Teams in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division celebrated the fifth day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah together with children from the "Larger than Life" and "Psagot" associations at a candle-lighting ceremony at the Youth Division complex
Teams in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division today continued their tradition of celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah by lighting candles at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Special guests at this festive occasion were children from the "Larger than Life" and "Psagot" associations, who enjoyed the experience thoroughly, especially the Maccabi Tel Aviv mascot "Maccabino", who put smiles on all the children's faces. By promoting equal opportunity in education, "Psagot" focus their attention on closing the gaps that exist in Israeli society and run some 30 centres throughout the country's social and geographic periphery. "Larger than Life" devote their energies to improving the quality of life and the well-being of children – and their families – suffering from cancer throughout Israel, without regard to gender, religion or race.
Director of football at the Youth Division Nir Levin and general secretary Nissim Sidi invited a number of special guests to join in in lighting the candle of the fifth night of this Maccabean holiday: Representatives of the two associations, Dorit Cohen (widow of the late Maccabi star Avi Cohen), Youth Division veterans Baruch Azarti and Yehuda Livni, Gidon Brickman (whose late son Shachar gave his name to the Under-19s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar") and a representative of the Youth Division, Under-19 captain Dor Jan. He was afterwards joined by the rest of the youngsters of the Youth Division in handing out presents to the children of both associations. Maccabi Tel Aviv's community fan organisation "Achim Lesemel" also provided the children with holiday joy, running face-painting booths and putting some festive colour on the children's faces. And along with the candle-lighting that brought festival warmth into their hearts, the children have all been invited to be Maccabi Tel Aviv's guests at the first team's next competitive league match tomorrow night against Hapoel Ra'anana.
