The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and Make-A-Wish Israel teamed up to grant Ofri, a 9 year old boy who suffers from leukemia his wish to meet Eran Zahavi and kick the ball around with him on the pitch, just days prior to his leaving for a new challenge in China.

Unbeknownst to Ofri, he and his family arrived at Kiryat Shalom to “pick up” a few things at the Team Store but was then quickly ushered onto the training pitch when all of a sudden his idol, Zahavi walked in for a practice session. Ofri’s eyes widened like saucers as he greeted number 7 and found out that his wish had come true; A chance to play one on one with his favorite player.

Both Zahavi & Ofri put on their training gear and headed out onto the field as they played together in the late afternoon sun.

Denise Bar-Aharon, CEO and Founder “Make-A-Wish Israel said: “There is nothing more touching than seeing the wish of a child come true, after experiencing painful days and nights fighting their illness. Meeting Eran Zahavi was selected out of everything else in the world that Ofri could have chosen, and it was the right choice! Eran was wonderful and gave Ofri quality one on one time. Eran Zahavi is not only a giant on the field but as a human being! Thank you to the Maccabi Tel Aviv Foundation for making this wish happen, we could not have done it without you!”

Maxine Levitt, the Foundation’s Corporate and Community Relations Associate commented: “It was an absolutely unbelievable encounter especially seeing Ofri’s eyes light up when his hero walked in. Ofri didn’t know whether to laugh or cry out of happiness and excitement. The Foundation was very pleased to be able to partner with Make-A-Wish Israel to help make Ofri’s dream come true after a long and difficult battle. But the knowledge that a dream could come true aided him to make it through a very hard period of time.”

When Maccabi Tel Aviv took the pitch of their new home at the Netanya Stadium against Gorica in Europa League qualifying action, the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation hosted a group of Bnei Menashe Olim to their first ever football match in Israel.

The Bnei Menashe (sons of Manasseh) claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel and settled in what is now northeastern India. While in exile they continued to nourish the dream of one day returning to the land of their ancestors, the Land of Israel. Shavei Israel (http://shavei.org) is the organization responsible for helping the Bnei Menashe make their dream a reality as they continuously extend a helping hand to all members of the extended Jewish family and to all who seek to rediscover or renew their link with the people of Israel.

The new fans of the Yellow & Blue couldn’t believe their eyes as they approached the stadium and met Maccabi’s mascot, Maccabinio while also celebrating a trio of goals by their new favorite team. Two of the children also had a chance to walk onto the pitch with the players prior to the start of the match.

Michael Freund, Founder and Chairman of Shavei Israel said: “We were delighted by Maccabi Tel Aviv’s warm and generous invitation to host 50 Bnei Menashe immigrants from India at their recent match and this meant a great deal to them. After all, Maccabi Tel Aviv is an Israeli institution. For the Bnei Menashe to be welcomed home to Zion in such a public setting sends them a clear and unequivocal message: you are our brethren and we welcome you back home.”

Head of the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation, Josh Halickman also commented: “It was a true honor and pleasure to host the Bnei Menashe group of Olim from Shavei Israel and to give a taste of Maccabi football to a whole new set of fans. One of the goals of the Foundation is to connect with as many people as possible both in Israel and around the world and welcome them as part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv family.”

Fans, parents of the Maccabi Football School and community members stopped by to donate blood at Kiryat Shalom on Thursday afternoon as the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation hosted a blood drive together with Magen David Adom. Last week, the world marked World Blood Donor Day as blood drives were held around the globe encouraging people to come out and donate blood to help save lives.

Thanks to the MDA staff along with all of the donors and Foundation staff, the blood drive was a smashing success that will be repeated in the future.

“Donating blood is very important especially in our day and age when each and every one of us can help another person out,” said Josh Halickman, Head of the Foundation. “The blood donation will cost you nothing and will give someone another chance at life.”

For more information about the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation CLICK HERE

With the help of legendary striker Vicki Peretz, the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation gave the Tzora football school a special surprise as they celebrated the culmination of the 2015/16 season activities. The school, which has a diverse population of participants from the various locals communities in and around Beit Shemesh is run by Dror Rosenblatt with the help of Maccabim director Alex Dallin and school manager Eli Cohen for over a decade. Following a sumptuous Maccabi style dinner on tables decked out with Yellow & Blue table clothes with lots of great food, Peretz was introduced by Rosenblatt to a standing ovation by the over 500 parents, grandparents and children.

Maccabi’s number 9 from the 1970’s and 80’s spoke about reading for your dreams and told the youngsters that everything is within reach with hard work and perseverance. Peretz talked about some of the great moments in his career from scoring many goals in league and international play along with one of the hi lights of his career, representing Israel at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. While in Canada he had the opportunity to dine with fellow Olympians Mark Spitz and Nadia Comaneci and also scored a goals against Brazil and France.

Peretz was then presented with a special award from the Tzora school and was given a bouquet of Yellow & Blue flowers by Maxine Levitt of the Maccabi Foundation. Foundation Head Josh Halickman commented: “It’s an honor and privilege to be able to introduce the current generation of footballers to some of Maccabi’s great. One of the main goals of the Foundation is to help educate today’s youth about the storied past of the club by exposing them to some of the legends. Who better than Vicki Peretz to fit that bill and speak to hundreds at such a wonderful and prestigious event.”

Eli Cohen also commented on the wonderful evening: “The children along with their coaches received medals, trophies, signed balls and other gifts in recognition of their hard work. We hosted Vicki Peretz a former National Team and Maccabi player and we want to thank Josh and Maxine from the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and all those involved for a successful event.”

The annual Gala featured food, friends and fun where player awards were handed out and the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation was launched. But even before the official introduction, the Foundation was hard at work inviting IDF veterans to the special evening who had been injured in operations over the last couple of decades. The former soldiers injured in the line of duty defending our country Israel, were treated to an extra special treat where they had the opportunity to enjoy meeting the players and taking plenty of pictures while also being seated with keeper Haviv Ohayon.

The veterans were also extremely thankful to the various donors that gave them the opportunity to take part in the event as Liran Baroch, one of the veterans explained: “This was an amazing experience. It’s been a long time since I felt so excited especially since I’ve been a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan my whole life. The players were so nice and having the master of ceremonies mention us made the event one that I’ll always remember. It means so much to all of us that you remembered us it was truly incredible.”

Lior Ben Porat commented as well about being at the Gala: “It was really a pleasant surprise to be invited to the Gala along with other injured veterans. As a fan from a very young age it was really special to have a chance to meet some of the players and professional staff and it took me back to the time when I was at Kiryat Shalom years ago meeting Avi Nimni, Shura and others. I want to thank you for this opportunity.”

Foundation Head Josh Halickman said: “We wanted to open the Foundation by honoring those who served and protected us. It was the least that we could do to say thank you to them for sacrificing themselves. I’m thrilled that they had a great time.”