A Moving Yom Kippur Tribute at Maccabi Rehovot
On the eve of Yom Kippur, the basketball community in Rehovot gathered at the Maccabi Rehovot club for a poignant moment of remembrance. Itay Cohen z”l, who fell on October 7, is honored through the club’s youth team bearing his name. During a special gathering with the squad, Itay’s parents stood before the players and handed out new jerseys — a symbol of commitment and continuity that ties a young team to a life lived with passion for the game and the values it embodies.
The club’s leadership stressed that Itay’s memory will travel with every practice and on every court. The moment underscored a broader message: the power of sport to sustain, unite, and inspire in the face of personal loss. The youth players — many of them hometown newcomers to the sport — felt the weight and warmth of a community rallying around a shared purpose: to carry forward Itay’s legacy of resilience, camaraderie, and faith in one another.
A Moment of Remembrance
As soft gym lighting bathed the court, players gathered around the center while Itay’s parents presented the jerseys with quiet dignity. The new uniforms, simple yet meaningful, carried Itay’s name as a living reminder to the rising generation of players that they are part of something larger than wins and losses. The scene captured a community’s dedication to honoring a life cut short while reaffirming basketball’s role as a conduit for healing and memory.
A Gift of Continuity
“No emotions — there is commitment,” echoed through the room as the family conveyed the gesture’s deeper purpose. This gift was more than apparel; it was a pledge that Itay’s spirit would endure in every dribble, pass, and defensive stand. The youth team, now named in his memory, would carry forward an ethos of teamwork, perseverance, and the bonds that sport can forge among teammates, families, and fans alike.
Club Reflections and Community Wishes
Representatives from Maccabi Rehovot’s senior squad joined the event to offer words of solidarity and encouragement. They spoke of unity, meaning, and health for the broader community as a new year approaches, emphasizing that Itay Cohen’s legacy would continue to inspire players and supporters. The gathering highlighted a club philosophy that prioritizes character development as much as athletic skill, using basketball as a vehicle for resilience, empathy, and service to others.
Looking Ahead
The ceremony concluded with a shared sense of purpose: the Itay Cohen youth team would train with renewed vigor, guided by the conviction that every practice is an opportunity to honor a life well lived and to offer hope to others. For families in Rehovot and basketball fans across the region, the tribute served as a reminder that behind every jersey lies a story of love, loss, and the ongoing commitment to grow together through sport.
