The Israel Tennis and Education Center (ITEC) family hosted a festive event on the grounds of the only tennis court in Majdal Shams, a predominantly Druze town in the Upper Galilee, to celebrate its integration as an official branch of the organization earlier this month.
The festival, attended by hundreds of children and parents, served as a beacon of hope for the shaken town one year after the Hezbollah rocket strike on the soccer field that killed 12 children and teenagers.
The celebration included tennis activity stations, creative workshops using recycled rackets and balls, face painting, and inflatables. Head of the Shams Local Council, Dolan Abu Saleh, attended the event and highlighted the value of collaboration between the community council and ITEC as a medium for fostering joy and healing. ]
On the day of the event, he said that he was deeply moved to share this moment with the community, all of whom he says are “looking ahead with hope toward a flourishing sporting future.” He continued to say that engaging in sports “provides the strength to grow anew, face every challenge with courage, and build a healthy and united community.”
Founded in 1979, the Israel Tennis and Education Center - Kiryat Shmona offers children in the Upper Galilee and northern Israel support through a combination of a value-based education with sporting excellence. The children in Majdal Shams will now benefit from the center’s resources and educational programs, gaining the opportunity to grow not only as athletes but as individuals.
Eyal Ta’oz, CEO of ITEC, emphasized the importance of supporting local communities and encouraging the creation of spaces meant for physical movement and fun. He says that opening this center demonstrates “a shared commitment to providing children with a safe space to grow, learn, excel, and gain tools that will serve them for a lifetime.”
One year since the Hezbollah strike on the Majdal Shams soccer field
Announcing the incorporation of this space into ITEC comes at a much-needed time. This announcement came on the first anniversary of the Hezbollah rocket strike. Amit Awidat, who lost his cousin and two close friends in the tragedy, shares that the tennis court became a personal refuge.
“After the incident at the soccer field, I felt that tennis was my safe place,” he said. “It gave me a lot of purpose and comfort.” His experience speaks to the reality of many in Majdal Shams who have found a path to healing and renewal through the court.
The court will be led by local coach Bassel Shoufani, who has played tennis since childhood. For Bassel, partnering with the center that nurtured him is a full-circle moment. He is committed to ensuring that the program in Majdal Shams is rooted in professional support and strong community connection.
He says, “This is a significant step forward for the children of Majdal Shams in educational sports in general, and in tennis in particular. We are ready and full of anticipation to embark on this shared journey.”