The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation continued its’ community work during the war in the South and North of Israel as this week Eyal Golasa and Roi Mishpati visited soldiers who were injured in action.

Golasa and Mishpati visited the Beilnson hospital at Rabin Medical center and met with Omer and Roei who are soldiers from the same military unit and friends from their national service. The duo went into Gaza together, fought side by side and were injured during battle. During the visit, the two soldiers handed Golasa a set of Tefillin they carried with them throughout their duty in Gaza and despite the fierce fighting and injuries, carried it back from the battlefield.

We also met with Yitzhak, a soldier from a combat unit who made Aliya from Chicago as part of Garin Tzabar – a program that facilitates service in the IDF with a support system for Israelis and diaspora Jews who do not have parents in Israel. The October 7^th ‘Black Sabbath’ caught Yitzhak in Chicago where he spent a short holiday with his family, but he was quick to hop on a plane and report for duty. Finally we visited Itamar, a Maccabi fan from Gate 11 who was also injured during in the Gaza strip. Golasa and Mishpati visited Itamar and presented him with a match-worn shirt from the victory over Zorya in the Conference League.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation continues its relentless work to boost morale during the war as on Thursday Eran Zahavi and Yonatan Cohen travelled to Eilat where they met with residents of the Gaza strip border communities who were evacuated to the hotels in the southern city.

Maccabi’s players arrived for two intense days during which they are expected to visit 9 hotels in Eilat, meet and have their photos taken with kids from the south. Zahavi and Cohen will hand out official Maccabi gifts and products on behalf of the club.

A moment that placed a smile on the faces of many took place at the tournament for the kids of the Gaza boarder communities which is staged in Eilat. Eran Zahavi surprised all those in attendance as he joined and was happy to have his photo taken with the kids.

Zahavi said: “We met with lots and lots of kids from the Gaza border communities all evacuated here. We were so happy, and we got the impression the kids were happy as well. We have a new day tomorrow and will rest a bit tonight before continuing to visit kids in other places.”

Cohen added: “We just love everyone and embrace everyone during this time: the families, the entire Israeli nation and especially the Israel Defense Forces. We hope everyone joins in as it is our privilege to try make people happy and wish only good for everyone.”

The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation continued playing its part in strengthening the residents of the South as today (Tuesday) the activity saw representative reach 8 different locations across the country. First team players, staff members, Youth Academy coaches all met with residents of the South who were evacuated up north, had their photos taken, signed autographs and handed out official club gifts.

Dor Peretz, Gabi Kanichowsky, Or Yitzhak, Dan Biton and Ofir Dsvidzada all visited wounded victims at Tel Hashomer hospital. Davidada continued to another location in Tel Aviv where he teamed up with Sheran Yeini.

Eran Zahavi accompanied by Internet celebrity Nir Benilush, entertained kids at Hertzliya while Eyal Golasa and Yonatan Cohen did the same at Netanya. Nir Bitton and Roy Revivo met with kids who were evacuated to Ramat Gam. Daniel Tenenbaum, visited kids at the Nahsholim kibbutz before teaming up with Golasa, Sayid Abu Farhi and Youth Academy coaches at Hadera as all guided the kids at a training session.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation continued its bid to strengthen the residents of the South as more activities involving first team members and Youth Academy staff took place today in a bid to raise morale.

After last week Or Yitzhak visited families who were evacuated from Gaza border communities to hotels near the Dead Sea, today was the turn of Ofir Davidzada who arrived to meet the residents of Sa’ad. The 32-year-old left-back entertained the kids of Sa’ad, signed autographs and handed some gifts on behalf of the club before heading to meet kids from Be’eri kibbutz.

Elsewhere, Maccabi’s Youth Academy coaches met with residents of Kibbutz Karmia who were evacuated to Tel Aviv. The coaches guided the kids through a training session and played some mini matches that supplied a destruction from their day to day ordeal they are experiencing.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC foundation continues its efforts to strengthen residents of the South as it initiated on Thursday activities involving the first team players. 

Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky arrived at one of the Tel Aviv centers where families of security forces were evacuated from Gaza strip border communities. The players met with kids, had their photos taken, signed autographs and handed out gifts on behalf of the club. Perez said: “On behalf of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, we wish for better, safer, quieter days. Let’s hope for peace and quiet, our hearts are with you, our thoughts are with you and we will do everything we can in order to make you feel better during these difficult days.”

A similar activity took place at Kfar Maccabiah which was attended by Yonatan Cohen, Ido Shahar and Osher Davida who met with the kids while Ofir Davidzada, Dan Biton, and Idan Nachmias were at Glil Yam. All players spoke to the kids, heard their experiences and handed out official Maccabi merchandise as gifts.

The state of Israel is in a state of war, and we are all experiencing extremely tough days. Despite all that, one of the bright spots of these days were the extensive volunteering by the public, as well as the Maccabi Foundation and the first team players. All came forward to strengthen the residents of the south thus raising the national morale.

As part of the Maccabi Foundation activities, players accompanied by members of Maccabi’s Youth Academy visited several centers with Eran Zahavi, Yonatan Cohen, Dor Peretz and Eyal Golasa arrived at Kibbutz Shfayim where residents of the Gaza strip border communities were evacuated to following the horrors of the war. The players played football with the kids, had their photos taken with them and obviously handed out some gifts on behalf of the club.

A similar activity involving kids from the south took place on the Tel Aviv beach with Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada and Dan Biton took supplying the entertainment and distraction. Gabi Kanichowsky played his part as well with the midfielder meeting kids from Gaza border communities at Netanya.

Maccabi’s captain, Sheran Yeini, said: “It is a privilege to be able to give these boys and girls from the Nir Am Kibbutz as good a feeling as I possibly can. The situation is just heart breaking and we would all prefer to return to normality as fast as possible. In the meantime, we could do some good deeds and there are few young talents we might consider signing at Maccabi Tel Aviv.”

Ofir Davidzada added: “We must understand that our strength is in our unity. The more we stick together the stronger we will be as a nation, as a military and everything else we do.”

Dan Biton summed up: “We came to strengthen them and were strengthened ourselves. Let us just hope we experience better days in the future.”