The Maccabi Youth Division invited children from the "Larger than Life" and "Educating for Excellence" organisations to join them for the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle
Tonight the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division continued their annual tradition of celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah by lighting together the first holiday candle. Special guests at the event were children from the "Larger than Life" and "Educating for Excellence" organisations, who enjoyed both the ceremony itself as well as the opportunity to meet members of both the Maccabi youth and senior squads. "Educating for Excellence" strives to strengthen Israeli society by reducing social gaps and creating equal opportunities for children with potential for excellence who reside within Israel’s social and geographic periphery. They currently operate over 30 unique educational centres throughout Israel. "Larger than Life" aim to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of children with cancer, along with their families, regardless of religion, race or gender.
Together with Division secretary Nissim Sidi, Youth Division football director Nir Levin was in charge of the evening and invited a number of figures from the Division to join in lighting the first candle: Division veterans Baruch Azarti and Yehuda Livni together with Shlomi Alberg, owner and managing director of the PROFIT company, sponsors of the Maccabi Youth Division teams. Following the candle-lighting ceremony, all the children present were treated to traditional Hanukkah doughnuts. Children from the "Larger than Life" and "Educating for Excellence" organisations got an extra special treat with the opportunity to meet with Maccabi senior squad members Barak Levy and Dor Peretz and Under-19 stars Yonatan Cohen and Mavis Tchibota, who also distributed special Hanukkah gifts to all the children.
