From Tragedy to Triumph Oct. 7th to Basketball in LA

Just two months after the horrific events of Oct. 7, a group of 15 Israeli high-school basketball players from the Eshkol region stood together on the court at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. For many, it was the first time they had seen one another since that dark day.

The teens, their coach, and Omer Bilansky, the league’s general manager, traveled to Los Angeles for a week-long program that included NBA games, a tour of Universal Studios, and even a scrimmage against a local Jewish day school.

“This is the mission to open it for these kids,” Bilansky said. “This is the only time their minds are thinking about something good. To see them smile and laugh is a win for me. Basketball is the best therapy.”

The program was part of Project Or Gadol, an initiative that seeks to foster connections between Israeli and North American Jewish communities. Hosted by Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and led by Rabbi Erez Sherman, the experience offered a reprieve for the teens, many of whom are grappling with profound loss.

The players hail from kibbutzim devastated by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. Their head coach and several teammates were murdered, and three players remain captive in Gaza. All have been displaced from their homes, living as refugees in Israel.

“It’s strange, it’s weird, but it’s really exciting,” said team member Ziv Turjanski. “I’m very happy to see everyone jumping and smiling and fighting for the ball.”

For Alon Buksbaun, the trip has been bittersweet. “We went through a tragic event, and now we’re doing things we love,” he said.

The teens’ stories are harrowing. Buksbaun recalls sitting in a bomb shelter on Oct. 7, helpless as news of attacks poured in. Another player, Yonatan Ofri, survived because his brother held off Hamas terrorists for two hours until the IDF arrived.

Shoham Cohen, whose grandmother and best friend were killed, described the destruction of his kibbutz in stark detail: “They tried to burn down the house.”

Despite these tragedies, the players refuse to let the events of Oct. 7 define them. “It’s hard, but you need to move forward,” said Turjanski. Cohen added, “I keep smiling because they wouldn’t want me to be sad.”

The Los Angeles Jewish community embraced the players, offering host homes, NBA tickets, and a VIP tour of Universal Studios. “The community showing up has been magical,” said organizer Cassie Weinstock.

Sherman, a self-described sports enthusiast, reflected on the power of the experience. “Sports is a huge part of what I do as a rabbi because it reaches people in new ways,” he said. “The magic is real, the magic is happening.”

The overwhelming success of the program has inspired plans for future events. “We want to be a part of their lives,” Sherman said. “I hope this can be a model for other communities to do this as well.”

Amid the trauma, the players found a moment of joy, connection, and hope proof of the unifying power of sports and community.

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