Israel ParaSport Center

11/21/2025

We began our final day with a visit to P-Cure, a cutting-edge proton therapy center founded by Michael Marash, who personally guided us through the facility—bringing to life Israel’s reputation as the Start-Up Nation. Michael’s family has deep ties to the Israel ParaSport Center; his son Idan Marash, a leader in Israel’s disability community, grew up training at The Center and now serves on our Israel Board.

From there, we traveled to the Israel Guide Dog Center, the only certified guide-dog training center in the Middle East. We had an absolute blast meeting the pups-in-training and learning about the life-changing support these incredible dogs provide.

Afterward, we headed to Yaffo for lunch with soldiers and had the opportunity to hear their perspectives on defending Israel.

We ended the day with a moving tour of ANU: Museum of the Jewish People, followed by a beautiful closing dinner. Joined by athletes and community members from The Center, participants shared heartfelt reflections about their experience and the powerful role The Center plays in their lives and in Israel.

A meaningful, hopeful, unforgettable finale to an extraordinary mission.

11/20/2025

11/20/2025

After our time in the south, we returned to Ramat Gan and the Israel ParaSport Center, where we hosted a national swim meet with athletes from across Israel. This was our last event in the pool before it closes for renovations as we rebuild the new Luski Aquatic Center.

After the races, we celebrated 65 years with our community and held a special celebration kicking off construction of the Luski Aquatic Center. David Luski officially broke ground, burying a time capsule filled with letters from our mission participants to future athletes.

Over 200 community members, athletes of all ages, and their families joined us for the celebration. Surrounded by joyful athletes who embody "life without limits", mission participant Cindy Katzoff turned to Boaz and said, "this place rivals Disney World for the happiest place on earth!"

And, amid a day filled with deep meaning for us all, we won’t lie, one highlight was definitely the delicious food!

11/19/2025

After our emotional morning in the south, our mission continued at our Be’er Sheva satellite, where we met the incredible Goalball team, with players of all ages, religious backgrounds, and levels of visual impairment.

The team gave our participants hands-on lessons in this unique sport created for the visually impaired, with personal coaching from Israel’s Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medalist, Lihi Ben David.

It was an absolute blast stepping onto the court with blindfolds on and trying this amazing sport for ourselves!

11/19/2025

Today we traveled south for two deeply emotional and essential visits.

At Kibbutz Nir Oz, we met survivors of October 7 and heard their firsthand stories, including a powerful account from Hila, wife of wheelchair tennis Paralympian Adam Berdichevsky, who shared what she and Adam endured in their safe room that day.

Meira Goldman, a mission participant from Chicago, reflected:
“Hearing Hila speak about her experience in the safe room with Adam hit a very personal chord for me. She spoke about Adam's vulnerability as a person with a disability during a war… As a mother of a child with a disability, I often envision with horror what it would be like for my son… unable to keep up with his peers as they run for their lives.”

We then visited the Nova Festival site, now filled with memorials honoring the young lives taken.

11/18/2025

Our 65th Anniversary Mission has been off to an inspiring start!

On our first day, we arrived at the Israel ParaSport Center in Ramat Gan, where we enjoyed lunch with our athletes and met several remarkable members of our community, including former hostage Bar Kupershtein and his parents Julie and Tal. We had a moving dedication of our main gym scoreboard in memory of Zachary Berns z"l. Guests also connected with wheelchair rugby athlete and artist Miki Zar, whose story left a lasting impression.

Today took us to the north of Israel, where we had an unforgettable experience at Tulip Winery, a lovely winery that employs members of Kfar Tikvah, a community supporting individuals with special needs. Guests then took to the skies in an exhilarating flight simulator experience, piloting jets over the Tel Aviv skyline. The day included a wheelchair basketball game dedicated to Roei Shalev, captain of the Nova Basketball team that trains at the Center, who sadly took his own life last month.

We can't wait for our third day in Israel with the Israel ParaSport Center and it's fantastic athletes. Be sure to check out our livestream of the swim meet and groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow at 5:45 PM Israel time / 10:45 AM Eastern on Facebook!

11/18/2025

Our 65th Anniversary Mission is officially underway!

Leaders from our US community gathered today in Ramat Gan to kick off a powerful week of connection. They had the incredible privilege of meeting former hostage Bar Kupershtein, his father Tal, a beloved member of The Center’s community, and his mother Julie, whose inspiring words highlighted the heart and spirit that define The Center.

11/13/2025

Hey LA!

Join our friends at the for Light the Way: A Trailblazer’s Brunch, an inspiring event benefiting the Israel ParaSport Center.

🗓 Friday, Dec 5 | 10 AM – 12 PM
📍 Private Bel Air Location
Featuring Rabbi , in conversation on her new book Heart of a Stranger.

Proceeds will fund a specialized sports wheelchair, empowering Israeli with physical disabilities to live life without limits.

We’re proud to partner with the Golda Project and celebrate their incredible efforts to make a difference!

10/20/2025

It’s fun writing victory posts - podium photos, smiles, and medals.

It’s tempting not to share when the team returns without any.

But that would ignore all the victories along the way.

Our national wheelchair basketball team just returned from the European Championships in Bosnia following months of intense training with Coach Lior Dror. This young team has grown tremendously, and their double-overtime battle against the Netherlands (who placed 5th at the Paris Olympics) showed just how close they are to the top. A win there would have put us in Europe’s Top 8.

But, alas, in the end they were pushed down from Division A to Division B — leaving us with no chance for the upcoming World Championships, and the Olympics feeling like a far away dream.

For now.

They finished on a strong note, beating the Bosnia and Herzegovina team 102–44, which just shows where we're destined to be.

And all of this happened as we watched the hostages being released - including Bar Kupershtein, son of our member Tal. Also, Asael Shabo, who is part of the national team, found out that the terrorist who murdered his mother and three brothers was going to be released as part of the deal. To stay focused and keep playing through that week was extraordinary.

In the end, we all know the Israel ParaSport Center isn’t just about medals (though we love those). It’s about community, perseverance, and showing up - again and again. And we are all champions for being the place these young athletes with disabilities keep showing up.

We’re proud of this team. We know they have what it takes. And we’ll keep going.

Coaching and Support Staff:
David Koren – Head of Delegation
Tal Ram – Team Manager
Lior Dror – Coach
Gadi Slovik – Assistant Coach
Topaz Loushy-Kay – Fitness Coach
Efrat Pinhasov – Psychologist
Dorrit Mashraki – Sport Therapist
Dror Even-Zahav – Technical Staff
Ilai Shalev – Analyst

Photos by Mansoor Ahmed/

10/13/2025

We've waited 738 days for this moment.

Tal, a beloved member of the Israel ParaSport family who was injured in an accident a few years ago, promised he would stand and hug his son, Bar Kupershtein, upon his return from captivity.

That promise was fulfilled today with the return of the hostages.

Here is the hug felt across all of Israel.