Ambitions of the non-pawns

September 29, 2008 - 10:04 AM by

July's International Chess Festival in JerusalemNearly half of the all time great chess champs are Jewish, Russians have special levels of love for the game, and “check mate,” the adage recited ritualistically by players upon achieving victory, is said to have been derived from Hebrew, so it’s only natural that the Israeli chess scene be vibrant and growing.

Alon Cohen-Revivo, 2008’s Jerusalem Chess Champion, is working hard to make sure that chess culture has a comfortable home in Jerusalem. His two-year-old organization, Jeru-Chess, has been making a considerable difference lately, according to a recent Jerusalem Post report. Together with the Municipality of Jerusalem, Jeru-Chess hosted a major International Chess Festival (pictured) this past July.

With a home base in the German Colony’s recently renovated International Cultural and Community Center, Jeru-Chess boasts a roster of around 60 regular members, and it has hosted workshops in about 30 schools, special needs groups, community centers and old age homes.

Cohen-Revivo looks at chess as a therapeutic endeavor.

“Several solid research studies show the beneficial effects of chess on mental health patients, CP patients, people with Alzheimer’s disease and Asperger’s syndrome,” says Cohen-Revivo, 35. “Chess is also a good outlet for children with ADHD.”

He also sees the game as a springboard for educational opportunities.

Mediation and listening skills are also useful in chess, he says. “I listen for the unmet needs of my pupils, what they need to improve. I also try to give a feeling of self-confidence, ability to contain and understand complexity, and, of course, pure chess knowledge.”

….Cohen-Revivo’s innovative teaching approach doesn’t end there. “The queen is like an octopus that can go eight different directions; she has a long arm and can move forward and backwards and sometimes on the diagonal,” he explains. “Danny Deen, a famous comic character, is the knight.

“I use a lot of metaphors and techniques that are relevant and effective,” he says. For example, “Sometimes kids only use pieces on one side of the board. I begin to shake the ‘dozing hand’ and make snoring sounds to wake up the sleeping pieces.”

Your move, Tel Aviv.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , • Category: General, History and Culture 

Comments

One Comment on Ambitions of the non-pawns

  1. Ruth on Thu, Oct 2nd 2008 3:50 PM

    2. “Shachmat” in Hebrew comes from the Arabic, duh.

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