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The soccer club confirmed its dedication to such initiatives, stating through official channels that hosting survivors like Roditi aligns with its mission to provide meaningful experiences for affected community members.
By JNS
A year and two months after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel, Yoav Roditi, an 11-year-old survivor of the attacks, was hosted by Beitar Jerusalem soccer club, fulfilling the young fan’s dream of meeting his sports heroes.
Roditi, who endured a 10-hour ordeal hiding in a safe room during the Hamas assault on the town of Yakhini in southern Israel, met with team players in a specially arranged visit coordinated by “Youth Futures,” a Jewish Agency initiative supporting at-risk youth across Israel.
The meeting marks another step in the recovery journey for Roditi, who suffered severe trauma during the attack, including witnessing the fatal shooting of his cousin Yonatan, who succumbed to chest wounds while the family remained trapped in their shelter.
“Youth Futures,” operating in approximately 50 communities throughout Israel’s social and geographic periphery since 2006, facilitated the encounter through their mentorship program.
The organization implements a three-year intensive guidance model focusing on the development of personal and family resilience.
Gali, Roditi’s dedicated mentor, who maintained contact with the family during the Oct. 7 crisis, attended the emotional meeting. She has continued supporting the family throughout their recovery process over the past year and two months.
Beitar Jerusalem has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to community support following the Oct. 7 attacks, implementing various initiatives to honor victims and support affected families.
“Meeting all the players, getting hugs, taking pictures and having them sign my shirt was a dream come true,” stated Roditi, expressing gratitude toward the organizations involved.
The soccer club confirmed its dedication to such initiatives, stating through official channels that hosting survivors like Roditi aligns with its mission to provide meaningful experiences for affected community members.
Youth Futures CEO Ruti Shinfield said: “At Youth Futures, we believe in the power of empowering experiences to create real change. Seeing his eyes sparkle with excitement as he met his heroes—that’s the heart of our mission. These encounters give children not only an unforgettable experience but also a sense of security and belief that anything is possible.”
A representative of Beitar Jerusalem told Israel’s One news service: “Dear Yoav came to visit us, and we were more than happy to host him. The hardship he experienced, mixed with courage and pain, is unimaginable for a child his age. It was our privilege to host him and continue our social and community activities to bring a smile to his face and create joyful moments he will cherish forever.”
Beitar Jerusalem is not alone in its outreach to Oct. 7 survivors. Several other Israeli soccer clubs held memorial ceremonies for fans and athletes killed during the war, on Oct. 7, in reserve duty, or by Hezbollah rockets.
One new initiative, by the TribeofNova non-profit organization, was to create a soccer club comprising survivors of the Nova music festival massacre and family members of those who fell at the site.
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