The Israel Basketball Association, together with the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization and the Center for Jewish Impact, officially launched a new basketball initiative last Friday aimed at supporting IDF veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder through sport and community rehabilitation.
The project, titled “Back in the Game,” has established four basketball teams across the country in Ashdod, Netanya, the Upper Galilee, and Samaria, providing former soldiers with a structured environment that combines weekly practices, professional coaching, and ongoing psychological support.
The initiative was created in response to requests from members of the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, who said basketball had become an important outlet in helping them cope with trauma and rebuild daily routine and connection. Former Israel national team player Raviv Limonad is leading the project, while certified coaches from the Israel Basketball Association work alongside psychologists and other professionals accompanying the teams.
The official launch event featured a tournament between the four squads, with the Samaria team capturing first place following a dramatic final.
Israel Basketball Association chairman Amos Frishman described the project as one of the most meaningful initiatives undertaken during his tenure.
“The basketball teams for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are an exciting and important project for me as the chairman of the Basketball Association,” Frishman said. “After the players sacrificed for the State of Israel on the battlefield, it is our turn to assist them in their rehabilitation.”
Frishman added that watching the players compete and reconnect through sport underscored the importance of the program.
“Seeing the smiles on the players’ faces and their competitiveness makes everything worth it for me,” he said, while also thanking the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization and the Center for Jewish Impact for their partnership.
Providing veterans with rehabilitative framework built around teamwork
The initiative was made possible through the support of philanthropist Richard Deitz, whose backing and involvement helped turn the project into reality. Organizers said the program is designed to provide veterans with a unique rehabilitative framework built around teamwork, physical activity, and social connection.
Yossi Matityahu, CEO of the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, emphasized that rehabilitation often begins with rebuilding trust and routine through everyday experiences.
“Rehabilitation and recovery begin in the rooms – often it happens in the little moments: getting to practice again, trusting those who are with you and feeling that you are not alone,” Matityahu said.
He described the basketball groups as “a place of strength, connection and hope” for veterans coping with the psychological aftermath of military service and combat.
“The IDF Disabled Organization accompanies thousands of wounded men and women of the IDF and security forces, in body and soul,” he said. “Seeing them take to the court with energy, competitiveness, and a smile is a reminder of the tremendous power of sport.”
Helping communities recover from trauma
Sonia Gomes de Mesquita, CEO of the Center for Jewish Impact, said the collaboration between sports organizations and civil society can play a significant role in helping communities recover from trauma.
“The ability of a community to recover rests on connection and belonging,” Gomes de Mesquita said. “This collaboration illustrates how the connection between civil society, sports, and the community can become a foundation for healing.”
She also credited Deitz for helping launch the initiative.
“We are deeply grateful to Richard Deitz; it is his vision, leadership, and commitment that helped turn this important project into reality,” she said. “As part of our ‘Embrace Campaign,’ we see it as a privilege to support initiatives that allow our wounded warriors to rebuild routine, confidence, and meaning.”
For more information about the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, please visit www.https.zdvo.org
