player, but a polite and eloquent child also in talking in front of adults. There was not a kid at that time who did not want to be a part of these fundraising campaigns and that is not surprising. We made sure they would be very. Except for the shows, we took them to Disney, swimming pools, and restaurants, and they were hosted in beautiful homes by Jews everywhere. Because it was almost every child's dream at the time, we really tried to diversify and try to get other kids out each time, but we could not give up on Dan. I can say that Dan raised a large fortune for the tennis centers. It was not because of me or because of Bill Lippie. Definately not. He's the one who made it happen. When Dan was around we did not have much work left. Even when Dan grew up and reached the age of enlistment, he is a lofty goal from tennis before his eyes, the country, before his personal good. His relinquishment of tennis in favor of combat service tells the whole story. "Shakdan decided to leave tennis in favor of combat service in the IDF," he wanted to realize himself and be the best he can be. "

Shlomo Glickstein : "Dan was a child of values and those values he grew up with were hugely reflected in his decision to go into combat service and give up tennis. I very much appreciated the decision he made.  I think the military gave him added self-worth, added value in life and of course strengthened him mentally as well. He learned to fight literally - both in the army and in general, to fight for his place wherever he went. I see a direct connection between his great success in tennis, especially in college, and the army. "The difficult, combative military service fortified him and made him much stronger on the field as well."

Andy Ram : "Dan's decision to enlist in me and leave everything else is a classic Dan Dan story.
Dan loved the country and was not ashamed of it. I do not know many people who have dedicated their whole lives to that moment in something like Dan spent on his tennis and then one bright day they got up and decided to give it up for going to defend the country. If this is not Zionism, I do not know what is. "

Michael Stark , Dan's coach at Binghamton University: "Dan always brought the Israeli flag on the field and placed it in exactly the same way on the back of his chair. As a Jew myself, I always felt special excitement with the Israeli flag on my back."

Brian O'Connor , Dan's coach at Brown University: "Dan was a mature, smart, big-world man, loyal and patriotic, especially towards the Israeli flag that lay on his chair during the games and also towards his Sasha."