Maccabi Tel Aviv commemorated the life of Israel’s Ninth President Shimon Peres z”l at the most recent Europa League match against Alkmaar. A good friend of the Club, statesman, leader and dignitary, the former President was a true educator and guide when it came to peace and football.

Children from the Peres Center for Peace project “Twinned Peace Sports Schools” which was founded 20 years ago, accompanied the players onto the pitch prior to the match. This activity, among the many that the Center has established is a continuing legacy and vision of Shimon Peres who had said: “I hope that the day will come when battlefields will be replaced by the fields of sport.”

At the Stadium, a photo exhibit of the late Shimon Peres z”l participating in joint activities with the Club was presented. Former Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Captain Eran Zahavi attended the exposition and spoke of his close connection with Peres and about his last visit to the Peres Center for Peace when he was in Israel during the month of August. Zahavi also met with Yosef Avi Yair Angle, the long time Peres adviser who had also taken many of the pictures that were presented.

“Twinned Peace Sports Schools”
The project was launched in 2002, and brings together Jewish and Arab children aged 8-12 from various communities. The groups not only focus on sports activities, but also on combining peace building programs which are designed to break down barriers and stereotypes between the participants and foster values of peace and coexistence by changing attitudes toward the ‘other’.

The children who accompanied the players onto the pitch come from the twinned communities of Pardes Katz and Jaljulia. The two groups train together throughout the year and participate in joint programming where they learn about each other’s language, while discussing the importance of working together as a group. Hand in hand they break down barriers and make it clear that on the field of play the only language that is spoken is the language of football.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation hosted over 100 new immigrants, Olim Hadashim from Nefesh B’ Nefesh, the organization that helps Jews from North America make Aliyah to Israel at the first leg of the Toto Cup quarterfinal match at the Netanya Stadium. Not only did the participants get to see a great game with tons of goals they also had the opportunity to take part in a unique presentation about Israeli football and specifically Maccabi Tel Aviv as well as having two of the children walk with the captains of the two teams onto the pitch.

The presentation is one of the many programs that Foundation Head Josh Halickman has created to increase Maccabi’s connection with the many different populations that live in Israel. Most people in the group had never been to a Maccabi match and some have never been to a football game in their lives but all were sports fans. Sitting right in the first few rows in the center of the pitch, everyone went home happy learning about yet another great way as to why Israel is a special country with so much to offer.

NBN representative Karen Richman commented about the activity: “100 Nefesh B’Nefesh Olim were treated to a great night of Israeli football! Before the game, Josh Halickman, Head of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation invited the Olim to the Press Room for an interesting and interactive presentation about the world of Israeli football where they learned about the country’s #1 pastime.

In addition to having great seats to an exciting game and even meeting some of the players two new Olim, brothers Koby and Ilan Shulman, who made Aliyah in 2015 from New Jersey had the honor of dressing up in uniform and escorting the captains out onto the pitch before the game – a moment any kid would remember forever! Thanks again to Maccabi Tel Aviv for a wonderful introduction to Israeli football and a fun way to integrate into life in Israel!”

The morning after scoring a brace in the Toto Cup, Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Eden Ben Basat got up extra early and joined midfielder Eliel Peretz and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation Head Josh Halickman at the Annual Football Tournament in Memory of Tomer Hazan z”l who died in a terrorist attack a few years ago.

The Yellow & Blue had always played an integral part in Tomer’s life, so along with his friends and family a football tournament was started at the school he attended as did Eliel Peretz. Tomer’s brother Yossi said: “We were 4 boys in the family and we all fell in love with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Tomer was a season ticket holder and the Saturday following his death the fans and the Club paid tribute to him. This tournament is a continuation of his life and has the attributes of sports, friendship and Maccabi all rolled up into one.”

Between Rosh Shana and Yom Kippur, the Ten Days of Repentance, while many of their teammates are with their respective National Teams, Barak Itzhaki, Oscar Scarione, Yuval Shpungin and Sagiv Yehezkel got together with the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation for a visit to the Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikva.

The players, along with the Head of the Medical Center, Professor Yosef Peres visited the various departments including the oncology and dialysis departments where they went from room to room spending time with the children, handing out gifts including Maccabi hats, scarves and pillows while also taking pictures and signing autographs.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and Achim L’Semel delivered food packages to the needy for the holiday season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation and Special Olympics Israel are delighted to announce that Maccabi Tel Aviv FC has become Israel’s first Team Ambassador for the global Special Olympics Movement.

By partnering with Special Olympics, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC joins leading football clubs world wide including Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Tottenham and Celtic as a Team Ambassador along with many other clubs world wide. By becoming a Team Ambassador, just as the first Israel Special Olympics Games are about to take place, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is making the proud and bold statement attesting to the importance of raising awareness about the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities by promoting inclusion, generating greater public awareness and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. Through the cooperation, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and Special Olympics will give these athletes the opportunity through sports to realize their potential, develop physically, mentally and socially.

Josh Halickman, Head of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation praised the collaboration: “Special Olympics programs help those with intellectual challenges and aligns itself perfectly with one of the Foundation’s main goals-the promotion of social action activities. It is a great honor for us to raise public awareness about this most important issue and ensure that this segment of the population has the opportunity to play football and be recognized for their special abilities and talents.”

Gal Alberman, Ambassador for Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, said: “As an Ambassador for Special Olympics, I along with my teammates want to help ensure that more and more athletes across the country with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to change their lives through the joy of football. By doing this they will hearten us all with their courage and determination.”

Daniel Benaim, Chairman of Special Olympics Israel, said: “Partnering with the leading football club in Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv is of great importance and a natural connection with the sports community in Israel in order to help fulfill the dreams of athletes with intellectual disabilities. The cooperation will continue to help raise the awareness of sports fans across Israel with the hope that through this relationship more athletes will join the organization’s activities, especially in the realm of football. Thank you and congratulations for your desire and willingness to join forces together.”

Between September 25-27, Special Olympics Israel will be holding its first ever national games. Over 1,200 athletes will participate in 11 sports including, bowling, kayaking, horse riding and football. The majority of the activities will take place at the Wingate Institute and prior to the start of the games a Torch Relay (between September 18-25) will visit nine cities across the country from Beer Sheva in the south all the way to Beit Shean in the north. Thousands of supporters and fans will take part in the Torch Relay.