“After Oct. 7, my wife suggested that I see her therapist. For me, the most effective therapy was playing basketball,” remarked Omer Bilanski, the general manager of an Israeli high school basketball squad that is coming back together for the first time at Sinai Temple in Westwood following a year of displacement. This week, the […]
“After Oct. 7, my wife suggested that I see her therapist. For me, the most effective therapy was playing basketball,” remarked Omer Bilanski, the general manager of an Israeli high school basketball squad that is coming back together for the first time at Sinai Temple in Westwood following a year of displacement.
This week, the Courier observed the team during their practice at the gym of Sinai Temple.
The atmosphere is bittersweet, as the teammates have been dispersed across Israel due to their homes being destroyed on Oct. 7. With the assistance of Sinai Temple and Rabbi Erez Sherman, who is welcoming the boys for a one-week stay, the team has a renewed opportunity to reconnect on the court. On the evening of Dec. 4, the group attended a Los Angeles Clippers game, where Bilanski received recognition as a community hero alongside Rabbi Sherman.
Throughout their time in Southern California, the team engaged in various scrimmages against local squads and interacted with basketball professionals, including WNBA player and two-time Olympian Angel McCoughtry, who was touched by the positive spirits of the boys. “I was in awe. If nobody had mentioned what those boys endured, I wouldn’t have realized it. The challenges we face are shaped by our attitudes—just witnessing the joy in their faces. Engaging in sports can help you navigate any ordeal in life. It can keep you out of trouble,” McCoughtry shared with the Courier.
Sherman expressed that his drive for this initiative is fueled by his deep love for Judaism, Israel, and sports. With support from Project 24 Israel, established after Oct. 7, he came up with the plan to bring the young boys to Los Angeles. “I noticed they did something similar with children from the southern Gaza border around six months ago,” he noted. “This organization asked the kids, ‘What’s your magic power?’ and they replied, ‘Basketball.’ So, we fundraised to make this happen. Every day, they engage in basketball activities and train since it’s been more than a year since they’ve been a team.”
The reunion of the team has gained backing from the sports community in Los Angeles. “I’ve seen firsthand how amazing the generosity of the Los Angeles sports community has been—offering tickets, experiences, and meals,” Sherman remarked.
Many of the boys lost loved ones, friends, and their communities on Oct. 7. Over the last year, they have been dispersed across the nation, unable to come together until now. “This is the first time all 15 of these boys have reunited,” Sherman highlighted. “In just the last 24 hours, I’ve observed the magic unfold. The organization told me it would happen, and I didn’t fully grasp that until I witnessed it.”
Shoham Cohen, a member of the team, has been residing in a hotel by the Dead Sea since the Oct. 7 attacks. He lost a closest friend that day and has since experienced ongoing instability with his home being destroyed. He described how the distance forced him to leave the team, but he has been thrilled by the warm reception from the Los Angeles sports community. “They’re eager for us. They want to meet us, to listen to us. It feels great,” he said with a smile.
Ran Gold, the team’s coach, was celebrating at a bachelor party when the events of Oct. 7 commenced. He quickly learned that while his family was unharmed, his neighbors had perished. He feels a sense of guilt for not being present to guide the boys over the past year. He reached out to the team a few days after the attacks. “I sent them a message to offer encouragement and strength,” he noted.
“I carry the feeling of letting them down as I haven’t been there for them this past year,” Gold shared. The reunion has been emotional. “There are kids who need this, who require the support of this group to empower them. There are individuals, like myself, who must accept that this chapter is over.”
Gold believes basketball imparts crucial life lessons to the boys. “This game teaches you to be a stronger person, how to cope with losing, and how to handle winning without being arrogant,” he explained. The trip also allowed the boys to process the trauma from Oct. 7. “We discuss what transpired on the 7th. Each child has their own story of loss—losing family, losing friends,” Gold said.
Bilanski emphasizes the healing aspect of basketball. “I turn to the game when I need to vent, when I need to find calm. We share our stories and talk about our families.” He indicated that the boys’ spirits and confidence improved in just a few days. He noted that even the long 15-hour flight from Israel offered a precious chance for the boys to reconnect and build relationships. “This is my purpose in life. This is why I believe I was meant to be here. I tried to keep in touch with everyone, but it was difficult. Some were inland, others near the Dead Sea, and some in Tel Aviv,” Bilanski shared.
Sherman pointed out the importance of Bilanski being celebrated at the Clippers game. “It’s Jewish Heritage Night, and their coach is recognized as the Community Hero of the evening. He’s standing on the court facing 30,000 fans, proclaiming, ‘I’m here, we’re here, and basketball has united us.’”
