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Photo credit: Hapoel Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>\n
While Memorial Day in Israel is commemorated very differently to in other countries (I can\u2019t imagine going to a basketball game today), like in other countries, sport does tend to play a part in remembrance. Since Hamas heinous on Israel on October 7, in which they murdered more than 1,000 people and took hundreds of people hostage \u2013 more than 130 of whom are still in captivity in Gaza \u2013 sports clubs and their fans have been a source of support for victims of the tragedy of that day and the resulting Swords of Iron War, which still continues today. Clubs \u2013 both local and national \u2013 have honored the hostages and those who have been killed in many ways, including by holding moments of silence before games and hosting families of victims to games both in Israel and throughout Europe. Affiliated fan groups are constantly supporting families of victims in different ways and memorializing the victims themselves by sharing their stories on social media.<\/p>\n
While I\u2019m not a Hapoel Tel Aviv member or supporter, I have been deeply moved by the way that the club has supported its members and supporters since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War, and especially during this specific period around Yom Hazikaron. As part of their Yom Hazikaron activities, from last week, the basketball club has displayed the names of those who have fallen since October 7 on digital screens throughout Tel Aviv, together with a QR code to learn more about their lives.<\/p>\n
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Photo credit: Hapoel Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cSince 7\/10, the Hapoel Tel Aviv community has stood out in the activity of commemorating the murdered, the fallen and their families,\u201d Hapoel Tel Aviv Club President, Avi Zaidenberg said. \u201cOne of the activities that touched my heart in particular was the graffiti throughout the city, which were personally dedicated to each fan we lost.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, we decided that, in addition to the club\u2019s regular Memorial Day events, we should commemorate and remember the fallen and the murdered in a different way, through a unique memorial display on digital screens throughout the city. Scanning the screens will allow those exposed to navigate to the memorial locations and the graffiti that community members created after the 7\/10. We will remember them all. We will love them all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last week, I had the privilege of attending a memorial ceremony held jointly by the basketball and football clubs at Bloomfield Stadium, which was attended by the teams\u2019 players and administration, as well as around 250 members of the families of Hapoel Tel Aviv fans who fell while defending the State of Israel or were victims of terrorist attacks, including the families of fans who were murdered on October or who are still held hostage.<\/p>\n
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Photo credit: Hapoel Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>\n
The ceremony, which was hosted by screenwriter and Hapoel Tel Aviv fan, David Lifshitz, featured singer Dorit Reuveni, who sang Yesh Prachim<\/em> and Lu Yehi<\/em>, as well as speeches from family members of victims and officials from the clubs.<\/p>\n Among the speakers were Eti Raz, the mother of Idan Raz z\u201dl, a soldier in the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade died in battle on October 7. Thousands of Hapoel Tel Aviv fans wore red clothing to Idan\u2019s funeral \u2013 known as the \u2018Red Funeral\u2019 \u2013 on October 11 at Eti\u2019s request, as a result of her son\u2019s passion for the club. She spoke of her son\u2019s passion for Hapoel Tel Aviv and the support that she and her family has received since he fell.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Idan was in the 13th Battalion and he made sure that his breaks from the army were timed so that he could go to Hapoel games,\u201d Raz said. \u201cHe would trade his shifts so that he could watch games live. He would take days off from his service to go to the Derby. Idan was a boy whose whole heart was red. \u201cWhen he was young, he created a network of fans to organize rides from the north and the south. He spent most of his military salary on Hapoel scarves, shirts and flags. Even in the battle where he fell, where all of his equipment was burned, only one red Hapoel Tel Aviv shirt was undamaged.<\/p>\n Photo credit: Hapoel Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cAfter the Red Funeral that we held for him, where thousands of people wore red and sang at the ceremony, \u2018You will never walk alone.\u2019 We understood that we have a family. The Hapoel family, which has embraced us ever since that day. We immediately began to understand the significance of the color red. It seems that you can choose your family. This choice of the Hapoel Family was first made by Idan. The second time, the Hapoel Family chose us, to keep us in the Red Club.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the 7th<\/sup> of October, the Hapoel has lost more than 40 of its fans. It could have left the stands with lots of holes, but Hapoel, like Hapoel, made sure to fill the gap \u2013 also that in the heart. We are together, also those who are looking at us from above, seeing how the Hapoel Family stubbornly embraces us, the bereaved families.\u201d<\/p>\n After she finished speaking, the clip of a song recently written about Idan, Leolam Lo Titzad Levad (You will never walk alone – which can be seen here)<\/a> was shown, in which fans and past and present players sang the song, which was written by Ifat Bar Sela, Ben Awad and Maya Hubani.<\/p>\n Other speakers included Or Shemesh, brother of Almog Shemesh z\u201dl who was wounded in Lebanon 25 years ago and then died last year, as well as Reuven Yabalonka, father of hostage Hanan Yablonka.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, I will tell the families of those who were murdered \u2013 may you know no more sorrow,\u201d Yablonka said. \u201cRegarding the hostages, it hurts that Hanan isn\u2019t able to be with us here. His room is as it was \u2013 all red. I just want to hope that Hanan will be here with us for the next game and will be able to support the team. I call for the release of all hostages.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo credit: Hapoel Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>\n Both Basketball Club owner Ofer Yannay and Football Club CEO Amit Fest, as well as the captains, spoke to the audience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hold a ceremony together because it\u2019s the same community,\u201d Yannay said via video message. \u201cYom Hazikaron is a holy day in my eyes. What sanctifies it is the memory of our loved ones who were and are now gone. This year, Yom Hazikaron is painted with the strong and bloody colors of the 7th of October. A terrible day on which we lost tens of the Hapoel Tel Aviv community. Also for those who lost their loved ones at another time, know that Yom Hazikaron is not bound by time. The pain is always felt sharply. When you come to the court you need to feel like you are coming with the spark of the sole of your loved ones who were meant to be with you here. Please G-od when we celebrate, they will celebrate with us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt Hapoel Tel Aviv, you can see all the religions and sects in the same stand. This did not pass over the bereaved families of Hapoel Tel Aviv. You will never walk alone. One of the immortal lines that every fan adopts from the first moment that he steps through Bloomfield. Who is Hapoel Tel Aviv if not her fans? If not this special mosaic? Dear families, this community does not need Yom Hazikaron to walk with you. We promise that you will never walk alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels as if come here and we are supporting you and I hope that when you get home you will understand how much you give us strength,\u201d Hapoel Tel Aviv men\u2019s football captain Dan Einbinder said. \u201cWe all have different professional goals, but at the end of the day we have one common goal, which is to take this picture of the families sitting here and to make you happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are focused on sport and we hear absurd things before an important game such as, \u2018a fight for our lives,\u2019\u201d Hapoel Tel Aviv women\u2019s football captain Oshrat Eni said. \u201cWe understand that everything that we do has great significance. We are representing important and dear people, some of them are unfortunately no longer here with us. This has tremendous meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo credit: Hapoel Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cSince the war, I see many faces that I have had the chance to meet,\u201d Hapoel Tel Aviv men\u2019s basketball captain Bar Timor said. \u201cFamilies who have lost the ones dearest to them. You do not understand how much you strengthen us. We came to support you and to give you strength, but at each meeting we together strengthened ourselves. After each meeting we ourselves left stronger. We are doing it for you. We will do everything for you. We are always with you.\u201d<\/p>\n The whole ceremony was recorded and can be watched on the Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball Club\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/441541616_881352467338257_8635471608266000911_n.jpg\")
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