Sharon Beck: Israel's German-born striker

Games between Germany and Israel always carry a lot of baggage due to the history of the two countries and their peoples.

But for one Israeli player in particular, Tuesday's World Cup qualifier between Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side and their Israeli counterparts in Essen will mean even more.

For Sharon Beck, this will be a game between her two nationalities, two cultures and ultimately — two parts of her identity.

Celebrating Jewish holidays in Germany

Beck, 26, was born in Tönisvorst, on the outskirts of the western German town of Krefeld, just 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Essen.

Her father is Israeli, her mother German. Despite growing up in Germany — a country where Christianity still plays a role in day-to-day life — Beck also celebrated Jewish holidays.

"My father explained all the Jewish traditions and holidays to me when I was a child," she told DW. "Judaism has a very moving history and I am very thankful to have grown up with both cultures, Jewish and Christian."

Despite the idea that experiencing both cultures side by side was "completely normal" at Beck's home, she said conversations with others made differences between the two religions clear to her.

Beck discovered her love for football at a young age and her talent eventually saw her playing in Germany's Bundesliga. After starting at several local clubs in her region, she signed with SGS Essen. Following stops in Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and Freiburg, the striker now plays for Bundesliga side Cologne.

While celebrating Jewish holidays was the norm at her home, Beck's career as a professional footballer in Germany means she often is not able to mark important Jewish holidays like Yom Kippur — Judaism's holiest day on which Jews fast for 25 hours.

"Unfortunately I cannot tell my coach that I cannot train for two days because it's Yom Kippur. But when I'm in Israel, I observe all holidays properly, such as Shabbat or Hanukkah," she said.

Choosing Israel over Germany

In 2018, she was called up to Germany's squad for the SheBelieves Cup in the United States. After several weeks with the national team, and despite representing Germany at youth level, Beck decided that her international career should continue elsewhere: in Israel.

"I like how warmhearted Israelis are, which is why I decided to play for them," she told DW. Beck knows that her decision comes at a sporting price.

"Israel is a small country and I know I will never experience sporting success with them like with Germany. But I'm not a person who just cares about titles or status. I do what feels good to me."

Despite her decision to play for Israel, Beck still said she saw her call-up for Germany as acknowledgement of her talent.

"Germany is among the best national teams in the world. It was a dream to be called up and I'm thankful to have been given the chance to belong to their squad. But I had to decide where it felt better for me to play, and that's why I chose Israel," she said.

After her decision became public, Beck said many people did not understand her choice. Her Israeli family, too, was brutally honest with her about Israel's chances of ever becoming a women's football powerhouse.

"My family was happy to hear about my decision but they also told me: ‘Think about it, you have enormous talent and you're more likely to win titles with Germany.' They were very fair with me."

Still, Beck stands by her decision.

Old teammates meet as rivals

Israel's game against Germany isn't only about Beck's two countries facing each other; she will also be coming face to face with former SC Freiburg teammate Giulia Gwinn, now of Bayern Munich.

"We got along really well," Gwinn told a press conference ahead of the game. "I'm very glad to be facing Sharon again in a national team uniform."

Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, too, has a personal connection to the Israeli international, having coached Beck as a child and getting to know her family.

"When you get to know a player that well, you follow her wherever she goes and however she develops," she said.

Antisemitism in Germany makes a mark

While many Jews in Germany feel they have to hide any Jewish symbols, Beck said she "stands firmly" behind both sides of her identity, Jewish and Christian.

Speaking about the relations between Germany and Israel today, she said she's well aware of the rising number of antisemitic incidents — a topic of conversation among her Israeli teammates.

"I think it's very sad that there are still antisemitic incidents," she told DW. "I cannot understand it."

Beck said she hasn't experienced any antisemitic incidents herself, but she is well aware of the situation many Jews in Germany face.

"That's probably because it's not easy to get to me. I have a clear opinion and I stand against any injustice," she said.

Be it her footballing career, her choice of national team or speaking out about her background, Beck is a player with a clear opinion. That doesn't always seem in line with what others expect of a professional Bundesliga player, but she doesn't mind.

"I've reached a point where I don't feel I have to justify myself to anyone. It's my life and I make my decisions for good reasons. I don't really care what other people think."