(Courtesy of Yashar LaChayal) The 2019 Yashar LaChayal Yeshiva Middle School Basketball Tournament has been launched!
This year the tournament has expanded to include a separate girls tournament, in addition to the boys’. There are 24 participating teams, 12 boys teams and 12 girls teams, with over 300 players involved. The girls tournament will take place on Sunday, December 8, and the boys tournament will take place on Sunday, December 15.
Participating schools in the girls tournament are: Bruriah, HAFTR, HALB, Magen David Yeshivah, Manhattan Day School, Moriah, Ramaz, RYNJ, Shulamith School for Girls, Westchester Day School, Yeshivah of Flatbush and Yeshiva Har Torah.
Participating schools in boys tournament are: HAFTR, HANC, HALB, JEC, Magen David Yeshivah, Manhattan Day School, Moriah (2 teams), Ramaz, Westchester Day School, Yeshivah of Flatbush and Yeshiva Har Torah.
There are several components to this meaningful chesed initiative.
Each of the schools is scheduled for a presentation to learn about the work of Yashar LaChayal, Straight to the Soldier. In addition, each of the individual players on the basketball teams will have a personal funding page to raise funds for this year’s project. Furthermore, the participating teams will have the opportunity to play in a basketball tournament against teams throughout the tri state region.
Funds raised from this year’s chesed project will go towards Hoops for Heroes. Basketball hoops will be set up on army bases throughout Israel to allow the soldiers recreation and respite on the base during their break time.
Yashar LaChayal is the organization that provides IDF soldiers with what they need when they need it. In July 2006, during the second Lebanon War, volunteers delivered basic necessities to the soldiers on their army bases and on the front lines. Since then, in addition to distributing supplies, Yashar LaChayal, has developed several programs to help soldiers including assistance to soldiers’ families; Pesach and Rosh Hashanah packages; construction of Pinot Chamot, warm corners, which are small heated buildings throughout Israel with refrigerators, food and drinks that serve as a safe spot for the soldiers during their service. Yashar LaChayal also visits injured soldiers in the hospital, providing special equipment for injuries and financial help for their families.
As stated by Carol and Judah Rhine, tournament directors, “This special tournament gives these students the opportunity to serve as ambassadors, both on and off the court, to promote the work of Yashar LaChayal and all it provides for the IDF.”
Donation and sponsorship opportunities are available on the Tournament website, yasharlachayalbasketball/unique/bball. For more information please email�[email protected].�
